Latest news with #ForeignAffairsCommittee
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Latvia: Kanimozhi-led all-party delegation pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi bust at National Library in Riga
Riga [Latvia], May 30 (ANI): The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi paid tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi bust installed in the National Library in Riga on Friday. DMK MP Kanimozhi garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The other members of the delegation also paid their respects. Earlier in the day, the Kanimozhi-led delegation met with Andzejs Vilumsons, the State Secretary of Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andrejs Pildegovics, the Ambassador of Special Tasks of the Secretariat of the Candidate of Latvia to the UN Security Council and Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN on Friday. The delegation led by Kanimozhi also held a joint meeting in Latvia's Riga with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Friendship group of Parliamentarians for India. The meeting was held at the Latvian Saeima, which is a unicameral parliament of delegation members also interacted with think tank members and senior officers from the foreign and other ministries. The Kanimozhi-led delegation arrived in Latvia's capital, Riga, on Friday. India's ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, welcomed them. Following the arrival of the all-party delegation in Latvia, the Indian Ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, stressed the importance of the Indian delegation's visit to Latvia. She said that the delegation will stress India's position on terrorism and its zero tolerance for the issue and mentioned that during the first high-level visit following the opening of the resident mission in Latvia, the delegation will also speak about mobilising a global alliance for the fight against terrorism. 'The delegation is here especially for a very specific objective to stress our position on terrorism, zero tolerance for terrorism and our continuous fight against terrorism. India and Latvia share very strong and friendly relations. This is also testified by the fact that last year we opened our resident Mission here, which shows that the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing. This is the first high-level visit after the opening of the resident mission in Latvia... Our delegation will speak about mobilising the global alliance for the fight against terrorism,' she told ANI. Namrata Kumar further informed that the all-party delegation will meet the Latvian parliamentarians. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Parliament, which is called 'Saeima.' 'They are going to be meeting the parliamentarians - amongst the parliamentarians, they are specifically going to carry out meetings with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of their Parliament, which is called Saeima... When it comes to the Baltic Assembly, where the parliamentarians of the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are represented. It means when our delegation, coming from India, is going to speak to the members of the Latvian parliamentarians, they are also going to promote the idea and the whole objective that they are coming with to the other two countries,' Kumar further said. On Thursday, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. (ANI)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
All-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi holds meeting with Latvian parliamentarians in Riga
Riga [Latvia], May 30 (ANI): The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi on Friday held a joint meeting in Latvia's Riga with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Friendship group of Parliamentarians for India. The meeting was held at the Latvian Saeima, which is a unicameral parliament of Latvia. The delegation members also interacted with think tank members and senior officers from the foreign and other ministries. The Kanimozhi-led delegation arrived in Latvia's capital, Riga, on Friday. India's ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, welcomed them. Following the arrival of the all-party delegation in Latvia, the Indian Ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, stressed the importance of the Indian delegation's visit to Latvia. She said that the delegation will stress India's position on terrorism and its zero tolerance for the issue. She further mentioned that the first high-level visit following the opening of the resident mission in Latvia, the delegation will also speak about mobilising a global alliance for the fight against terrorism. 'The delegation is here especially for a very specific objective to stress our position on terrorism, zero tolerance for terrorism and our continuous fight against terrorism. India and Latvia share very strong and friendly relations. This is also testified by the fact that last year we opened our resident Mission here, which shows that the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing. This is the first high-level visit after the opening of the resident mission in Latvia... Our delegation will speak about mobilising the global alliance for the fight against terrorism', she told ANI. Namrata Kumar further informed that the all-party delegation will meet the Latvian parliamentarians. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Parliament, which is called 'Saeima.' 'They are going to be meeting the parliamentarians - amongst the parliamentarians, they are specifically going to carry out meetings with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of their Parliament, which is called Saeima... When it comes to the Baltic Assembly, where the parliamentarians of the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are represented. It means when our delegation, coming from India, is going to speak to the members of the Latvian parliamentarians, they are also going to promote the idea and the whole objective that they are coming with to the other two countries', Kumar further said. On Thursday, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. While interacting with the Indian diaspora on Wednesday (local time), she added that the government's outreach, which includes opposition MPs, reflects a united stance against cross-border terrorism and a firm resolve to say 'no more' after years of suffering. 'Our Prime Minister and the Government of India have made a decision to reach out to countries. Our delegation, except Capt Brijesh Chowta, is made up of all of the opposition parties. Our Prime Minister and the country have clearly stated that we will no longer differentiate between state-sponsored terrorism and terrorist activities of individuals and groups. India has suffered enough, and the time has come to say no more,' Kanimozhi said. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. (ANI)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
