[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 122 Referred in House (RFH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 122


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2000

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States nonrecognition 
  policy of the Soviet takeover of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and 
calling for positive steps to promote a peaceful and democratic future 
                         for the Baltic region.

Whereas in June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic countries of Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania and forcibly incorporated them into the Union of 
        Soviet Socialist Republics;
Whereas throughout the occupation, the United States maintained that the 
        acquisition of Baltic territory by force was not permissible under 
        international law and refused to recognize Soviet sovereignty over these 
        lands;
Whereas on July 15, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 
        No. 8484, which froze Baltic assets in the United States to prevent them 
        from falling into Soviet hands;
Whereas on July 23, 1940, Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles issued the 
        first public statement of United States policy of nonrecognition of the 
        Soviet takeover of the Baltic countries, condemning that act in the 
        strongest terms;
Whereas the United States took steps to allow the diplomatic representatives of 
        Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Washington to continue to represent 
        their nations throughout the Soviet occupation;
Whereas Congress on a bipartisan basis strongly and consistently supported the 
        policy of nonrecognition of the Soviet takeover of the Baltic countries 
        during the 50 years of occupation;
Whereas in 1959, Congress designated the third week in July as ``Captive Nations 
        Week'', and authorized the President to issue a proclamation declaring 
        June 14 as ``Baltic Freedom Day'';
Whereas in December 1975, the House of Representatives and the Senate adopted 
        resolutions declaring that the Final Act of the Commission for Security 
        and Cooperation in Europe, which accepted the inviolability or borders 
        in Europe, did not alter the United States nonrecognition policy;
Whereas during the struggle of the Baltic countries for the restoration of their 
        independence in 1990 and 1991, Congress passed a number of resolutions 
        that underscored its continued support for the nonrecognition policy and 
        for Baltic self-determination;
Whereas since then the Baltic states have successfully built democracy, ensured 
        the rule of law, developed free market economies, and consistently 
        pursued a course of integration into the community of free and 
        democratic nations by seeking membership in the European Union and the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
Whereas the Russian Federation has extended formal recognition to Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania as independent and sovereign states; and
Whereas the United States, the European Union, and the countries of Northern 
        Europe have supported regional cooperation in Northern Europe among the 
        Baltic and Nordic states and the Russian Federation in addressing common 
        environmental, law enforcement, and public health problems, and in 
        promoting civil society and business and trade development: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the United States 
        nonrecognition policy of the Soviet takeover of the Baltic 
        states and the contribution that policy made in supporting the 
        aspirations of the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to 
        reassert their freedom and independence;
            (2) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for the 
        reestablishment of their independence and the role they played 
        in the disintegration of the former Soviet Union in 1990 and 
        1991;
            (3) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for their 
        success in implementing political and economic reforms, which 
        may further speed the process of their entry into European and 
        Western institutions; and
            (4) supports regional cooperation in Northern Europe among 
        the Baltic and Nordic states and the Russian Federation and 
        calls for further cooperation in addressing common 
        environmental, law enforcement, and public health problems, and 
        in promoting civil society and business and trade development, 
        and similar efforts that promote a peaceful, democratic, 
        prosperous, and secure future for Europe, Russia and the 
        Nordic-Baltic region.

            Passed the Senate July 19, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.