Strengthening the safety and stability of our region is our shared responsibility. We are currently facing undeniable challenges related to the military aggression of Russia, its growing influence in Belarus, as well as the hybrid attacks of Belarus near the borders of Latvia and Lithuania. This was highlighted by Speaker Ināra Mūrniece during her official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Thirty years ago, the wide support of the Swedish people for the freedom and restoration of independence of the Baltic States was invaluable. In the early 1990s, activists in the so-called Monday meetings gave a weekly reminder to the Swedish public and politicians about the independence efforts of the neighbouring countries. The solidarity of the Swedish people is still important to us, emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 16 September, while on a visit to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, to take part in the events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the Baltic States' independence and the re-establishment of their diplomatic relations with Sweden.

On Thursday, 9 September, during the Baltic Assembly (BA) Consultative Council in Vienna, the Presidium of the BA adopted a statement concerning the hybrid attacks carried out by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko’s regime against Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. In the Statement, the BA calls for a stronger response of the European Union (EU) institutions to the violence and attacks carried out by Lukashenko’s regime and for a sustainable solution to overcome the new migration crisis at the EU’s external border.

The challenges we must address include not only the virus, but, to a great extent, also the wave of disinformation, as the COVID‑19 pandemic has created a breeding ground for the spread of fake news. It can be as dangerous to human health and safety as the pandemic itself. At the same time, we cannot be blind to the fact that disinformation has become a tool that some countries use to promote their foreign policy goals, emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 8 September, in her address at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Vienna.

A new generation, born in an independent state, has grown up in Latvia and Azerbaijan, and they are learning about our common history within the Soviet system from their families and literature. It is important that today’s youth study the recent history of their country and realise that independence cannot be taken for granted and must be defended, emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Milli Majlis) Sahiba Gafarova in Vienna.

There are no easy answers to the unprecedented challenges we are facing during the current COVID‑19 pandemic. At this time, women around the world need to be thanked for their relentless care for their families and loved ones, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 6 September, in her address at the 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament held in Vienna and dedicated to women's efforts in the fight against the COVID‑19 pandemic.

On Thursday, 2 September, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments to the Immigration Law, including the provisions for ensuring the right to employment for foreigners who have submitted an application requesting the status of a refugee or alternative status in Latvia, if the decision regarding the granting of such status has not been made within three months from the submission of the application.

Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), confirmed Latvia’s strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Crimea, while visiting the occupied Crimean peninsula in Ukraine. Ukraine can count on the support of Latvia, and we will continue the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea, emphasised Lībiņa-Egnere.

"30 years ago, having our own state was our goal, our dream, and our future. Today, nothing has changed. Our state is the greatest treasure that belongs to every one of us. Everything we do for our state is for the future of our children and our nation. Let us never forget it. Let us do everything to strengthen it, because it is all in our hands," said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, at the opening of the conference "A Dream Fulfilled: Freedom and Independence," dedicated to the 30th anniversary of restoring the independent State of Latvia.