Speaker of the Seimas: ‘It is only through bold decisions that we will withstand external threats and domestic tensions’
Press release, 30 August 2022
Today, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, met with the heads of Lithuanian diplomatic missions setting out very clear objectives and topics for this year’s discussion. The Speaker of the Seimas highlighted the priorities of and challenges for comprehensive security, resulting both from external threats directly linked to the war and from the impact of the war-related inflationary surge on domestic tensions. Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen called for the use of all diplomatic and creative powers for the sake of a secure, stable and prosperous Lithuania. According to the Speaker of the Seimas, since security comprises both external and internal dimensions, it is equally important to seek solutions and mitigate the inflationary impact on the people, to mobilise support on important domestic policy issues and to take other key decisions in the areas of economy, energy, human rights and democracy.
Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas
‘Security will be at the top of the agenda in the autumn session of the Seimas due to begin next week. Security matters also prevailed in the spring session, which was marked by its important, meaningful and often urgent decisions. They were aimed at strengthening security and defence in Lithuania and mobilising the international community, and, in particular, the parliaments of other countries, to help Ukraine and stop the Russian aggression. Necessary laws and budgetary amendments were also adopted with a view to providing comprehensive assistance to refugees and helping people of Lithuania feel safer,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.
The Speaker of the Seimas noted that the Seimas had demonstrated exemplary unity in its decision-making in the face of the geopolitical challenges, and that parliamentary diplomacy at all levels, as intensive as never before, had also yielded results.
‘I have also clearly realised myself that the most important factor was courage to bring forward proposals, even those that go against the usual consensus, and to build coalitions to implement them,’ underlined Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.
Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas
She maintained that early in the war, the Seimas had called for oil sanctions, the relentless pressure on the Russian and Belarusian regimes, the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine, the recognition of the actions by the Russian Federation in Ukraine as genocide, and the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, as well as for the establishment of a special international criminal tribunal to investigate the crimes of the Russian aggression.
‘Finally, my visit to Kyiv, together with my counterparts from Latvia and Estonia, just a month after the outbreak of the war helped to dispelled the fear among other politicians and triggered a series of solidarity visits, which are so important to Ukraine,’ said Ms. Čmilytė-Nielsen.
In her opinion, Moscow is clearly hoping that the strategic patience of the EU and NATO will wear thin as winter is approaching and energy prices are soaring. We must therefore continue with our comprehensive support to Ukraine and keep the international community’s focus on helping Ukraine win this war.
‘Our goal is to grow even stronger when the dust of the war in Ukraine settles. The opportunities are all there for us, namely, Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO, the increased understanding among NATO allies of the defence needs of the members on the NATO’s eastern flank, and Russia’s diminished role in the international arena. All we need is Ukraine’ victory, which I am convinced will eventually come,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.
Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson to Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt
Monika Kutkaitytė