This week’s hot topic in Latvia: what to do with the Victory Monument complex in Riga? Residents are not allowed to come near and celebrate anything in the proximity of this monument. This week Riga City Council declared the monument complex unsafe for people and fenced it off.
This week news came from Latvia’s government: a conceptual agreement was reached on the construction of a liquefied gas terminal in the country to ensure a full embargo of Russian gas.
In a show of support for Ukraine, Polish and Baltic presidents visited Kyiv this week to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and see with their own eyes what Russian forces have done in the outskirts of Kyiv.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Meeting; Gas; Unsafe monument; Kremlin; French presidential elections; Tourism in Lithuania.
MEETING
PHOTO: Polish and Baltic presidents meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy
Polish and Baltic presidents meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Ilmārs Znotiņš/State President’s ChancelleryBaltic States and Poland will continue actively supporting Ukraine, which has suffered from Russian aggression, with both military and humanitarian aid, as affirmed by presidents of Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania during their meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Wednesday, 13 April.
As reported by Latvian State President’s Chancellery, Zelenskyy highly valued the visit, stressing that the visiting presidents showed great support and friendship to Ukraine. Together they visited the ruined cities and villages, becoming witnesses to the horrible results of the Russian aggression.
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GAS
Ruling coalition conceptually agree to build a liquefied gas terminal in Latvia
Photo: Reuters/SCANPIXPolitical parties forming the government have conceptually agreed to initiate construction of liquefied gas terminal (LNG) in Latvia, said Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš at a press-conference after a meeting of coalition parties.
The PM said the Ministry of Economics is ordered to work with potential investors to assess who will build the terminal and where. Kariņš said this is a medium-term project.
In a short-term perspective the Ministry of Economics will continue talks with Estonia and Finland to ensure natural gas supplies from Paldisku LNG terminal, which is under construction in Estonia and should be finished this year.
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UNSAFE MONUMENT
Riga mayor: the monument complex in Victory Park is declared unsafe
Photo: LETA/BNN collageThe monument complex located in Victory Park is officially declared unsafe. Because of this the municipal administration will fence it off, said Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis.
Riga City Council’s City Development’s report mentions the technical state of the monument complex located in Victory Park has worsened over the years, and it is no longer considered safe for residents.
Considering the findings, Riga Monument Agency will fence off the monument complex on Monday, 11 April. This situation will remain until authorities make their decision, according to representatives of Riga City Council.
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KREMLIN
Moscow trying to discourage Finland and Sweden from joining NATO
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Photo: EPA/SCANPIXWar in Ukraine is changing public opinion in Finland and Sweden on their possible membership of the NATO. Russia is trying to influence it, by evaluating to both Nordic Countries that joining the military alliance would not increase stability in Europe, British public broadcaster BBC reports.
This week, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov reiterated the view of the country’s leadership that the bloc «is not that kind of alliance which ensures peace and stability, and its further expansion will not bring additional security to the European continent».
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FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
French presidential run-off to take place between Le Pen and Macron
Photo: EPA/SCANPIXIn France, the first round of the presidential election has been held with incumbent Emmanuel Macron coming first and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen reaching second place, British news portal The Guardian reports.
In the election on Sunday, April 10, Macron won it with 27.6% of the vote, ahead of Le Pen’s 23.4%, according to initial projected results by Ipsos for France Télévisions.
The liberal incumbent president of France scored higher than his result in the first round five years ago, and clearly gained support in the final hours of the campaign after his harsh warnings to voters to hold back the far right and protect France’s place on the international diplomatic stage amid the war in Ukraine.
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TOURISM IN LITHUANIA
BNN ANALYSES | Ukraine’s bombing and shelling lead to Westerners’ holiday cancellations in Lithuania
A pedestrian street in Palanga, Lithuania. Photo: 15min.lt/SCANPIXWar in Ukraine is reverberating across the world, echoing in Lithuania too. Unfortunately, horrific photos and videos from the war-ruined Ukrainian cities frighten some Westerners so much that they cancel their holiday plans even in Lithuania, some 1 000 kilometres away from the war zone.
«The hotels that usually accommodate groups of visitors mentioned a couple of weeks ago that they see reservations made by German and Austrian tourism agencies cancelled until May 15. Meanwhile, those for later remain intact, which is a hopeful sign, Edita Lubickaitė, director of Nida Culture and Tourism Information Centre «Agila», told BNN.
The resort of Neringa, she says, is reeling off from the abating COVID-19 pandemic which, for the last two years, deterred German tourists from travelling to the picturesque, serene and German heritage-rich municipality.
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BNN summary of the week: Presidents meet. Dangerous monument. Gas terminal in Latvia
