[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 536 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 536

Recognizing the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the 
       30th anniversary of the restoration of their independence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 9, 2020

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. 
    Feinstein, Mr. Braun, Mr. Peters, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
 Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van 
  Hollen, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Coons, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Ms. 
   Klobuchar, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Markey, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Reed, and Ms. 
Stabenow) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the 
       30th anniversary of the restoration of their independence.

Whereas, 3 decades ago, the peoples of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania inspired 
        the world through their victory over the forces of Soviet 
        totalitarianism after decades of resistance;
Whereas the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania originally declared 
        their independence in 1918 and established diplomatic relations with the 
        United States as independent countries on July 28, 1922;
Whereas, 100 years ago this year, Soviet Russia signed treaties with Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania recognizing their sovereignty and renouncing all 
        territorial claims over each Baltic State in perpetuity;
Whereas, on August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the 
        Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which contained a secret protocol dividing 
        Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, with the Baltic States 
        ultimately being assigned to the Soviet Union, leading soon after to the 
        forcible incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union;
Whereas, following World War II, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic States, 
        imposing for more than 5 decades its model of Soviet totalitarianism, 
        which the United States never recognized, instead maintaining 98 years 
        of continuous diplomatic relations with the Baltic States;
Whereas, in August 1989, approximately 2,000,000 people joined hands in Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania to form a 373-mile human chain across the 3 states 
        known as the Baltic Chain of Freedom;
Whereas, in February 1990, the people of Lithuania participated in the first 
        free election to select a new parliament, which promptly voted for 
        restoration of independence, making Lithuania the first occupied Soviet 
        republic to declare the restoration of independence on March 11, 1990, a 
        move subsequently followed by Latvia on May 4, 1990, and Estonia on 
        August 20, 1991;
Whereas, in January 1991, Soviet military forces tried to quash the growing 
        independence restoration movement, leading to approximately 14 
        Lithuanian deaths, as well as 6 Latvian deaths and many injuries;
Whereas, in February and March 1991, the Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian 
        people voted overwhelmingly in support of their respective independence 
        restoration referendums, which the United States recognized later that 
        year;
Whereas the Baltic States helped pave the path for democracy and freedom across 
        Eastern Europe, leading to the fall of the Soviet Union;
Whereas, after restoration of independence, the economies of Estonia, Latvia, 
        and Lithuania emerged as modern market economies leading in technology 
        and financial services sectors;
Whereas Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania continue to demonstrate their commitment 
        to advancing democratic values, peace, and security through their 
        membership and active participation in the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), and the Organisation for 
        Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
Whereas the Baltic States have been loyal NATO allies, contributing to regional 
        security and global security through operations in Afghanistan and 
        leadership in the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in 
        Estonia, the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in 
        Latvia, and the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Lithuania;
Whereas the Baltic States further their contributions to the security of the 
        Euro-Atlantic area by spending at least 2 percent of Gross Domestic 
        Product (GDP) for defense, and contribute to global security through 
        determined participation in international allied operations and 
        missions;
Whereas, since their restoration of independence in 1990 and 1991, Estonia, 
        Latvia, and Lithuania have faced considerable Russian aggressive 
        behavior, intimidation, and cyber attacks, and as a result have worked 
        to shape total defense strategies to counter Russian intervention;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has pursued an aggressive 
        disinformation campaign in the Baltic States, including intimidation of 
        Western civilians and troops stationed in Europe and abroad via hacking, 
        pushing propaganda, and other cyber attacks, and has increased air 
        provocations in Eastern Europe;
Whereas the presence of the United States in the Baltic States remains a crucial 
        factor for ensuring security in the region and complements the efforts 
        of NATO to strengthen its deterrence and defense posture, including an 
        Enhanced Forward Presence posture in the eastern part of the Alliance 
        with multinational battlegroups;
Whereas, in 2019, the United States and the Baltic States signed the Security 
        Cooperation Roadmaps outlining joint security cooperation priorities for 
        2019 to 2024;
Whereas the Baltic States have been models for democratic governance with strong 
        institutions and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law, 
        cherished shared values between the Baltic States and the United States; 
        and
Whereas the democratic development and progress of Estonia, Latvia, and 
        Lithuania since those countries regained independence has established 
        the Baltic States as 3 shining beacons for freedom: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
        Lithuania on the 30th anniversary of the restoration of their 
        independence;
            (2) commits continued support for the Baltic allies of the 
        United States through economic and security cooperation, 
        further strengthening transatlantic ties and regional presence;
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the enduring 
        transatlantic alliance;
            (4) recognizes the courage and resilience of the Estonian, 
        Latvian, and Lithuanian people in their fight for freedom and 
        democracy in the face of Russian aggressive behavior; and
            (5) expresses the wish that the next 30 years of friendship 
        between the Baltic States and the United States are just as 
        full of positive achievements and progress as the last 30 years 
        have been.
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