[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RESTORATION OF LITHUANIA'S INDEPENDENCE

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on February 6 of this year, in the 
Divine Providence Church, in Southfield, Michigan, several hundred 
Lithuanian Americans will gather to mark the tenth anniversary of the 
restoration of Lithuania's independence. Joined by Lithuania's 
ambassador to the United States, His Excellency, Stasys Sakalauskas, 
they will be celebrating their nation's original, modern independence 
day, February 16, 1918, as well as the events of March 1, 1990, the 
date on which Lithuania was finally and irrevocably released from the 
grip of Soviet communism.
  Michigan's Lithuanian-American community also will celebrate the 
perseverance and sacrifice of their people, which enabled them to 
achieve the freedom they now enjoy.
  I have reviewed the bare facts before: On March 11, 1990, the newly 
elected Lithuanian Parliament, fulfilling its electoral mandate from 
the people of Lithuania, declared the restoration of Lithuania's 
independence and the establishment of a democratic state. This marked a 
great moment for Lithuania and for lovers of freedom around the globe.
  The people of Lithuania endured 51 years of oppressive foreign 
occupation. Operating under cover of the infamous Hitler-Stalin Pact of 
1939, Soviet troops marched into Lithuania, beginning an occupation 
characterized by communist dictatorship and cultural genocide.
  Even in the face of this oppression, the Lithuanian people were not 
defeated. They assisted their oppressors and kept their culture, their 
faith and their dream of independence very much alive even during the 
hardest times.
  The people of Lithuania were even able to mobilize and sustain a non-
violent movement for social and political change, a movement which came 
to be known as Sajudis. This people's movement helped guarantee a 
peaceful transition to independence through full participation in 
democratic elections on February 24, 1990.
  Unfortunately, as is so often the case, peace and freedom had to be 
purchased again and again. In January of 1991, ten months after 
restoration of independence, the people and government of Lithuania 
faced a bloody assault by foreign troops intent on overthrowing their 
democratic institutions. Lithuanians withstood this assault, 
maintaining their independence and their democracy. Their successful 
use of non-violent resistance to an oppressive regime is an inspiration 
to all.
  Lithuania's integration into the international community has been 
swift and sure. On September 17, 1991, the reborn nation became a 
member of the United Nations and is a signatory to a number of its 
organizations and other international agreements. It also is a member 
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North 
Atlantic Cooperation Council and the Council of Europe.
  Lithuania is an associate member of the European Union, has applied 
for NATO membership and is currently negotiating for membership in the 
WTO, OECD and other Western organizations.
  The United States established diplomatic relations with Lithuania on 
July 28, 1992. But our nation never really broke with the government 
and people of Lithuania. The United States never recognized the 
forcible incorporation of Lituania into the U.S.S.R., and views the 
present Government of Lithuania as a legal continuation of the inter-
war republic. Indeed, for over fifty years the United States maintained 
a bipartisan consensus that our nation would refuse to recognize the 
forcible incorporation of Lithuania into the former Soviet Union.
  America's relations with Lithuania continue to be strong, friendly 
and mutually beneficial. Lithuania has enjoyed Most-Favored-Nation 
(MFN) treatment with the United States since December, 1991. Through 
1996, the United States has committed over $100 million to Lithuania's 
economic and political transformation and to address humanitarian 
needs. In 1994, the United States and Lithuania signed an agreement of 
bilateral trade and intellectual property protection, and in 1997 a 
bilateral investment treaty.
  In 1998 the United States and Lithuania signed The Baltic Charter 
Partnership. That charter recalls the history of American relations 
with the area and underscores our ``real, profound, and enduring'' 
interest in the security and independence of the three Baltic states. 
As the Charter also notes, our interest in a Europe whole and free will 
not be ensured until Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are secure.
  Mr. President, I commend the people of Lithuania for their courage 
and perseverance in using peaceful means to regain their independence. 
I pledge to work with my colleagues to continue working to secure the 
freedom and independence of Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, and I 
join with the people of Lithuania as they celebrate their 
independence.

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