Hussar to Latvian Speaker: We also have to pay attention to Tartu-Riga rail connection

At the meeting in the Riigikogu, the Speakers stated that Estonia and Latvia had very much in common, and cooperation between the two countries was also becoming increasingly closer. Hussar pointed out that the joint procurement for medium-range air defence systems was an excellent example of cooperation in the field of security. “Reaching an agreement on this joint procurement shows that we can reach an agreement on everything between Estonia and Latvia,” he said.

According to Hussar, the largest joint project of the two countries is the construction of Rail Baltic, but it is also necessary to think about the rail connection between Tartu and Riga through the twin town Valga-Valka. “People living near the border go to work across the border, and aligning the mobility issues, digital solutions and school networks between the two countries would help unlock the region’s huge potential,” Hussar noted.

The Latvian Speaker agreed to that, and added that mobility, including ensuring military mobility, was also essential to ensure security in the region. Mieriņa said that cooperation in the digitalisation of state services would continue as well – for example, in February, the common e-prescriptions system should be in place in Estonia and Latvia. She also underlined the need to support teaching of Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian both in the border regions and in general, in the context of termination of Russian-language education. She added that it was absolutely right to learn big languages instead of Russian, but learning of small languages should also be supported.

During her visit to Estonia, Mieriņa also met with the Prime Minister and the President of Estonia, and visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

Photos (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
+372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
maris.meiessaar@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar to Latvian Speaker: We also have to pay attention to Tartu-Riga rail connection

Source: Parliament of Estonia