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Latvia and Albania are united by close cooperation within NATO, shared European values, and unwavering support for Ukraine. This was emphasised by Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa during a meeting with the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Niko Peleshi at the Saeima on Tuesday, 3 June.

The Speaker of the Saeima thanked Albania for its contribution to security in the Baltic region, as evidenced by the presence of Albanian soldiers in Ādaži as part of the NATO Multinational Brigade. We share the understanding that European security is indivisible and that, in the face of Russian aggression, unified and decisive action is necessary at both the NATO and European Union levels, Speaker Mieriņa said. The Speaker of the Saeima also thanked Albania for its solidarity in supporting Latvia in the fight against the disinformation campaign waged by Russia, the aggressor state.

The Speaker of the Saeima invited the Albanian side to build close partnerships with NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, including by appointing experts to work there.

European Union enlargement was also discussed during the meeting. Speaker Mieriņa reaffirmed Latvia’s support for Albania’s EU integration and emphasised that enlargement is strategically important for European security and stability: “A strong Europe is in all of our interests. We must fight for every country that wishes to join.”  

The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament affirmed that Latvia’s experience and institutional memory are of great significance to Albania on its path to European integration. He emphasised that there is very strong support for the country’s EU membership among both Albanian politicians and the public. Albania plans to close all chapters of accession negotiations in the coming years, and political decisions by member states on Albania’s accession are expected to be made during Latvia’s presidency of the European Union in 2028. 

Discussing the European security situation, the Speaker of the Saeima emphasised the need to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities, as well as to continue long-term military, political, and economic support for Ukraine. She also highlighted the importance of strengthening the eastern borders of NATO and the EU, given the growing security challenges in the region.

The officials also discussed opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries. The Albanian side highlighted opportunities for cooperation in the fields of information and communication technologies, as well as cybersecurity. In turn, Speaker Mieriņa praised the role of the direct Riga-Tirana flight in promoting tourism and business contacts.

The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament is in Latvia on an official visit as part of a tour of the Baltic states.

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Saeima Press Service