The Riga Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) was a high-level event with regard to both organisation and content, confirmed Ms. Judith Garber, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Latvia, when meeting Mr. Gundars Daudze, Chairman of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 8 June.

On Friday, 4 June, members of the European Affairs Committee and the Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee expressed diverse opinions on the European Commission’s proposal to submit budget guidelines to EU institutions before they are adopted by the national parliaments. Members of parliament welcomed the positive impact this might have on observing fiscal discipline; however, they expressed concern that this proposal might infringe on national sovereignty. 

„For Latvia, comprehensive security was, is and always will remain the main national priority,” said Mrs. Vaira Paegle, Head of the Latvian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, on Tuesday, 1 June, in her address to the participants of the discussion on “NATO’s Future: The Baltic View”. 

On Monday, 31 May, Mr Gundars Daudze, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, and Mr John Tanner, President of the NATO PA, inaugurated a flowerbed arranged in the form the NATO PA Riga Session logo in Jēkaba Square.

On Sunday, 30 May, national delegations to the NATO PA donated books on NATO, defence issues, and the culture and history of their countries to the Latvian National Library. 

Tomorrow, on 28 May, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s (PA) Riga Session will begin. It will continue for five days – until 1 June. The Assembly will be attended by approximately 700 participants – parliamentarians from the NATO PA member states and associate member states, observers, experts and journalists.

The Baltic Assembly (BA) invites works for the annual competition of BA Prizes for Literature, the Arts and Science to be submitted by 1 June 2010. 

On Tuesday, 18 May, the Chairman of the Saeima, Gundars Daudze, met with H.E. Mr. Andrew Soper, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Latvia of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as he paid his accreditation visit to the Saeima. During the meeting, the dignitaries discussed issues such as mutual contacts of both countries, NATO cooperation and preparations for the NATO PA Spring Session, which will take place from 28 May to 1 June in Riga.

On Thursday, 13 May, the Saeima appointed Mrs.Dagnija Staķe as the Minister for Regional Development and Local Governments, and Mr.Didzis Gavars as the Minister for Health. 

The photo contest for schoolchildren, My Secure Latvia, held by the Saeima has ended. Ten of its participants have an opportunity to take an unforgettable trip on board a Navy war ship on 23 May.