[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2701-2702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 442--CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
LITHUANIA ON THE ACT OF THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE OF LITHUANIA, 
   OR ACT OF MARCH 11, AND CELEBRATING THE RICH HISTORY OF LITHUANIA

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. 
Byrd) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 442

       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 the February 16, 1918, Act of Independence of 
     Lithuania led to the establishment of Lithuania as a 
     sovereign and democratic State;
       Whereas, under the German-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, 
     Cooperation and Demarcation, on June 15, 1940, Lithuania was 
     forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in violation of 
     preexisting 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,

[[Page 2702]]

     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 Lithuania assumed Presidency of the Community of 
     Democracies in September 2009, and will hold this position 
     until 2011;
       Whereas, in 2010, the United States Government and the 
     Government of Lithuania celebrated 88 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 hereby--
       (1) congratulates the people of the Republic of Lithuania 
     on the occasion of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the 
     State 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;
       (3) recognizes the close and enduring relationship between 
     the United States Government and the Government of Lithuania; 
     and
       (4) calls on the President to continue to build on the 
     close and mutually beneficial relations the United States has 
     enjoyed with Lithuania since the restoration of the full 
     independence of Lithuania.

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