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“Russia’s aggression in Ukraine undermines the system of international law, which has been developed over 70 years. It is in the interest of every member of the international community that we return to implementation of the rules based system. International organizations must encourage the implementation of the Minsk agreements,” Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised in her address to the 4^th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York on Monday, 31 August. When discussing peace as a prerequisite for sustainable global development, she remarked that unfortunately war has become a daily reality in many places for many people – in Syria, Iraq and also Ukraine.

“When looking at our world today, much has been done to reduce poverty and to increase access to education. At the same time almost 60 million people have been displaced by military conflicts. The crisis related to mass migration and terrorist attacks are only the tip of the iceberg of problems that have wider roots,” the Speaker of the Saeima said.

As one of the solutions to current challenges, Speaker Mūrniece mentioned the mobilisation of the international community’s efforts. She stressed that in the framework of bilateral development cooperation Latvia will continue to support Ukraine in its reform process. 

In the conclusion of her address, the Speaker of the Saeima emphasised that the serious challenges the world is facing today will only be solved if the parliaments take political leadership. Sustainable solutions must also be sought for the refugee crisis.

The 4^th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament was opened by Saber Chowdhury, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, and Sam Kutesa, representative of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is organised once every 5 years by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which is the largest and oldest inter-parliamentary organisation, established in 1889, and currently consists of 166 national parliaments.

From 27 August till 4 September Speaker Mūrniece is on a working visit to the United States of America, during which she is attending the 4^th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and the 10^th Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament. During her visit Ināra Mūrniece has also met with the Latvian diaspora in the USA and and participated in the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the New Jersey Latvian Society.  

Saeima Press Service