Chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic Parliaments to travel to Ankara on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye

Press release, 29 October 2023 

In the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, the Chairpersons of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Lithuanian, Estonian and Latvian Parliaments are paying a working visit to Ankara at the invitation of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye. They will have meetings with representatives of the Grand National Assembly and the executive in the Turkish capital.

Žygimantas Pavilionis, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, points out, that following this week’s submission by the Turkish President of Sweden’s NATO membership application to the Grand National Assembly for ratification, the Chairpersons are planning to share their insights as to why Sweden’s membership is also a security issue for the Baltic States.

‘This joint visit is particularly timely. We look forward to open and frank discussions with our Turkish counterparts. Our aim is to clearly and unequivocally reiterate our position on Sweden’s membership of NATO and on the beginning of Ukraine’s path to NATO membership at the NATO Washington Summit. We are also open to hearing from our colleagues their insights on security in the region and beyond, as well as on other foreign and security policy matters that are relevant to them,’ said Mr Pavilionis, Member of the Seimas.

During the joint visit with colleagues from the Latvian and Estonian Parliaments, the discussions will focus on Russia’s war against Ukraine and the international community’s continued support for the Ukrainian people’s fight, the situation in the Middle East and the Caucasus, and the process of Turkey’s accession to the EU.  

The meeting with the President’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, former long-standing Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly will focus on the security challenges in the region, the overall security situation and other topical issues, including Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington.

Inga Milašiūtė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6799, e-mail: [email protected]

Monika Kutkaitytė, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 8 5 239 6666, e-mail:[email protected]