Latest news with #EvikaSiliņa
Associated Press
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Three Baltic Leaders Awarded the Henry A. Kissinger Prize
The American Academy in Berlin has awarded the Henry A. Kissinger Prize to Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; former Prime Minister, Republic of Estonia; Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister, Republic of Latvia; and Ingrida Šimonytė, former Prime Minister, Republic of Lithuania. The ceremony was held at the Axica Convention Center in Berlin on the evening of Friday, March 28, 2025. The laudation was delivered by Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the Munich Security Conference Foundation Council and Trustee of the American Academy in Berlin. The event marked the first time the prize was given to not one but three recipients, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the transatlantic relationship. It took place on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of their countries' membership to the European Union and NATO, institutions whose developments they have influenced in remarkable ways. This is also the first Kissinger Prize following the passing of its namesake, one of the visionary founders of our institution. Daniel Benjamin, President of the American Academy in Berlin, said: 'In a time when the foundational values of the transatlantic alliance—democracy, sovereignty, and the rule of law—are under grave threat, Kaja Kallas, Evika Siliņa, and Ingrida Šimonytė have demonstrated tremendous leadership and extraordinary moral courage. Through their unwavering support for Ukraine and commitment to European unity and security, they have pointed the way for the North Atlantic community and moved their own nations to undertake enormous sacrifices. Sitting, as their nations do, on the edge of the volcano, they have been crystal clear in calling out aggression and barbarity for what it is. No one today more dramatically exemplifies the historic shared values of the transatlantic community. With admiration and gratitude, the American Academy in Berlin recognizes their heroic work to achieve a secure, democratic, and peaceful future.' Sandra Peterson, Chairman of the American Academy in Berlin, said: 'As heads of government for each of the three Baltic states, these three leaders demonstrated exceptional foresight and determination in strengthening Baltic participation within NATO, the European Union, and the broader transatlantic community. Their leadership not only fortified their nations' integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic security framework but also ensured robust support for Ukraine at a critical juncture. In honoring them, the American Academy in Berlin recognizes the profound impact they have had on advancing collective defense, support of a free, vibrant and democratic European future, and transatlantic solidarity.' Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the Munich Security Conference Foundation Council and Academy Trustee, said: 'Honoring three outstanding female Baltic leaders with the Henry Kissinger Prize reflects both the legacy of Henry Kissinger and Richard Holbrooke, and their vision for the American Academy in Berlin. Thirty years ago, in an issue of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Holbrooke published an essay titled 'America, a European Power,' where he wrote: 'In the 21st century, Europe will still need the active American involvement that has been a necessary component of the continental balance for half a century.' In that spirit, there must be no question mark after 'America, a European Power'—a statement made all the more meaningful by the remarkable progress of the Baltic states. Their freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity represent one of the most impressive achievements of transatlantic cooperation in recent decades, and a testament to the enduring importance of American engagement in Europe.' Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; former Prime Minister, Republic of Estonia, said: 'We have entered a new era, with uncertainties over the principles we have held dear over the past decades. Yet, in the face of these challenges, Europe can find strength in its core identity. Our values—freedom, dignity, equality, and prosperity—remain unchanged. These values are not only the foundation of who we are, but also the source of our greatest influence and global appeal.' Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister, Republic of Latvia, said: 'It's a true honor to receive this award alongside my Baltic sisters—the former Prime Ministers of Estonia and Lithuania. We share a deep commitment to European values and a strong transatlantic bond. This prize belongs to the Baltic people, who understand that resilience comes through unity. This year's Henry Kissinger Prize also recognizes our firm support for Ukraine, proving that together, we are stronger.' Ingrida Šimonytė, former Prime Minister, Republic of Lithuania, said in her speech: 'Three decades ago, Kissinger warned that 'NATO has come to be taken for granted as part of a landscape that needs no further tending.' Having ignored the hint, Europe must finally take resolute action. We must contribute our long-overdue fair share to building NATO deterrence and defense capabilities in Europe and substantially increase our military aid to Ukraine to achieve a secure and lasting peace. Our best chance at succeeding in these two monumental efforts is to merge the tasks and accept Ukraine as our thirty-third ally. Article 5 is the only security guarantee with seventy-five years of proven working experience. And take it from Lithuania, any NATO member that has joined since 1997, or from Kissinger's own example: taboos get broken, beliefs change, and what once seemed incomprehensible becomes reality. All it takes is a refusal to give up on fighting for what is right.' *** The American Academy in Berlin is proud to acknowledge Airbus, Arx Robotics GmbH, Bank of America Europe DAC, Bayer AG, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Daimler Truck AG, Deutsche Bank AG, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Google Deutschland GmbH, Lazard, Mastercard, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Microsoft, Quantum-Systems GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Rohde & Schwarz, Sequoia Capital, Siemens Energy AG, and STARK for their generous support of this Henry A. Kissinger Prize. The Henry A. Kissinger Prize was established to honor the founding Chairman of the American Academy in Berlin. Previous recipients are Helmut Schmidt, George H.W. Bush, Richard von Weizsäcker, Michael R. Bloomberg, Helmut Kohl, George P. Shultz, Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist (posthumous), James A. Baker III, Giorgio Napolitano, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Samantha Power, Wolfgang Schäuble, John McCain, Angela Merkel, James N. Mattis, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Jens Stoltenberg. The American Academy in Berlin is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit institution of advanced scholarship dedicated to upholding the cultural, academic, and political ties between the United States and Germany.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Latvian PM explains her vision of sending European troops to Ukraine
