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“Latvia is a concrete state, and its patriots must act accordingly. We cannot love an abstract former or future Latvia. We have to love the Latvia of today for what it is and what it can be,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 18 November, when addressing the participants of the ceremonial sitting held at the Saeima in honour of the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
The Speaker of the Saeima reminded the audience that this year we are celebrating the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, and not long ago we marked 25 years since the establishment of the Popular Front of Latvia: “These two anniversaries serve as signs which literally make us stop and reflect on our state, its foundation and the values enshrined in them. The two anniversaries can be compared to stop signs that make us look back at our deeds in the course of almost a century and notice the continuity and the fortitude of our people.”
Solvita Āboltiņa indicated that in recent years, there have been a lot of discussions about patriotism. “Patriotism is not algebra, since it cannot be taught as a set of universal principles. Patriotism is a sense of belonging. It is love for our fellow countrymen and our fatherland as something unique, our one and only. It is not love on the grounds of the highest GDP or average salary but because it is our one and only country. We are proud of our flag flying alongside the flags of other European Union member states. Our hearts are filled with joy every time we see the flag of Latvia being raised at a concert or sports competition held abroad or when we see a Latvian flag on the uniform of a soldier serving in a NATO operation,” said the Speaker.
“This summer, when meeting the owners of gardens tended with love and creativity in Nīca County, or lily breeders who are true patriots of Vecumnieki County, as well as 90-year-young Jānis Vasarietis, plant breeder, horticulturist and the founder of lily breeding in Latvia. I saw that all of these people are selfless in their work. They share the beauty they create by landscaping our country and making it more attractive. The winner in the Family of a Farmstead category in the farmers’ competition was the Vaičuļi family, who embodies the work ethic in which we pride ourselves as a nation. The family runs the Zundi farmstead in Dagda County, and their work is a contribution to our shared future,” said Speaker Āboltiņa with certainty.
The Speaker also reflected that she recently met with her fellow Latvians from the Philadelphia Society of Free Letts, and was treated with bacon buns which taste just as those lovingly prepared by our mothers and grandmothers here in Latvia.
When talking about the role of our country in the international arena, Speaker Āboltiņa emphasised that as a sovereign country, Latvia has to actively strengthen relations with its international allies. “Also in this regard we are tempted to assume that our membership in the European Union and NATO solves all problems and that Latvia can afford to ignore pressing issues in the international arena. Meanwhile Europe and the whole world are changing rapidly. In such times it is essential to maintain a continuous dialogue with our allies. Latvia has proved itself as a trustworthy member of the international organisations it has joined,” asserted the Speaker.
Solvita Āboltiņa reminded the audience that next year we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of our membership in NATO and the European Union: “These ten years have passed quickly. However, cooperation with our trans-Atlantic and European allies should not become a routine matter. Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2015 with our specific message, priorities and proposals to Europe should also be considered from this perspective. This is the time for Latvian politicians to try and put aside their usually conflicting views for a moment and make Latvia’s name and our values proudly resonate across Europe and the world.”
In circumstances when there are only slightly more than two million of Latvians, and the number is constantly decreasing it is essential to understand that every citizen is valuable, emphasised the Speaker. In this context, she referred to the recent amendments to the Citizenship Law which enable Latvian expatriates to maintain a link to their country. “It is a settlement of our debt to those who lived with Latvia in their hearts during the years of exile. It is legal security we provide to those Latvian children born abroad who will be willing to return to the fatherland of their parents. Although the world is open to us, Latvia is still a good place to live and to shape one’s future,” pointed out Āboltiņa with regard to the amendments that have introduced dual citizenship.
In her address, the Speaker also touched upon a discussion on the fundamental principles of the state of Latvia which was set in motion during recent months by the draft preamble of the Constitution, saying that “the keen interest taken in this matter is no accident. Apparently, during recent years while we have been concentrating on fulfilling day-to-day tasks, a lot has been left undiscussed and unexplained. It appears that the values contained in the Constitution, which have been taken for granted, need to be expressed and reaffirmed more explicitly.”
“The Latvian people have exercised their right of self-determination and established their own state; therefore, the state of Latvia is unthinkable apart from the Latvian language and Latvian culture. However, that does not accord special privileges to Latvians in this country. Quite the contrary – it confers great responsibility, including responsibility for minorities that have historically lived in Latvia and are part of the people of Latvia alongside ethnic Latvians. Only when people of all ethnicities feel secure and cared for will the mission of the state nation be accomplished,” said Solvita Āboltiņa.
“All of us together – Latvians living here and far away – are the Latvian people. The Latvian flag does not fly from wind alone; it flies because Latvian people hold it high, proud and free. We can live each day with mutual respect and work together to promote national development. We can ensure that our children are able to perpetuate with confidence the fundamental values of the state of Latvia founded in 1918,” emphasised the Speaker of the Saeima.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/sets/72157637799475313/
Saeima Press Service