Adapting to the new working style of the administration of Latvia’s strategic partner, the Saeima Presidium has decided to send its representative to the US capital Washington, who will be responsible for good relations with the US Congress. Lithuania’s legislature has had such a representative for a longer time already, and his achievements can only be envied.
The Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, Ināra Mūrniece of the opposition National Alliance, evaluates this decision of the Saeima Presidium positively. “When working with the Trump administration, new opportunities and new ways must be sought,” says I. Mūrniece.
She believes that this representative should also be delegated the authority to act in the interests of the Foreign and Defence Ministries, as well as our country’s economic interests, because Latvia’s embassy in the US has an insufficient number of our country’s representatives. “It is no secret that the US embassy, given that this is our strategic partner, is too small,” says the politically experienced foreign affairs expert, adding that the Latvian embassy, of course, has a military attaché, but his mandate is too specific.
She also has a proposal for the coalition and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on how, at a time when ministries are trying to reduce their expenditures by 150 million euros, not to turn this new post into a new expenditure item. I. Mūrniece is convinced that there is more than one Latvian embassy with an excessive number of staff. In her view, one staff position at such an embassy could be cut and transferred to the US.
Mūrniece, who has been Speaker of the Saeima for two parliamentary terms, also related that Lithuania’s legislature has had such a representative for quite some time, and in her assessment this representative has been able to accomplish many good things both for Lithuania and for its neighbours – including Latvia. “Lithuania is far ahead of us. He works actively with the US Congress. Lithuanian parliamentarians can approach him with an initiative, and he will organize a meeting, for example, for the chairs of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees. I have also taken part in such an event,” says I. Mūrniece.
Edvards Smiltēns (AS), the Saeima Secretary who was also present when this decision was taken, notes that the new reality requires a different approach to our partner. “Relations with the US are currently very critical for our security and growth. Right now, strengthening all types of contacts and representation is our highest priority,” says E. Smiltēns.
The duties of the Saeima representative in the US, from 10 July until 30 June of next year, will be performed by diplomat Evita Čikute, who has previously worked at the Latvian Embassy in the US and has therefore gained the necessary experience and is well-versed in US domestic political processes, the Saeima Press Service reports.
Čikute’s candidacy was selected in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking into account her professional experience. Čikute has served in Latvia’s diplomatic service since 1998 and has worked at the Latvian Embassy in the US since 2021. Čikute has previously also worked at Latvia’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, as well as at the Latvian Embassy in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in political science from the University of Latvia, as well as a master’s degree in European Affairs from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
The Saeima Presidium took this decision in order to strengthen the link between the legislatures of both countries and to promote Latvia’s voice being heard ever more widely. “Joint efforts with colleagues from the Baltic states will help advance the defence of Baltic interests. It is essential to strengthen cooperation with our strategic partner and at the same time foster the cohesion of NATO allies, which is particularly important in these geopolitical circumstances, as we are jointly strengthening the security of the entire region,” the Saeima statement declares.
The representative’s task will be to represent the views and interests of the Saeima in the US, primarily in Congress, to maintain dialogue and promote cooperation with members of both houses of Congress, as well as to promote cooperation with US Baltic organizations such as the Joint Baltic American National Committee, the World Federation of Free Latvians and the American Latvian Association.
The Saeima representative will ensure regular information exchange and support in organizing visits and events that promote interparliamentary cooperation and public diplomacy, including arranging visits of US Congress representatives to Latvia. The specialized representative will also cooperate with the European Union delegation in Washington and will closely follow current developments in US domestic politics, in particular issues on the agenda of the US Congress, their impact on relations with the European Union, NATO and Latvia, and on security policy issues.
The Saeima already has its own representative in the European Parliament. The new position at the Latvian Embassy in the US will henceforth allow Latvia’s legislature to be more widely heard on the other side of the ocean, thereby ensuring the defence of the vital interests of Latvia and the wider Baltic region.
Originally published at https://inc-baltics.com/republikanu-vadito-asv-kongresu-aptekales-ipass-saeimas-parstavis/
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