[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ESTONIAN PRESIDENT LENNART MERI HONORED BY THE CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2000

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today the Congress of the United States is 
honoring President Lennart Meri of the Republic of Estonia at a special 
reception here in the Capitol Building paying tribute to the 
contribution of the United States to the freedom of the Baltic states. 
Sixty years ago, in 1940 as World War II raged in Europe, the Baltic 
nations--Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania--lost their freedom, first 
falling under Soviet control, then Nazi German occupation, and then 
again under Soviet dominance.
  For half a century--from 1940 until 1990 when the Baltic states 
regained their independence--the United States government refused to 
recognize the occupation of the Baltic states. This policy of non-
recognition was a public affirmation of the right of these three 
nations to their independence. When the Soviet Union collapsed ten 
years ago, the American people joined in the celebration as Lithuania, 
Latvia and Estonia once again emerged as independent and democratic 
states.
  It is appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that we mark today the six decades of 
American support for the independence of the Baltic States. It is 
particularly noteworthy that President Lennart Meri is here in the 
United States to join us in celebrating a decade of renewed 
independence for Estonia.
  Mr. Speaker, President Lennart Meri's life mirrors the tragedy and 
pathos of the Estonian and Baltic struggle for national independence 
and democracy. As a young man, President Meri and his family were 
deported to Siberia along with thousands of other Estonians, Latvians 
and Lithuanians. It is particularly noteworthy that we are holding this 
celebration today, because today is the anniversary of the date that 
Lennart Meri and his family were expelled from Estonia and forcibly 
taken to Siberia--June 14, 1941.
  Later, after returning to Estonia, President Meri graduated cum laude 
from Tartu University. Unable to practice his profession as a 
historian, he traveled to the most remote areas of the Soviet Union, 
where he wrote and produced films on the cultures of small ethnic 
groups. Meri's literary works, films and translations contributed 
significantly to the preservation of the Estonian national identity.
  Lennart Meri's shift of focus from literary to political activities 
took place in 1988 when he established the non-governmental Estonian 
Institute to establish cultural contacts with the countries of the 
West. These Estonian cultural missions, established under his auspices, 
became embassies of Estonia when the country formally regained its 
independence in 1991.
  Lennart Meri was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on April 12, 
1990, following Estonia's first non-communist elections in over fifty 
years. He established formal diplomatic contacts with countries of 
Europe, the United States, and other nations, and he represented 
Estonia at a number of international conferences. He also served 
briefly as Estonia's ambassador to Finland. On October 6, 1992, Lennart 
Meri was elected President of the Republic of Estonia, and in September 
1996 he was reelected to this position.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in extending a special 
warm welcome to President Lennart Meri of Estonia.

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