All-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi meets Latvian officials in Riga
Riga [Latvia], May 30 (ANI): The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi met with Andzejs Vilumsons, the State Secretary of Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andrejs Pildegovics, Ambassador of Special Tasks of the Secretariat of the Candidate of Latvia to the UN Security Council and Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN on Friday. Earlier in the day, the delegation led by Kanimozhi held a joint meeting in Latvia's Riga with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Friendship group of Parliamentarians for India. The meeting was held at the Latvian Saeima, which is a unicameral parliament of Latvia. The delegation members also interacted with think tank members and senior officers from the foreign and other ministries. The Kanimozhi-led delegation arrived in Latvia's capital, Riga, on Friday. India's ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, welcomed them. Following the arrival of the all-party delegation in Latvia, the Indian Ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, stressed the importance of the Indian delegation's visit to Latvia. She said that the delegation will stress India's position on terrorism and its zero tolerance for the issue. She further mentioned that during the first high-level visit following the opening of the resident mission in Latvia, the delegation will also speak about mobilising a global alliance for the fight against terrorism. 'The delegation is here especially for a very specific objective to stress our position on terrorism, zero tolerance for terrorism and our continuous fight against terrorism. India and Latvia share very strong and friendly relations. This is also testified by the fact that last year we opened our resident Mission here, which shows that the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing. This is the first high-level visit after the opening of the resident mission in Latvia... Our delegation will speak about mobilising the global alliance for the fight against terrorism', she told ANI. Namrata Kumar further informed that the all-party delegation will meet the Latvian parliamentarians. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Parliament, which is called 'Saeima.' 'They are going to be meeting the parliamentarians - amongst the parliamentarians, they are specifically going to carry out meetings with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of their Parliament, which is called Saeima... When it comes to the Baltic Assembly, where the parliamentarians of the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are represented. It means when our delegation, coming from India, is going to speak to the members of the Latvian parliamentarians, they are also going to promote the idea and the whole objective that they are coming with to the other two countries', Kumar further said. On Thursday, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. While interacting with the Indian diaspora on Wednesday (local time), she added that the government's outreach, which includes opposition MPs, reflects a united stance against cross-border terrorism and a firm resolve to say 'no more' after years of suffering. 'Our Prime Minister and the Government of India have made a decision to reach out to countries. Our delegation, except Capt Brijesh Chowta, is made up of all of the opposition parties. Our Prime Minister and the country have clearly stated that we will no longer differentiate between state-sponsored terrorism and terrorist activities of individuals and groups. India has suffered enough, and the time has come to say no more,' Kanimozhi said. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. (ANI)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kanimozhi led multi-party delegation arrives in Latvia's capital Riga
Riga [Latvia], May 30 (ANI): The multi-party delegation led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi arrived in Latvia's capital Riga. They were welcomed by India's ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar. Following the arrival of the multi-party delegation to Latvia, Indian Ambassador to Latvia, Namrata Kumar, stressed out the importance of Indian delegation's visit to Latvia. She said that the delegation will stress India's position on terrorism and its zero tolerance over the issue. She further mentioned that first high-level visit following the opening of resident mission in Latvia and the delegation will also speak about mobilising a global alliance for the fight against terrorism. 'The delegation is here especially for a very specific objective to stress our position on terrorism, zero tolerance for terrorism and our continuous fight against terrorism. India and Latvia share very strong and friendly relations. This is also testified by the fact that last year we opened our resident Mission here, which shows that the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing. This is the first high-level visit after the opening of the resident mission in Latvia... Our delegation will speak about mobilising the global alliance for the fight against terrorism', she told ANI. Namrata Kumar further informed that the multi-party delegation will be meeting the Latvian parliamentarians. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with the Foreign Affairs Committee of Latvian Parliament, which is called 'Saeima'. 