On Wednesday, 23 October, Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, welcomed the Speakers of the Parliaments of Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Tonga to the Saeima, emphasising the need for the international community to continue supporting Ukraine until victory. The summit, taking place tomorrow, 24 October, will bring together delegations from around 50 countries worldwide to support Ukraine. 

During a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, Elisa Spiropali, the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Jandroković, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou, the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Portugal, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and the Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Tonga, Fatafehi Fakafanua, the Speaker of the Saeima expressed gratitude for the unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight for victory against the aggressor state, Russia. 

We have gathered in Riga to underscore the global impact of Russia’s aggression and to continue raising international awareness of the atrocities committed by the aggressor,” said D. Mieriņa, emphasising that this war already has significant global repercussions. The Speaker of the Saeima also highlighted security and defence issues, particularly the need to strengthen security in the Baltic region. 

At the same time, the Speaker of the Saeima emphasised the potential for strengthening bilateral relations between the countries, particularly at the parliamentary level, and explored new avenues for cooperation in the economy, education, science, culture, and tourism. D. Mieriņa also highlighted to the speakers the importance of the infrastructure project 'Rail Baltica' in enhancing common European security, as well as the potential support for the Ukrainian economy in the future. 

Mieriņa also thanked the speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal and Tonga for their participation in tomorrow's summit, as well as for supporting Latvia's candidacy for the UN Security Council elections next June. 

The meetings were also attended by the Deputy Speakers of the Saeima, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Antoņina Ņenaševa, the Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, Jānis Grasbergs, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ināra Mūrniece, the Chair of the European Affairs Committee, Edmunds Cepurītis, and Atis Švinka, MP. 

Photos from the meeting with the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/album/72177720321449353
Photos from the meeting with the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/album/72177720321432170
Photos from the meeting with the Speaker of the Cypriot Parliament: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/album/72177720321448504/
Photos from the meeting ting with the Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/album/72177720321430217/
Photos from the meeting with the Speaker of the Tonga Parliament: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/album/72177720321452784
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Saeima Press Service