Estonia's Riigikogu Unites: 95 Members Submit Draft Statement Supporting Ukraine's NATO Membership
10.05.2023 / News from committees, Foreign Affairs Committee Today, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, on behalf of 95 members of the Riigikogu, submitted for legislative proceedings in the Parliament a draft Statement on supporting Ukraine’s wish to join NATO
10.05.2023 / News from committees, Foreign Affairs Committee
Today, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, on behalf of 95 members of the Riigikogu, submitted for legislative proceedings in the Parliament a draft Statement on supporting Ukraine’s wish to join NATO as the only way to ensure the rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu expresses determination to reinforce the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in Europe and to achieve a lasting peace, and expresses its conviction that the politics of spheres of influence in Europe continues to pose a threat to the security of the continent. According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu proceeds from the goal set by NATO member states at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 that Ukraine will join the alliance, and takes into account the application for accession to NATO submitted by the Government of Ukraine last year.
Ukraine submitted the official application to join NATO on 30 September last year. According to the explanatory memorandum of the draft Statement, Estonia, together with the other Baltic States, has always expressed its support to Ukraine in joining NATO and considers it necessary to plan concrete steps for Ukraine’s accession to the organisation at the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11–12 July.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu underlines the need to decisively strengthen the security architecture that has served the security of free and democratic Euro-Atlantic countries well, and expresses support for the people of Ukraine who are fighting for freedom. According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu also recognises the fact that Ukraine’s victory over the Russian Federation, which is waging a war of aggression, and Ukraine’s subsequent accession to NATO constitute the only way to ensure the rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe.
The draft Statement says that the Riigikogu considers it vital to formulate the specific and unambiguous steps necessary for Ukraine’s rapid integration into NATO at the Vilnius Summit, and to grant Ukraine an invitation to join the Alliance.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu will discuss the sending of the draft Statement submitted today for debate and voting in the plenary assembly at its Thursday’s sitting.
Since the beginning of the last year, the Riigikogu has adopted a total of five Statements and one Communication to condemn Russia’s activities and to express support to Ukraine. Most recently, on 22 February, the Riigikogu adopted the Statement submitted by 94 members of the Riigikogu to mark the passing of a year from the beginning of the full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to express their respect for the heroic people of Ukraine.
Riigikogu Press Service, Karin Kangro
Statement of the Riigikogu
in Support of the Ukrainian People
The Riigikogu condemns the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation and expresses respect for the heroic people of Ukraine who are engaged in a valiant fight.
The Riigikogu expresses deep sympathy to the Ukrainian people whose loved ones have fallen in battles with the overpowering aggressor or who have suffered in the genocide committed against the peaceful population.
The bravery of the Ukrainian people compels the countries who respect democratic values to seek unity and continued cooperation in the name of victory for Ukraine.
The Riigikogu calls on the international community to support Ukraine by military, political, and economic means in a more decisive manner to achieve this goal more quickly.
The Riigikogu supports the 10-point peace plan proposed by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which will help to restore peace in Europe and prevent a recurrence of aggression. In order to implement the peace plan, the international community must help Ukraine restore its territorial integrity, bring the leaders of state and senior military officials of the Russian Federation to justice for acts of aggression and war crimes, and ensure the compensation of war damages caused to Ukraine.
The Riigikogu calls on countries around the world to strengthen the sanctions against the Russian Federation and underlines that the sanctions must remain in full force until the peace plan is fully implemented.
The Riigikogu supports the establishment of a centre for investigating Russia’s crime of aggression by the European Union in The Hague and calls on the countries of the world to contribute in every way to the activities of the centre, and to continue with efforts to set up an International Special Tribunal.
The Riigikogu condemns the attempts to admit athletes representing the Russian and Belarusian regimes to international competitions and the Olympic Games in violation of the principles of the Olympic Charter. Neither the International Olympic Committee nor anyone else can remain neutral in regard to the war launched and the genocidal crimes committed by Russia’s terrorist regime – covering up these crimes with the Olympic flag is immoral and unacceptable.
The Riigikogu calls on European Union Member States to support Ukraine in carrying out the reforms needed for acceding to the Union as soon as possible. Estonia supports Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at the first opportunity.
Peace and security in Europe are possible only after Ukraine’s victory over the aggressor. Estonia will continue to assist the state and the people of Ukraine by all means available with resolute and steadfast commitment until this victory is achieved.
Jüri Ratas
President of the Riigikogu
Tallinn, 22.02.2023
