Six members of the Saeima will represent Latvia at the 2010 Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) which will take place in Riga. Our country’s interests in this parliamentarian forum will be represented by permanent members of the Latvian delegation to the NATO PA Mrs. Vaira Paegle, Head of the delegation, Mr. Visvaldis Lācis and Mr. Dzintars Rasnačs; as well as alternate members Mr. Oskars Kastēns, Mr. Ivans Klementjevs, and Mr. Ainars Latkovskis.

Mrs. Vaira Paegle, Head of the Latvian delegation, emphasises: “It is exciting that the PA Session will be held in our country; this is the first time for Latvia to host a meeting of parliamentarians from NATO member states and associate countries. It imposes a dual responsibility. First, we have to make sure that the event proceeds flawlessly. Second, as always during similar events, we must vigorously represent our country’s interests.”

According to Mrs. Paegle, it is important for Latvia to stress that the NATO collective security principle is still relevant today. “The Alliance’s unity in both words and deeds would be best proved by NATO’s military presence in the Baltic region, joint military exercises, and specific defence plans,” points out the Head of the Latvian delegation.

At the Riga Session, special emphasis will be placed on the draft of NATO’s new Strategic Concept. “We eagerly look forward to hearing the response by Mr. Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, to the Assembly’s vision regarding the future development of NATO as the world’s major security organisation. Discussion about the Strategic Concept has been put on the agenda of the 1 June plenary meeting, when the NATO Secretary General will give his opinion about the proposals for the new Concept submitted both by the parliamentarians and experts,” points out Vaira Paegle.


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