[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 122--RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
   THE UNITED STATES NONRECOGNITION POLICY OF THE SOVIET TAKEOVER OF 
   ESTONIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA, AND CALLING FOR POSITIVE STEPS TO 
     PROMOTE A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC FUTURE FOR THE BALTIC REGION

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Robb, Mr. Grams, and Mr. 
Voinovich) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 122

       Whereas in June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic 
     countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and forcibly 
     incorporated them into the Union of Soviet Socialist 
     Republics;
       Whereas throughout the occupation, the United States 
     maintained that the acquisition of Baltic territory by force 
     was not permissible under international law and refused to 
     recognize Soviet sovereignty over these lands;
       Whereas on July 15, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt 
     issued Executive Order No. 8484, which froze Baltic assets in 
     the United States to prevent them from falling into Soviet 
     hands;
       Whereas on July 23, 1940, Acting Secretary of State Sumner 
     Welles issued the first public statement of United States 
     policy of nonrecognition of the Soviet takeover of the Baltic 
     countries, condemning that act in the strongest terms;
       Whereas the United States took steps to allow the 
     diplomatic representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 
     in Washington to continue to represent their nations 
     throughout the Soviet occupation;
       Whereas Congress on a bipartisan basis strongly and 
     consistently supported the policy of nonrecognition of the 
     Soviet takeover of the Baltic countries during the 50 years 
     of occupation;
       Whereas in 1959, Congress designated the third week in July 
     as ``Captive Nations Week'', and authorized the President to 
     issue a proclamation declaring June 14 as ``Baltic Freedom 
     Day'';
       Whereas in December 1975, the House of Representatives and 
     the Senate adopted resolutions declaring that the Final Act 
     of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 
     which accepted the inviolability of borders in Europe, did 
     not alter the United States nonrecognition policy;
       Whereas during the struggle of the Baltic countries for the 
     restoration of their independence in 1990 and 1991, Congress 
     passed a number of resolutions that underscored its continued 
     support for the nonrecognition policy and for Baltic self-
     determination;
       Whereas since then the Baltic states have successfully 
     built democracy, ensured the rule of law, developed free 
     market economies, 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;
       Whereas the Russian Federation has extended formal 
     recognition to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as independent 
     and sovereign states; and
       Whereas the United States, the European Union, and the 
     countries of Northern Europe have supported regional 
     cooperation in Northern Europe among the Baltic and Nordic 
     states and the Russian Federation in addressing common 
     environmental, law enforcement, and public health problems, 
     and in promoting civil society and business and trade 
     development: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the United States 
     nonrecognition policy of the Soviet takeover of the Baltic 
     states and the contribution that policy made in supporting 
     the aspirations of the people of Estonia, Latvia, and 
     Lithuania to reassert their freedom and independence;
       (2) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for the 
     reestablishment of their independence and the role they 
     played in the disintegration of the former Soviet Union in 
     1990 and 1991;
       (3) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania for their 
     success in implementing political and economic reforms, which 
     may further speed the process of their entry into European 
     and Western institutions; and
       (4) supports regional cooperation in Northern Europe among 
     the Baltic and Nordic states and the Russian Federation and 
     calls for further cooperation in addressing common 
     environmental, law enforcement, and public health problems, 
     and in promoting civil society and business and trade 
     development, and similar efforts that promote a peaceful, 
     democratic, prosperous, and secure future for Europe, Russia 
     and the Nordic-Baltic region.

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