[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S3546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 110--CONGRATULATING THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA 
  ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF ITS INDEPENDENCE 
                FROM THE RULE OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Helms, Mr. Robb, and Mr. Abraham) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 110

       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 May 4, 1990, of the 
     reestablishment of full sovereignty and independence of the 
     Republic of Latvia furthered the disintegration of the former 
     Soviet Union;
       Whereas Latvia since then has successfully built democracy, 
     passed legislation on human and minority rights that conform 
     to European and international norms, ensured the rule of law, 
     developed a free market economy, 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 Latvia, 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 Latvia on the occasion of the tenth 
     anniversary of the reestablishment of its independence and 
     the role it played in the disintegration of the former Soviet 
     Union; and
       (2) commends Latvia 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.

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today marks the 10th anniversary of 
the declaration of independence of Latvia from the domination of the 
Soviet Union. Latvia's resolution on May 4th, 1990 followed closely 
after Lithuania's declaration in March. These courageous Baltic 
countries led the way to throw off the yoke of Soviet Communist 
imperialism, resulting in the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
  The courage of the peaceful crowd that surrounded the parliament 
building in Riga to prevent a Soviet attack should be remembered and 
commended. The Latvians showed the power of peaceful resistance and 
risked their lives doing so.
  Latvia has now become a vibrant democracy. It has established a free-
market economy and the rule of law. Latvia 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 refusal of 
the United States to recognize Soviet domination of the Baltic states. 
The logic then and the logic now is that the United States will only 
recognize free and independent Baltic states. 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 Latvia, 
Lithuania 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 the Baltic states' 
contribution to the freedom and independence of the former Soviet 
Republics and will join me in congratulating Latvia in celebrating 10 
years of that precious freedom and independence.

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