'They are going to be meeting the parliamentarians - amongst the parliamentarians, they are specifically going to carry out meetings with the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of their Parliament, which is called Saeima... When it comes to the Baltic Assembly, where the parliamentarians of the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are represented. It means when our delegation, coming from India, is going to speak to the members of the Latvian parliamentarians, they are also going to promote the idea and the whole objective that they are coming with to the other two countries', Kumar further said. On Thursday, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. While interacting with the Indian diaspora on Wednesday (local time), she added that the government's outreach, which includes opposition MPs, reflects a united stance against cross-border terrorism and a firm resolve to say 'no more' after years of suffering. 'Our Prime Minister and the Government of India have made a decision to reach out to countries. In our delegation, except Capt Brijesh Chowta, all of us are from the opposition parties. Our Prime Minister and the country have clearly stated that we will no longer differentiate between state-sponsored terrorism and terrorist activities of individuals and groups. India has suffered enough, and the time has come to say no more,' Kanimozhi said. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. (ANI)
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP Phil Brickell column - 'We live in an increasingly turbulent world'
Foreign affairs – that doesn't matter to me or my family you might think. Actually, what goes on in the world and how the UK can influence it is critical to our daily lives. In previous columns I've set out my views – on the NHS, on crime, on the environment. But for this column I want to let you know more about the jobs" target="_blank">work I do on the Foreign Affairs Committee, why it matters and how it's done. We live in an increasingly turbulent world – whether that's because of climate change, conflict abroad, the rise of authoritarian governments or the breakdown in the post-Second World War multilateral system. Britain is uniquely placed to tackle many of these issues. Issues which have real-life consequences for irregular migration, the cost of living, our economy and the UK's ability to influence neighbours and allies. And with war in Europe and conflict in the Middle East we see the actions of other states having visible impacts on our own streets. I serve as one of only 11 MPs on the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. Not all MPs are members of a select committee - formal groups of parliamentarians which scrutinise the work of a government department. So, as a relatively new MP, it's a real privilege to be given the opportunity to hold the government to account, to hear evidence from policy experts and to provide policy recommendations to the Foreign Office. The Committee is made up of seven Labour MPs, two Conservatives and two Liberal Democrats. Crucially, it works across party lines to propose policy solutions to the Foreign Office on some of the most difficult issues of the day including: · The conflict between Israel and Palestine · Russia and Ukraine · The UK's reset with the European Union · Britain's role on the global stage – including our soft power assets such as the BBC World Service and the British Council · How the United Nations works and the UK's role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council · The effectiveness of the UK's sanctions regime – against Russia but also other state and non-state actors What we don't cover, but may take into account as part of our work: · International aid - covered by the separate House of Commons International Development Committee · Asylum and immigration – covered by the Home Affairs Committee · Foreign direct investment into the UK – covered by the Business and Trade Committee · UK military strength and security – looked at by the Defence Committee and Intelligence and Security Committee We usually meet formally twice every week when Parliament is sitting –on Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings. Those sessions give me and my fellow MPs the opportunity to quiz witnesses on particular topics. We typically invite academics, foreign diplomats, think tanks, MPs from other countries and government ministers to speak in order to understand the latest developments in the relevant country and what UK policy might be. Sometimes those meetings will be private – given the confidential nature of the evidence given, or because of diplomatic sensitivities. Many of our sessions are broadcast live and you can watch them from home. Occasionally, we will write to the Foreign Secretary or Foreign Office ministers questioning their policy objectives or asking what assurances they can provide around their work to-date. And we also produce written reports on our enquiries as well, which are published and usually picked up by UK media. But it's also vital that we have a deep understanding of the issues at hand, which is why the Committee travels to countries of focus. At the start of this year I was on a delegation to Paris and Brussels to explore how the French government is tackling the rise of foreign dis- and misinformation and what we might learn from that. In Brussels we discussed the UK EU relationship, and the reset summit which was held earlier this week in London. In addition, we meet informally with ambassadors, representatives of international charities and supranational organisations (e.g. the United Nations), MPs from other countries and foreign policy experts. Those informal sessions provide a vital opportunity to delve into issues in further detail and to understand how our relationships with other countries can be improved – whether that's to create more jobs at home, improving security for British tourists abroad, helping British interests in general. The Foreign Affairs Committee is just one component part of my work as a Member of Parliament. It sits alongside being a constituency MP, a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and my involvement in a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups. At a time when geopolitics has never been more in flux, its vital we have the very best policy to ensure a strong, safe Britain. I'm proud to play my small part in making that happen.
