[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
                CELEBRATING LITHUANIA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pitts). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the people 
of Lithuania who will be celebrating their Independence day next 
Monday. With the passage of each year, Lithuania grows into a more 
stable, prosperous and Democratic country. To ensure this growth 
continues in Lithuania and the rest of the Baltic States, the United 
States must remain committed to supporting the region.
  Lithuania is rich in history and has proven its resilience. This 
country has continually been occupied by rogue regimes which exploited 
its resources and people. However, the desire for democracy continued 
to grow within the Lithuanian people. After four decades of 
suppression, Lithuania finally achieved freedom in 1990 and 
reestablished the independent Lithuanian state.
  I do not think that many Americans paid attention to the recent 
presidential elections in Lithuania. I wish they would have. They 
should be proud of the fact that an American citizen was elected the 
new President. Valdas Adamkus, from my home State of Illinois, is a 
shining example of the Democratic reforms which have come to this 
former Soviet state. His election testifies to the desire of the 
Lithuanian people to do away with ex-Communists and to embrace western 
ideas.
  President Adamkus and his family fled the country as the Communists 
took over during World War II. After spending part of his teens in a 
Nazi camp, President Adamkus emigrated to the United States. Here he 
forged a truly distinguished career as a regional administrator for the 
Environmental Protection Agency. With the many years spent in America, 
president Adamkus will be able to bring fresh non-Soviet ideas to 
government.
  Now is the time for the United States to recognize the struggle the 
Lithuanians have endured for democracy and freedom. On January 16 
President Clinton took the first step in realizing the importance of 
this region of the world. On that day he signed the U.S.-Baltic 
Charter. While the charter does not contain any security guarantees, it 
does prove to the Baltics the continuing commitment of the United 
States to their country. Additionally, the charter commits the Baltic 
States to democracy, rule of law, free markets and human rights.
  However, what the charter should not do is close the door on the 
expansion of NATO to include the Baltic region. Recently, we have begun 
to hear that NATO does not need to be expanded. Some fear the expansion 
will dilute the military alliance which is the essence of NATO. They 
would rather have the European Union do much of the work for the 
emerging democracies while leaving NATO to deal with Russia. This is 
very shortsighted.
  What we need to do is focus on the region, providing guidance and 
support while these countries are developing. The United States should 
not pull back and leave these countries stranded in a strategic 
uncertainty. Enlargement, with the need to meet the rigorous military 
and political standards will continue to promote calm in the region. We 
need to leave the door open for expansion so that Lithuania, Latvia and 
Estonia have a goal to strive towards as they continue to develop.
  Mr. Speaker, again I would like to congratulate the Lithuanian people 
on another year of independence. After all their hard work and 
struggle, they are beginning to reap the rewards. The United States 
should wholeheartedly embrace Lithuania and the entire Baltic region 
through the expansion of NATO so these emerging democracies can 
continue to prosper.

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