[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 22 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S1156]]
 CONGRATULATING THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                THE REESTABLISHMENT OF ITS INDEPENDENCE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 91 introduced earlier 
today by Senators Durbin, Gorton, Lott, Helms, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 91) congratulating 
     the Republic of Lithuania on the tenth anniversary of the 
     reestablishment of its independence from the rule of the 
     former Soviet Union.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the concurrent resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, March 11 will mark the 10th anniversary of 
the declaration of independence of Lithuania from the domination of the 
Soviet Union. Lithuania led the way for other Soviet Republics to throw 
off the yolk of Soviet Communist imperialism, resulting in the 
disintegration of the Soviet Union.
  This declaration was not without cost--in January 1991, Soviet 
paratroopers stormed the Press House in Vilnius, injuring four people. 
Barricades were set up in front of the Lithuanian Parliament, the 
Seimas. Soviet forces attacked the television station and tower in 
Vilnius, killing 13 Lithuanians. One woman was killed when she tried to 
block a Soviet armored personnel carrier.
  But these courageous Lithuanians did not suffer and die in vain. 
Lithuania has now become a vibrant democracy. It has established a 
free-market economy and the rule of law. Lithuania wants to be fully 
integrated into Europe, and is seeking membership in the European Union 
and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.
  This year we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. 
Congress' insistence that Soviet domination of the Baltic states would 
not be recognized by the United States. The logic then and the logic 
now is that the United States will only recognize a free and 
independent Lithuania. What we celebrate this year is what we must help 
preserve next year and the year after that. We must carry on that 
principle today by being sure that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are 
admitted into NATO as an unequivocal statement that we will never 
tolerate domination of the Baltic states again.
  I support admitting the Baltic states into NATO and I hope my 
colleagues here in the Senate will support their entry also in the next 
round of NATO expansion.
  That debate we will save for another day, but I am sure all my 
colleagues can agree on the importance of Lithuania's contribution to 
freedom and independence for the former Soviet Republics and will join 
me in congratulating Lithuania in celebrating ten years of that 
precious freedom and independence.
  I am honored that my mother was born in a tiny Lithuanian village 
many years ago; that she came to this country proud of her heritage, 
but determined to be an American citizen. This Senator, the son of that 
proud Lithuanian mother, now serves in this great body and takes pride 
in being able to rise and salute the courageous people of Lithuania on 
this the occasion of the tenth anniversary of their independence from 
Soviet domination.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and, finally, any statements be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Res. 91) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 91

       Whereas the United States had never recognized the forcible 
     incorporation of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and 
     Lithuania into the former Soviet Union;
       Whereas the declaration on March 11, 1990, of the 
     reestablishment of full sovereignty and independence of the 
     Republic of Lithuania led to the disintegration of the former 
     Soviet Union;
       Whereas Lithuania since then has successfully built 
     democracy, ensured human and minority rights, the rule of 
     law, developed a free market economy, implemented exemplary 
     relations with neighboring countries, and consistently 
     pursued a course of integration into the community of free 
     and democratic nations by seeking membership in the European 
     Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
       Whereas Lithuania, as a result of the progress of its 
     political and economic reforms, has made, and continues to 
     make, a significant contribution toward the maintenance of 
     international peace and stability by, among other actions, 
     its participation in NATO-led peacekeeping operations in 
     Bosnia and Kosovo: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress hereby--
       (1) congratulates Lithuania on the occasion of the tenth 
     anniversary of the reestablishment of its independence and 
     the leading role it played in the disintegration of the 
     former Soviet Union; and
       (2) commends Lithuania for its success in implementing 
     political and economic reforms, which may further speed the 
     process of that country's integration into European and 
     Western institutions.

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