Baltic foreign affairs committees to discuss objectives of NATO summit

TALLINN - On Friday and Saturday, the foreign affairs committees of the parliaments of the Baltic states are to meet in Sigulda, Latvia, to discuss the objectives of the upcoming NATO summit, in particular supporting of Ukraine and strengthening the security of the region.

Chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament Marko Mihkelson said that the committees as close partners wish to coordinate their further activities thoroughly in order to follow the same course in their foreign and security policy. According to him, preparations for the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius in July and the expectations of the Baltic states will be the main topic of the meeting.

"The most important for us is to achieve strong support for Ukraine, including a roadmap for becoming a member of NATO. Strengthening of our security and restoration of peace in the whole Europe also depend on Ukraine's accession to NATO," he added.

The debate on the Vilnius summit will start on Friday with a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics.

Other necessary steps for helping Ukraine, including cooperation in establishing and imposing sanctions against Russia as well as holding to account personally those responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, will also be spoken about at the meeting of the foreign affairs committees. At its plenary sitting on Wednesday, the Riigikogu adopted a statement in which it calls on establishing a special international tribunal under the auspices of the UN General Assembly.

On Friday, the foreign affairs committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will also visit Incukalns underground gas storage facility and discuss topics relating to energy security. On Saturday, the representatives of the foreign affairs committees will meet with Mayor of Sigulda Liga Sausina.

Besides Mihkelson, members of the foreign affairs committee of the Riigikogu Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski and Anti Poolamets will also attend the meeting in Latvia.