Latvia and Norway are united by extensive cooperation - Mierina

RIGA - Latvia and Norway are united by extensive cooperation, including at the parliamentary level, said Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierina (Greens/Farmers) on Tuesday during a meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Latvia Ine Mareng.

As the Saeima Press Service informed LETA, the ambassador had come to parliament for a farewell visit. The speaker of the Saeima thanked her for her active work in strengthening bilateral relations and particularly highlighted issues related to human rights and support for Ukraine. Mierina also specifically highlighted the close contacts at the level of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8).

The parties discussed opportunities to cooperate even more closely in providing support to Ukraine, including in the defense industry. Mierina highlighted a charity campaign organized in Latvia in collaboration with the Ukrainian non-governmental organization Zemliachky, which is dedicated to supporting women in the Ukrainian armed forces by ensuring the purchase of necessary equipment, thereby protecting women's lives. The initiative is aimed at designing uniforms for female soldiers to provide greater comfort and functionality for women serving on the front lines, the parliament noted.

The ambassador praised Latvia for continuing to shed light on Russia's true nature on the international stage and for helping Western countries better understand what it is like to live next to an aggressor state, as well as sharing her historical experience of life under Russian occupation.

Mierina highlighted the strengthening of defense capabilities, emphasizing that everything is in our own hands. Both Latvia and Norway are located on the eastern border of the European Union (EU) and NATO, and we have a grave responsibility to ensure that our defense capabilities are strengthened.

The speaker of the Saeima and the ambassador also discussed opportunities for promoting economic cooperation. Mierina also emphasized that Latvia appreciates the funding provided by the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism.

While discussing the countries' shared values and traditions, the ambassador also highlighted the role of folklore in the cultures of both nations. For her part, the speaker of the Saeima congratulated Norway on the success of its men's national football team, which has advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in history.