Seimas Statement: Latvia Urges Allies to Support Ukraine's NATO Membership Bid Ahead of Summit
The Seima of Latvia has unanimously adopted a parliamentary statement on the NATO Summit to be held in Washington in July, prepared by the Foreign Affairs Commission, in which Latvia calls for support for Ukraine's formal application for NATO membership.
"In the statement, the Seima calls on the parliaments of NATO member states to support Ukraine's formal application for NATO membership, stressing the need to clearly demonstrate strong unity and determination at the Washington Summit, as well as the readiness of all allies to assume their fair share of responsibility for the security of all allies," the statement said.
In the statement, the Seima categorically condemns Russia's unprovoked military aggression and its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was carried out with the support and participation of Belarus.
"Ukraine has the right to self-defence and, like any state, has the right to choose which international organisations, supranational entities or military alliances to join," the statement reads.
The Latvian Parliament emphasises Ukraine's significant contribution to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. Ukraine protects this security in the most direct way, and with its membership in NATO, the Alliance will be significantly strengthened, especially all future defence and deterrence capabilities on NATO's eastern flank.
In the statement, the Seima also strongly pledges to support international efforts to bring to justice all those responsible for war crimes and other most serious international crimes committed in connection with Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, and supports the establishment of a special international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the crime of aggression.
The Republic of Latvia will continue to provide full and comprehensive support to Ukraine at the level of the government, municipalities, civil society and non-governmental organisations in order to strengthen its resilience against Russian aggression and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine in its reconstruction, especially in Chernihiv region.
The statement calls on NATO to prepare a long-term strategy and proactive measures to deter Russia to prevent its threats in all their dimensions, to actively defend democracy and the rules-based international order, and to increase the resilience of Allies and partners against Russia's aggressive political, military and hybrid destabilising actions that threaten the security of Allies and partners.