Members of parliament,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Foreign policy is an extension of internal policy. The butterfly effect applies to global politics. These well-known statements attempt to describe the fundamental laws of modern international politics. However, as often happens with beautiful and picturesque words, they quickly become popular and just as quickly lose their true meaning in people’s minds.
These beautiful phrases actually intend to express something significant; and we as politicians should take that into account on a daily basis when adopting any decision.
We have to remember that internal policy issues cannot be separated from the regional and international context. National interests influence international arena just as global events affect and even significantly change national politics.
These are the circumstances and these are the conditions that have to be observed by Latvia in shaping its own internal policy, as well as defining and defending its national interests.
It means that defining our interests with disregard for others would be short-sighted and ineffective. National interests are often defined by focussing on our inhabitants, society and the state at large while not taking into account the international environment.
Instead, national interests should be directly related to the international environment in which the state exists – in our case, the EU and NATO, and policies they implement on a global level. I think that this principle should be followed in all discussions on the future of the European Union regardless of whether the discussions take place in Latvia or elsewhere in Europe.
Dear audience,
Each of us saw and experienced these complicated international relations which are bound by numerous mutual obligations during recent years and which will be called the global economic crisis in Latvia’s and the world’s history books.
These years were the consequence of processes that took place in the United States, the situation in Europe, as well as mistakes and wrong decisions we ourselves had made in the past. One of the lessons learned was that open economies, which ensure the growth of our national economy, are so closely interlinked that they become very vulnerable to tremors.
This complicated time and resulting problems also created a fertile soil for ideas on possible alterations in Latvia’s foreign policy.
Nevertheless, let us not delude ourselves by such illusory alternatives! Latvia is still interested in having a stable and predictable international environment and the development of a closely integrated European Union.
Which strategy should Latvia choose?
It is believed that a country can opt for one of two models of behaviour in foreign policy. The first model calls for Latvia to take a temporising and defensive stance, not to waive its interests and thus join the group of so-called goal keepers.
The other model calls for Latvia to become a border expander, an option which would enable us to take advantage of all available opportunities and concurrently demand greater involvement in international processes, more initiative, additional obligations, as well as greater responsibility for regional and global events.
I think that the course we had taken so far clearly indicates that Latvia is willing to become more active in its foreign policy and use available opportunities to the maximum extent. Strategically and objectively speaking, we are interested in the development of a European Union in which Latvia sits at the decision making table instead of merely observing from afar how others make decisions that will influence us anyway.
I expect that a lot will be said today about the benefits and drawbacks regarding introduction of the euro. This will be a decision that will affect each of us, each inhabitant of our state; therefore, the great interest that society has taken in this issue is commendable.
It is essential for the people of Latvia to receive comprehensive information on the practical issues of switching from the lat to the euro that will accompany the accession to the euro area. It is also important to explain to our people the reasons why the euro is a strategic and geopolitical choice that will reinforce Latvia’s position in Europe and in the long run will increase our security and boost sustainable economic growth.
In the near future, Latvia will have unprecedented opportunities to demonstrate its initiative, responsibility and capacity. Next year, Riga will be the European Capital of Culture, which will enable us to show our rich cultural and historic heritage and dynamic cultural life of the present day. The possible content of priorities of Latvia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union scheduled for the first half of 2015 is close to being defined.
The Saeima has already formed the Steering Committee for planning the parliamentary dimension of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union; the Committee includes representatives of both the ruling coalition and the opposition.
In my opinion, the worst-case scenario would be one in which Latvia’s very first presidency became a domestic-policy battlefield; therefore, I would like to propose that we sign an interparty agreement on cooperation during this crucial period for our country. This is the case when not only Latvia’s national interests and its image but to a large extent also the credibility of the entire European Union are in our hands.
Dear audience,
Although the coming years in Latvia will be devoted to preparing for the presidency of the Council of the European Union, we also have to think about the next strategic challenges. Membership in the European Union and NATO, as well as good bilateral relations with numerous countries, create a truly positive background for using the opportunities provided by the global geopolitical changes in Asia and elsewhere.
In this regard, our entrepreneurs are a step ahead of the state by clearly demonstrating their border-expanding way of thinking. Many of our entrepreneurs have established successful contacts and found markets for their goods outside of well-trodden paths and familiar territories.
A successful example is the Northern Distribution Network whose growth potential can boost Latvia’s transformation into a global transit hub.
Global thinking can bring success not only to business. The same applies to culture, education, environmental protection and our experience in implementing reforms. These are some examples that can not only improve our prosperity and open new horizons but also shape Latvia’s international image.
One has also to remember that nowadays more and more international processes are influenced by multinational enterprises, global media, NGOs, opinion leaders and other players capable of influencing global processes. Social networks can not only impact revolutions but also instantly and irrevocably tarnish a country’s image.
Never has a single person been able to influence so directly the image of his or her country and thereby take part in shaping its foreign policy.
If we avoid mistakes and keep a strategic vision, a new breakthrough is possible in Latvia’s foreign policy in the near future. We have to consolidate as much as possible all the traditional and modern foreign policy tools available to us.
Our foreign policy has to be smart, focused, proactive and at the same time pragmatic and characterised by accountability to our partners, international environment and particularly our country’s future.
In shaping the foreign policy of our country, the parliament’s task is to become strategic debate forum where political goals and challenges are evaluated and discussed with particular emphasis on Latvia’s national interests.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that a parliament that is elected by the people and consists of representatives of the most diverse political parties is capable of holding a debate on such a level. I am truly glad that all political parties and individual members of parliament are ready to take part in this debate. In my opinion, it attests to our ability to think about the future of our country from a global perspective and to have a vision of tomorrow. I hope that today’s foreign policy debate will perfectly attest to that.
Thank you for your attention and I wish all of us a creative debate.