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At the time of the regional visit to Daugavpils, President Egils Levits and local leaders of Latgale Planning Region discussed the prospects for Latgale development in the new geopolitical and economic conditions. Rēzekne District Council Chairman Monvīds Švarcs also participated in the conversation.
In addressing the present, the President of the country stressed: “It is important at this time to strengthen cooperation between state and local authorities in order to better identify the tasks to be accomplished, how to strengthen our society's cohesion, how to promote the economy and the well-being of people, how to better provide support to Ukraine and its people and how to reduce the impact of sanctions imposed against Russia and Belarus on our economy.”
As regards the development of municipalities, the President OF the municipality of Rēzekne, Monvīds Švarcs, listed three main directions: the creation of an attractive and high-quality place of living for its citizens, the development of the business environment and the cohesion of the local community. “If you talk about business development, you must talk not only about Latgale but about the whole border. It is necessary to think about a systematic approach, not as firefighters in certain periods, to save Latgale by announcing populist political tribes, but such programmes must be targeted towards all regions of Latvia with lower economic development indicators,“ marked Monvīds Švarcs. "For example, along with the large Rail Baltica project, the rest of Latvia must be balanced in a balanced manner, otherwise there will be rapid development around one route, while elsewhere, the economic gap will further deepened. At national level, there is a problem where entrepreneurs choose to invest not in Latgale but in places where an active economic activity is already taking place."
During the debate, both President and several municipal leaders also touched on the issue of war in Ukraine. “The economic crisis in the world is the price we pay for everyone to see what is actually Russia. If the price that Ukrainians pay for Russian aggression is life, it is only economic comfort for the rest of the world – these things are not comparable at all,” said the Chairman of the Rēzekne District Council.
“The civilians murdered by the Russian army in Bucha are a bloody border. The border crossing between us - the democratic West - Latvia - and Russia, where aggressive Putin regime is ruled,“ said Egils Levits. “There is no room for compromises, grey shades and indecision.” It's only white and black, it's just the good one against the evil, righteous criminal. We must all be united, standing on the side of truth and justice. Those who say it is hard to say who is right is to support aggressor and criminal treatment. Everyone who has eyes sees. Everyone who has ears hears. All who have the brain understand. Everyone who has a heart cries, "said the President of the country.
Madara Burtina,
Public relations specialist of the municipality of Rezekne
Photo: Ilmārs Znotiņš, President of the President, Egita Teresis Jonathan