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“This is a very special day for me. I am standing in the very heart of a proud, beautiful and inspiring country. I feel the closeness of the warm blood which runs through its veins and has always linked us with you – the mighty Lithuanian nation. We are standing underneath the fluttering Baltic flags, recalling what has been achieved during the past quarter of a century and looking with confidence at future challenges,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 11 March, in her address at the raising of the flags of the Baltic States at the Independence Square in Vilnius during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Lithuania. 

When recalling the path of the Baltic nations to their independence, Speaker Mūrniece emphasised that involvement of popular movements - the Popular Front of Latvia, Lithuania’s Sąjūdis and Estonia’s Rahvarinne – in political processes had a decisive impact. “We drew inspiration from each other’s achievements, and we stood side by side through hardships. Lithuania paid for its freedom with innocent victims for whom both Latvia and Estonia shed tears,” said the Speaker of the Saeima. 

“Twenty-five years ago the Baltic people joined their hands in faith and hope for freedom and independence of their states; the Baltic Way brought us back to Europe – the home where we have always belonged,” said the Speaker in her address to the audience. 
Ināra Mūrniece urged everyone to remain alert and faithful to our states at a time when the international environment, particularly in our region, is becoming increasingly turbulent: “It should be the driving force that resolutely drives us forward. I am convinced that we have the desire, intellect, values and unity to embrace the 21st century with confidence,” said the Speaker. 

From 11 to 12 March, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, is visiting the Republic of Lithuania, where she is attending events marking the 25th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Lithuania.

On her visit, the Speaker of the Saeima is accompanied by Inese Laizāne, Chairperson of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Saeima; Jānis Vucāns, Chairman of the Education, Culture and Science Committee of the Saeima; and Romualds Ražuks, Chairman of the group for interparliamentary relations with Lithuania.

Saeima Press Service