[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4012-S4013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 34--CONGRATULATING THE BALTIC NATIONS OF 
    ESTONIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
               REESTABLISHMENT OF THEIR FULL INDEPENDENCE

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Voinovich) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 34

       Whereas the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and 
     Lithuania were forcibly and illegally incorporated into the 
     Soviet Union from 1940 until 1991;

[[Page S4013]]

       Whereas from 1940 to 1991, thousands of Estonians, 
     Latvians, and Lithuanians were executed, imprisoned, or 
     exiled by Soviet authorities through a regime of brutal 
     repression, Sovietization, and Russification in their 
     respective nations;
       Whereas despite the efforts of the Soviet Union to 
     eradicate the memory of independence, the Baltic people never 
     lost their hope for freedom and their long-held dream of full 
     independence;
       Whereas during the period of ``glasnost'' and 
     ``perestroika'' in the Soviet Union, the Baltic people led 
     the struggle for democratic reform and national independence; 
     and
       Whereas, in the years following the restoration of full 
     independence, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have 
     demonstrated their commitment to democracy, human rights, and 
     the rule of law, and have actively participated in a wide 
     range of international structures, pursuing further 
     integration with European political, economic, and security 
     organizations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) congratulates Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the 
     tenth anniversary of the restoration of their full 
     independence; and
       (2) calls on the President to continue to build the close 
     and mutually beneficial relations the United States has 
     enjoyed with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the 
     restoration of the full independence of those nations.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am joined by Senators Dodd and 
Voinovich, fellow members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation 
in Europe, in submitting a Concurrent Resolution congratulating the 
people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the tenth anniversary of 
the restoration of their full independence. The resolution also calls 
on the President of the United States to build upon the close and 
mutually beneficial relations with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that 
have existed since the restoration of their full independence.
  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the reestablishment of full 
independence to the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 
after almost five decades of illegal and brutal incorporation into the 
Soviet Union. The Baltic nations were independent between World War I 
and World War II. Their freedom and independence were stolen from them 
in a secret deal struck between Hitler and Stalin.
  During the Soviet era, thousands of Estonians, Latvians, and 
Lithuanians were executed, imprisoned or exiled by the Soviet regime as 
Moscow attempted to repress any resistance to its rule. Besides 
physically persecuting individuals, the Soviet Union also tried to 
destroy the rich heritage of the Baltic people, by degrading their 
culture and attempting to replace their native languages with Russian.
  It didn't work. The Baltic people never gave up their hope for 
freedom and their long-held dream of independence.
  Moreover, during the Soviet period of ``glasnost'' and 
``perestroika,'' the Baltic people led the struggle for democratic 
reform and national consciousness. In the ten years following the 
restoration of their full independence, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 
have demonstrated their commitment to democracy, human rights, and rule 
of law at home. At the same time, they have actively participated in a 
wide range of international structures, while pursuing further 
integration into European political, economic and security 
organizations.
  Earlier today I had the pleasure to meet with President Vike-
Freiberga of Latvia, in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe. I was joined by Co-Chairman Chris 
Smith and fellow Commissioner Zach Wamp. President Vike-Freiberga 
struck us as an impressive leader during our wide-ranging discussion of 
Euro-Atlantic cooperation and Latvia's development since the 
restoration of independence. Therefore, it is fitting that we introduce 
this resolution today, coinciding with President Vike-Freiberga's 
working visit to Washington.
  I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution.

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