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has said that until recently, the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine had been seen as a joint NATO mission, but there is reason to anticipate an alternative European proposal. Source: the Delfi news outlet with reference to a statement by Siliņa, as reported by European Pravda Details: Siliņa emphasised the need to discuss whether it is necessary to create some kind of coalition of states that are capable of ensuring peace in Ukraine and willing to do so. "We need to talk about whether this is being done and what the legal framework will be because so far we have all seen it as a joint NATO mission," she said. The Latvian prime minister believes that it is necessary to prepare scenarios for an alternative European proposal. Siliņa said that the Baltic and Scandinavian regions are closely coordinating their actions and are ready for this. "Today we are going to talk about our proposal for joint negotiations," Siliņa said. She also noted that if it is to be an EU-only mission, then everyone needs to come to an agreement, including about who will command the forces and what guarantees will be given to soldiers if they are sent on this mission. "We have ready-made scenarios, but we have to agree on this big framework," she said. Siliņa stressed that taking into account the current situation, it is necessary to be quite practical about the steps that Ukraine expects, including Ukraine's early accession to the EU, which, in her opinion, is the minimum that Europe can do. Background: French President Emmanuel Macron spoke in favour of sending European troops to Ukraine but stressed that this could only happen on a very limited scale and far from the conflict zones. Meanwhile, The Times reported that the UK is considering sending Typhoon fighter jets to Ukraine to carry out an air patrol mission. The UK thinks that such a move could help avoid the deployment of large numbers of troops on Ukrainian territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that it would be unacceptable for Russia to deploy troops from NATO member states on the territory of Ukraine after an agreement on the settlement of the war is reached. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Baltic States decouple from Russian power grid in historic move
More than 30 years after regaining their independence from the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have disconnected themselves from the Russian energy system. Shortly after 9 am (0700 GMT) on Saturday, the three Baltic countries were disconnected from the electricity grid with Russia, which they had remained connected to since Soviet times. The disconnection went smoothly and was not noticed by consumers, according to the grid operators in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. "The systems are stable and secure," they said in a written statement on Saturday. For one day, the electricity grids of the three countries will now function on their own in what is called "island mode" - and will then be integrated into the European system via Poland on Sunday. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa spoke of the largest and most important project for energy independence and regional security in decades. Power imports from Russia long since stopped Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stopped importing electricity from Russia as part of the fallout from the invasion of Ukraine. However, they were still part of a common, synchronized grid with Russia and Belarus dating back to Soviet times. This was considered a security risk. After the grid change, they will be able to control the basic parameters of the electricity system themselves, such as frequency and voltage. "Russia can no longer use energy as a tool of blackmail. This is a victory for freedom and European unity," wrote the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, on X on Friday. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were forced to become part of the Soviet Union after the Second World War until they regained their independence in 1991. The countries had already been moving towards decoupling from the Russian system, but only at the beginning of 2026. Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 accelerated the project, which was largely funded by the EU. The costs for building the necessary infrastructure totalled around €1.6 billion ($1.65 billion).
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latvia reports smooth disconnection from Russia's power grid
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has announced that the process of disconnecting the Baltic states from the Russian energy grid proceeded without incidents. Source: European Pravda, citing Baltic states news website Delfi Details: After the Baltic states disconnected from the Russian energy grid, Siliņa held phone talks with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen. The discussion centred on the Baltic states' progress towards full integration with the European energy system. "This is the largest and most important project to ensure energy independence and regional security in recent decades. And we've accomplished it a year ahead of schedule," Siliņa said. She expressed satisfaction that the process had proceeded smoothly and thanked the Baltic energy system operators and other responsible institutions for their efforts in ensuring a successful transition. The next steps will focus on modernising the system, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and enhancing the region's security. Siliņa noted that joining the European power grid will increase energy security in the region and ensure independent and reliable control over the frequency of the Baltic power grid. Background: On 8 February, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania officially disconnected from the Russian energy system. Back in July 2024, energy ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania confirmed their plans to synchronise with the continental European energy system ENTSO-E and disconnect from Russia by February 2025. Until now, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, along with Russia and Belarus, have operated within a shared electricity supply system managed centrally from Moscow. However, the Baltic States fully stopped importing electricity from Russia in May 2022. Support UP or become our patron!
Washington Post
26-01-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Latvia seeks cooperation from Baltic Sea allies in finding cause of undersea data cable rupture
RIGA, Latvia — Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said Sunday that her government has reached out to Sweden and other Baltic Sea allies in NATO for assistance as it investigates the cause of damage to an underwater data cable running to Sweden. Siliņa wrote on platform X she was informed in the early hours that the data cable from Latvia to Sweden was damaged in the Baltic Sea 'in the section that is located in the Exclusive economic zone of Sweden.'
