[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9238-S9239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   APPLAUDING LITHUANIA AND POLAND FOR HOSTING THE VILNIUS CONFERENCE

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud Lithuania 
and Poland for their efforts in promoting peace and security in Central 
and Eastern Europe. This past weekend, Lithuania and Poland hosted an 
international conference in Vilnius on the subject of coexistence 
between nations and good neighborly relations. The conference brought 
together the leaders of 11 countries--Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, 
Estonia, Ukraine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Belarus, 
Finland, and Russia--to discuss practical ways to promoting peaceful 
relations among their peoples. Lithuania and Poland pointed to 
improvements in their own relationship as a model for other nations. I 
also commend President Clinton for recognizing the leadership of 
Lithuania and Poland on this issue, by sending the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State for European Affairs as the United States 
representative to the Vilnius conference.
  In convening this conference, Lithuania and Poland stressed the 
essential connections between democratic institutions, free markets, 
and peace. Democratic institutions are founded on the values of 
tolerance and respect for individual and minority rights; values which 
promote good relations between neighbors. Free markets are providing 
the people of that region with unprecedented opportunities to improve 
their lives in material terms, giving them an incentive to put aside 
old animosities and differences. And of course, peace provides an 
environment in which democratic institutions and free markets can 
flourish. The work of the Vilnius conference advances major

[[Page S9239]]

American foreign policy goals: security in the North Atlantic region 
and the expansion of democratic institutions and free markets.
  Lithuania and Poland are meeting their responsibilities in the new 
Europe. They are leading the way in forging a new pattern of politics 
in Europe, as Secretary of State Albright called for during her trip to 
Lithuania last July. During her visit, Secretary Albright stated that 
any new members of NATO must be producers of security, not merely 
consumers. Mr. President, by reaching out to their neighbors--including 
Russia--Lithuania and Poland are showing themselves to be producers of 
security. They are, in short, excellent candidates for NATO membership. 
We in the Senate should do all we can to encourage Lithuania and Poland 
in their efforts to promote security in the North Atlantic region and 
to support their membership in NATO.

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