Baltic parliaments' youth unite

TALLINN - Parliament's "youngsters," along with those of the Latvian and Lithuanian parliaments, will unite next week in Tartu to establish the Baltic Youth Assembly, aimed at strengthening ties with all young people's organizations, regardless of political affiliation, as well as at achieving a common understanding in policy in the Baltic governments toward young people.

The youth council was created as a parallel to the Baltic Assembly, a permanent organization set up in 1994 for intergovernmental and regional cooperation among Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, said Evelyn Sepp, head of the Estonian delegation.

Youth caucuses from the Center Party, the Coalition Party, the Pro Patria Union, the People's Party and the Moderates chose the members of the Estonian delegation on Jan.10 this year.

The delegation has also added representatives from the Russian-speaking parties, the People's Union and the United People's Party.

"We want to work on the common politics of young people and carry this out with the other Baltic states," said Sepp.

The youth assembly will hold biannual meetings, similar to the Baltic Assembly, and will conduct working committees during interims on employment issues, crime and drugs, and young people in politics.