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On Thursday, 20 August, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, together with Saeima MPs met with Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Prime Minister of Lithuania, and discussed topical issues in the cooperation between both countries – the necessity to strengthen our border, support for Ukraine, as well as economic cooperation between the countries. 

“Latvia and Lithuania are linked by more than just neighbourly relations. For centuries, the histories of our nations have been intertwined, and even today our border is not a line that separates us, but a bond that unites us. We are the closest of allies with a shared understanding of what the security of our region requires. Therefore, our cooperation priorities are clear – the security of our states, support for Ukraine, development and defence of strategic infrastructure, and closer economic cooperation,” said Kalniņa-Lukaševica.

Discussing the pressure of illegal migration on the border with Belarus, the Deputy Speaker of the Saeima thanked Lithuania for the assistance provided to the State Border Guard of Latvia. She emphasised that, in view of the upcoming Saeima elections on 3 October, Latvia is experiencing an increase in hybrid activities by Russia and Belarus, making coordination and cooperation between the two countries particularly important.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica stressed that Russia has failed to achieve its objectives on the battlefield and is therefore attempting to destabilise Europe through drone attacks, as well as lies and disinformation campaigns directed against supporters of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Lithuania emphasised that together we are protecting not only our own border but the entire eastern border of the European Union. The parties agreed that adequate EU funding is needed to strengthen the eastern border.

The topics addressed also included economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as opportunities for cooperation in the fields of the defence industry, data security, and energy.

The parties agreed that Russia cannot be a reliable partner. They therefore support reducing all forms of ties with Russia, including economic ties, and call on other countries to do the same.

Today, Linda Matisone, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Jānis Grasbergs, Secretary of the Saeima, Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, Ināra Mūrniece, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Arvils Ašeradens, Chair of the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee, and Jānis Vucāns, Chair of the Latvian delegation to the Baltic Assembly, also met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania.

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Saeima Press Service