During the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Riga Session, the inhabitants will be able to receive updated information about it, by calling the Saeima infoline at +371 6708 7321.

By calling the Saeima infoline, the inhabitants can receive information about the planned agenda of the Session, venues of various events, main updates, as well as practical information about issues such as traffic restrictions and border control.

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.

Riga Session will be attended by parliamentarians from 28 NATO member states and from 13 associate member states of the NATO PA. Representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Assembly of WEU (the European Security and Defence Assembly) and the European Parliament will also participate in this Session as will representatives from the Afghan parliament.

On Wednesday, 26 May, at the Kipsala International Exhibition Centre, volunteers finished packaging presents for guests of Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, who will receive a gift characteristic of our country as a token of remembrance of the time spent in Latvia.

With the help of volunteers, 350 gift kits have been prepared. Mugs, tea, and honey were packed earlier, and today the gift set has been supplemented with freshly baked rye bread.

By savouring herbal tea from a black pottery mug and tasting a slice of rye bread, along with heather-blossom honey, guests of the NATO PA Riga Session will have an opportunity to experience something characteristic of the various regions of Latvia.

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.”