[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF LATVIAN INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2000

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, today I commemorate the Republic of Latvia 
on the tenth anniversary of the reestablishment of its independence 
from the former Soviet Union.
  On May 4th 1990, the people of Latvia solidified their full 
sovereignty which served to further the disintegration of the Soviet 
Union.
  Latvia has since successfully pursued policies to build democracy, 
protect human rights, expand the rule of law, develop a free market 
system and pursue a course of integration into the community of free 
and democratic nations, including the seeking of membership in the 
European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
  Latvia, together with the Republics of Estonia and Lithuania, 
continues to make a significant contribution toward maintaining peace 
and stability in the surrounding region, especially in peacekeeping 
operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.
  In honor of Latvian Independence Day, I am introducing a concurrent 
resolution to commemorate this special occasion. I hope you will join 
me today in supporting this legislation.
  Once again, I congratulate the people of Latvia on their anniversary 
of independence. I look forward to witnessing all of the future 
successes from this prosperous emerging democracy.

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