Speaker of the Seimas discussed common strategic goals with the President of Latvia

Press release, 19 February 2018

While on his visit in Latvia on Monday, 19 February 2018, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with the top leaders of the country.

At the meeting with Raimonds Vējonis, President of the Republic of Latvia, the Speaker of the Seimas expressed his gratitude for the congratulations on the Centenary of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania and called for closer and more constructive cooperation in creating prosperity for both nations.

Mr Pranckietis discussed with the President of Latvia the developments in implementing the Rail Baltica project and its significance for the Baltic States. After finalising the project, the developed infrastructure will become an important part of the strategic infrastructure of the states, which will be necessary in ensuring their national security. The Speaker of the Seimas also expressed his hope that the Baltic States can achieve a political agreement on the regional infrastructure for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is likely that the LNG terminal in Klaipėda and the gas storage facility in Inčukalns will contribute to this strategic goal.

The maritime border with the neighbouring Latvia was also a topic for discussion with the Latvian President. For over a dozen of years now, the Latvian side has not been demonstrating the political will to address this essential issue. According to the Speaker of the Seimas, an expert-level discussion on the sharing of resources serves no useful purpose. Lithuania would welcome Latvia’s efforts to start the parliamentary ratification of the agreement on the maritime border between Lithuania and Latvia.

Mr Pranckietis will also meet with Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia.

The Speaker of the Seimas, who is currently visiting Riga, is attending the events to commemorate the Centenary of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania. Following the meetings with the leaders of the state, the Seimas delegation will pay a visit to the Latvian National Museum of Art and will attend the solemn commemoration of the Centenary of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania hosted at the building of the Small Guild.

On his visit to Latvia, the Speaker of the Seimas is accompanied by Rima Baškienė, First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, as well as Algimantas Dumbrava and Kazys Starkevičius, Members of the Seimas.

Karolina Frolovienė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas (Public Relations), tel. +370 5 239 6016, e-mail: [email protected]