Press releases
Latvia and Armenia have active parliamentary cooperation. This is confirmed by the fact that the parliaments of both countries have established groups for interparliamentary relations with the other country, by successful exchange of high-level visits, including the official visit of Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly, in June of this year, as well as by study visits of Armenian MPs and parliamentary staff members to the Saeima. This was stated by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 23 October, when she met with representatives of the Armenia–Latvia friendship group of the National Assembly of Armenia during her working visit to Armenia.
On Tuesday, 22 October, during their meeting in Erevan with Edward Nalbandian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the members of the delegation of the Saeima noted that Latvia and Armenia have a sound and constructive political dialogue, as well as active cooperation in several areas; however, there is a great untapped cooperation potential in economics, culture and education.
Cooperation between Latvia and Armenia has been developing dynamically, and Latvia is interested in shaping close and comprehensive relations between the two countries in politics and economy. This was stated by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, when she met with Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly of Armenia, during her working visit to Armenia.
On Friday, 18 October, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, signed the book of condolence at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Riga in memory of Wilfried Martens, former Prime Minister of Belgium.
“Uzbekistan is the most significant cooperation partner for Latvia in Central Asia, and our active political dialogue, as well as regular exchange of visits, attest to that,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 17 October, during her meeting with Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
On Thursday, 17 October, the Saeima decided to extend the service of soldiers from the Latvian National Armed Forces in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, 10 October, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her working visit to the United States of America, went to Philadelphia – the 5th largest U.S. city - where she met with Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, and Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development for the City of Philadelphia.
A strong transatlantic partnership and presence of the United States in Europe is crucial for facing modern global challenges, dealing with economic recession and facilitating democratisation in the world, said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, in Washington, DC, during her meeting with John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, held in the framework of her working visit to the U.S.
The future security of the European Union depends on strengthening the sense of belonging to Western values and politics among Eastern neighbours of the European Union. The Eastern Partnership is an excellent format for closer relations with the East European and Central Asian countries. This was asserted by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, when she met with Senator Chris Murphy, Chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs, during her working visit to the United States of America.
Women’s rights are among Latvia’s priorities in international law on human rights. Latvia is implementing an integrated approach to gender equality in politics and legislation, as well as in planning and decision-making processes. This was emphasised by Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her visit to the United States of America when meeting with Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Director of the Women in Public Service Project initiated by the former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
