[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3033-S3034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRATULATING LITHUANIA ON ITS 1000TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
70, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 70) congratulating the people of the 
     Republic of Lithuania on the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania 
     and celebrating the rich history of Lithuania.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an important 
moment for the people of Lithuania. Last month, Lithuania celebrated 
its 1000 year anniversary.
  Along with my distinguished colleagues, Senator Voinovich from Ohio 
and Senator Feinstein from California, I have submitted a commemorative 
resolution for this occasion.
  As the birthplace of my mother, who came to the United States from 
Lithuania with her parents when she was just 2 years old, Lithuania 
holds a special place in my heart.
  One thousand years sounds like a long time, especially in our 
relatively young United States. But historians have noted that the name 
of the area now known as Lithuania first appeared in European records, 
in the German Annals of Quedlinburg.
  Traditions of Lithuanian statehood date back to the early Middle 
Ages, when Duke Mindaugas united an assortment of Baltic Tribes to 
defend themselves from attacks by the Teutonic Knights. From these 
early roots, Lithuania grew to encompass territory stretching from the 
Baltic Sea to the Black Sea by the end of the 14th century.
  This nation, which once was the largest in Europe, has seen 
extraordinary struggles during the last century. It suffered 50 years 
of occupation, by both Nazi and Soviet forces.
  Throughout that time, the U.S. Congress stood in support of Lithuania 
and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Latvia, and refused to recognize 
the Soviet occupation. In 2007, the United States and Lithuania 
celebrated 85 years of continuous diplomatic relations.
  Today, Lithuania is a thriving free-market democracy and a strong 
ally of the United States. As a member of the European Union and NATO, 
Lithuania contributes to peace and security in Europe. Lithuania also 
contributes to global stability and peace building through its 
contributions to missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and 
Georgia.
  When I traveled to Lithuania a few years ago and visited the village 
of my mother and grandparents, I was welcomed warmly by President 
Adamkus, who I have known for many years, and the people of Lithuania. 
I was so proud, not only to see my family's roots, but to see how far 
Lithuania has come, despite the many difficulties it endured in the 
last century.

[[Page S3034]]

  I congratulate President Adamkus, Foreign Minister Usackas, and the 
people of Lithuania on this historic occasion.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 70) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 70

       Whereas the name ``Lithuania'' first appeared in European 
     records in the year 1009, when it was mentioned in the German 
     manuscript ``Annals of Quedlinburg'';
       Whereas Duke Mindaugas united various Baltic tribes and 
     established the state of Lithuania during the period between 
     1236 and 1263;
       Whereas, by the end of the 14th century, Lithuania was the 
     largest country in Europe, encompassing territory from the 
     Baltic Sea to the Black Sea;
       Whereas Vilnius University was founded in 1579 and remained 
     the easternmost university in Europe for 200 years;
       Whereas the February 16, 1918 Act of Independence of 
     Lithuania led to the establishment of Lithuania as a 
     sovereign and democratic state;
       Whereas, under the cover of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, on 
     June 17, 1940, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were forcibly 
     incorporated into the Soviet Union in violation of pre-
     existing peace treaties;
       Whereas, during 50 years of Soviet occupation of the Baltic 
     states, Congress strongly, consistently, and on a bipartisan 
     basis refused to legally recognize the incorporation of 
     Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania by the Soviet Union;
       Whereas, on March 11, 1990, the Republic of Lithuania was 
     restored and Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to 
     declare independence;
       Whereas on September 2, 1991, the United States Government 
     formally recognized Lithuania as an independent and sovereign 
     nation;
       Whereas Lithuania has successfully developed into a free 
     and democratic country, with a free market economy and 
     respect for the rule of law;
       Whereas Lithuania is a full and responsible member of the 
     United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
     in Europe, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization;
       Whereas in 2007, the United States Government and the 
     Government of Lithuania celebrated 85 years of continuous 
     diplomatic relations;
       Whereas the United States Government welcomes and 
     appreciates efforts by the Government of Lithuania to 
     maintain international peace and stability in Europe and 
     around the world by contributing to international civilian 
     and military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, 
     and Georgia; and
       Whereas Lithuania is a strong and loyal ally of the United 
     States, and the people of Lithuania share common values with 
     the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people of the Republic of Lithuania 
     on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania;
       (2) commends the Government of Lithuania for its success in 
     implementing political and economic reforms, for establishing 
     political, religious, and economic freedom, and for its 
     commitment to human rights; and
       (3) recognizes the close and enduring relationship between 
     the United States Government and the Government of Lithuania.

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