Whereas the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania were occupied in June 1940 by Soviet forces through the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and illegally incorporated into the Soviet Union in
August 1940;
Whereas between June and August 1941, the Baltic nations
were invaded by Nazi Germany, subject to brutal repression, and occupied as
part of the Third Reich before being re-occupied by Soviet forces in late 1944
until they regained their independence in August 1991;
Whereas their forcible and illegal incorporation into the
Soviet Union and Third Reich was never recognized by the United States;
Whereas from 1940 to 1991, thousands of Estonians,
Latvians, and Lithuanians were executed, imprisoned, or exiled by Soviet
authorities through a regime of brutal repression and Sovietization in their
respective nations;
Whereas despite the efforts of the Soviet Union to
eradicate the memory of independence, the Baltic people never lost their hope
for freedom and their long-held dream of full independence;
Whereas during the period of glasnost
and
perestroika
in the Soviet Union, the Baltic people played a
leading role in the struggle for democratic reform and national independence;
and
Whereas in the years following the declaration and
subsequent restoration of full independence, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
have demonstrated their commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of
law, and have actively participated in a wide range of international
structures, pursuing further integration with European political, economic, and
security organizations: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
(1)congratulates Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania on the 20th anniversary of their declarations on the restoration of
independence from the Soviet Union and commends the significant progress that
they have since made, including their membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU); and
(2)calls on the
President to continue to build on the close and mutually beneficial relations
the United States has enjoyed with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the
restoration of the full independence of those nations.
Passed the House of
Representatives December 7, 2010.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.