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On Wednesday, 1 April, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica hosted the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, who is in Latvia on an official visit. During the visit to the Saeima, Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica and Maia Sandu held a meeting, the President of Moldova delivered an address at the Saeima sitting, and met with Members of Parliament.
“Latvia and Moldova are bound by common historical experience and an understanding of the value of freedom. Moldova’s resistance to Russia’s hybrid interference attempts during the 2024 presidential election, the referendum on EU membership, as well as in the most recent parliamentary elections, is experience from which we should truly learn,” said Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica, welcoming the President of Moldova to the Saeima.
During the meeting, the Deputy Speaker and Members of the Saeima discussed Moldova’s progress in implementing reforms on its path toward accession to the European Union, as well as Latvia’s opportunities to support Moldova along the way.
“Latvia and Moldova are close partners, united by a shared vision of the future development of both countries and by the need to strengthen the EU’s fundamental values – democracy and human rights,” stressed Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica during the conversation.
To better understand and counter Russian disinformation, attempts to influence domestic politics in other countries and undermine democracy more broadly, the parties agreed on the need to pursue cooperation and experience‑sharing projects in the future.
Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica commended Moldova’s consistent approach and the progress achieved in implementing reforms in the EU integration process. “Latvia will continue to actively support Moldova’s advancement toward the European Union – both politically and practically – by promoting the implementation of reforms and providing necessary bilateral support so that Moldova may become an EU Member State as soon as possible,” said the Deputy Speaker.
The meeting with the President of Moldova was also attended by Secretary of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, Deputy Secretary Jānis Grasbergs, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ināra Mūrniece, Deputy Chair Irma Kalniņa, Committee Secretary Juris Viļums, Chair of the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee Raimonds Bergmanis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee Edmunds Cepurītis and Deputy Chair Uģis Rotbergs, as well as Chair of the Saeima group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Moldova Jana Simanovska.
Saeima Press Service