NordenBladet —
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said in his speech at the opening of the BA Session that the geography and recent history of the Baltic region gave us a unique ability to almost read each other’s minds. Hussar pointed out that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine had lasted nearly four years by today, causing indescribable suffering to the people of Ukraine and threatening democratic world order. “It’s no longer about an odd hot air balloon above Vilnius airport or drones in Copenhagen—we are talking about Russian MIG fighter planes in the Estonian air space. These must be brought back to earth in the literal sense of the word—decisively and in the spirit of the alliance,” he underlined, and added that it was not possible to hide behind insufficient information, legal grey areas, or handy excuses. “Nobody believes the tears of Moscow, and if indeed there is a legal loophole somewhere—who better to fill it than us as parliamentarians?”
According to Hussar, we must continue giving every support to Ukraine on the level of states as well as through the EU and NATO. It is necessary to continue with military assistance to Ukraine and tightening of sanctions against Russia. We need to start using Russia’s frozen assets, help Ukraine in reconstruction, establish a special tribunal at the Council of Europe and support Ukraine’s progress towards EU and NATO membership. “Please allow me one rhetorical question: do we really have the time and the energy to quarrel among ourselves on topics such as withdrawing from the Istanbul convention? Is this the example we hope to set our allies?” the President of the Riigikogu asked.
In his speech, Hussar also expressed his happiness that the Tallinn-Vilnius train line had finally been launched this year. “Yes, it is not yet using the Rail Baltic route or the speed we would like—600 kilometres in 11 hours is more like the nostalgic Orient Express of Agatha Christie. It is still a step in the right direction,” he said, adding that in improving the rail transport, it was necessary to move forward with speed and determination. “We must finally shake off the Imperial Russian and Soviet heritage gauge and combine the express lines of the East and West. Rail Baltic is a strategic project for us as it connects us to the European infrastructure network while also strengthening the military mobility. That’s why we must find sustainable funding solutions.”
At the end of the BA Session, the Resolution was adopted, the Final Document was signed, and the BA budget for the next year was adopted. Latvia transferred the presidency of the Baltic Assembly to Estonia, and the new President of the Assembly Timo Suslov stated in his address that the aim of Estonia’s Presidency was strengthening our common voice and the resilience of the region. To achieve that, the focus will be on ensuring security and resilience, enhancing physical, digital and energy connectivity, and improving innovation-driven competitiveness.
“Our programme has a clear aim to further develop the Baltic region into a resilient, future-oriented space that meets the needs of its citizens,” Suslov said, and added that this would require intensifying cooperation between the Baltic States, as well as with long-standing partners such as the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, the Benelux Parliament, the Nordic Council, the Visegrád Group, and others.
“Together, we will work to coordinate our defence, cyber, and civil preparedness strategies so that the Baltic States are ready to meet any challenge. Our focus will be on enhancing military mobility through projects such as Rail Baltica and Via Baltica, advancing a Baltic cyber and digital defence network, and deepening cooperation in defence education and research,” Suslov said.
During the BA Session, the cooperation assembly of the Governments and the Parliaments of the Baltic States, the Baltic Council, held its 31st meeting and signed a joint statement. The Baltic Council focused on regional security and foreign policy. The meeting was chaired by President of the Baltic Assembly Jānis Vucāns and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Chair of the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers Baiba Braže. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys, and Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Agnes Vadai spoke at the meeting of the Council.
The Baltic Assembly (Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania) is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States that discusses issues of mutual interest. The Estonian Delegation to the BA is headed by Timo Suslov, Deputy Head of the delegation is Enn Eesmaa. Other members of the Delegation are Jaak Aab, Arvo Aller, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Meelis Kiili, Irja Lutsar, Tiit Maran, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Riina Solman, Margit Sutrop and Peeter Tali.
Full text of the Resolution (PDF, 175 kB)
Full text of the Final Document (PDF, 100 kB)
Photos of the event (Reinis Inkēns, Saeima of Latvia)
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: The Baltic Assembly discussed security cooperation and the challenges facing Rail Baltic and Via Baltica
Source: Parliament of Estonia