    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 25, 1991]
    [Pages 723-725]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Report on Restoration of the
    Baltic States Independence
    June 25, 1991

    To the Congress of the United States:
        In accordance with Public Law 101-309 (104 Stat. 265), I am
    submitting to you this report on U.S. Government actions in support of
    the peaceful restoration of independence for the Baltic States.
        In 1940, the Soviet Union forcibly occupied the independent Baltic
    States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Following sham elections, the
    three countries were incorporated into the USSR. The United States has
    never recognized the incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR.
    The United States maintains diplomatic relations with representatives of
    their last free governments and is in close touch with the new
    democratically elected governments in each of the three Baltic States.
        The United States has consistently stood with the majority of Balts
    who never lost hope that they would one day regain their freedom. In the
    late 1980s, pro-democracy movements in the three Baltic States emerged
    and began to grow in strength. Among the most active were Sajudis in
    Lithuania, the Latvian Popular Front, and the Estonian Popular Front and
    Estonian Citizens' Committees. In largely free elections in early 1990,
    pro-democracy forces gained a majority in all three legislatures and
    formed pro-independence governments.
        On March 11, 1990, the Lithuanian legislature proclaimed the full
    and immediate restoration of Lithuanian independence. Eight days later,
    on March 19, President Gorbachev declared the Lithuanian proclamation
    invalid and insisted that the Lithuanians restore the status quo that
    existed prior to March 11 and recognize the supremacy of Soviet law. The
    Soviet government followed up this decree with intimidating troop
    movements in Vilnius and later an economic embargo on the supply of key
    products, including oil and natural gas. Undeterred, Estonia and Latvia
    subsequently issued their own proclamations espousing restoration of
    independence as their goal following a transitional period.
        In response to the Soviet embargo against Lithuania, I conveyed to
    President Gorba-

    [[Page 724]]

    chev my deepest concern and regret over Soviet actions and urged him to
    begin a peaceful dialogue with the Lithuanian government. Secretary
    Baker pressed the same points in exchanges with Foreign Minister
    Shevardnadze. Finally, in late June 1990, the Soviet government lifted
    its embargo when the Lithuanian Supreme Council agreed to a formula
    whereby the independence proclamation would be suspended during the
    course of negotiations with Moscow on Lithuania's future.
        Thereafter, Moscow and the three Baltic States began to inch toward
    talks, but these broke off after only a few sessions with each side
    accusing the other of being unwilling to negotiate in good faith.
        At the end of 1990, pro-Moscow forces in the three Baltic States
    stepped up their pressure on the popularly elected governments there. In
    January, pro-Moscow forces--including local Communist Party members,
    Black Beret special Interior ministry troops, and Soviet Army
    paratroops--attacked and occupied communications and other facilities in
    Vilnius, Riga, and other cities, leaving at least 21 dead.
        In the wake of this Soviet pressure against the Baltic States, our
    Government has undertaken a vigorous diplomatic effort designed both to
    help avert future violent confrontations in the Baltic States and to
    enable the Baltic peoples to realize their legitimate but long-denied
    aspirations. We have held lengthy exchanges with our NATO Allies,
    neutral countries, and central European democracies on this issue. We
    have succeeded in forging a strong, common position among CSCE
    signatories rejecting violence and intimidation and calling for peaceful
    dialogue among the parties. The United States currently supports giving
    the Baltic States observer status at CSCE meetings and will support full
    membership once these nations regain independent statehood.
        Also this spring, the United States took a leading role in the U.N.
    Human Rights Commission's (UNHRC) discussion of the January violence in
    the Baltic States. The United States successfully worked for consensus
    on the UNHRC resolution calling on the Soviet Union to review the
    January events and provide a full report to the Commission.
        In numerous contacts with Soviet President Gorbachev and other
    Soviet officials since mid-January, both Secretary Baker and I have
    repeatedly raised the matter of the Baltic States. There can be no doubt
    that the Soviet leadership understands this issue's importance to the
    United States and our unwavering support for the cause of Baltic
    freedom. We have underscored the unacceptability of the use of force and
    intimidation and the urgent need for dialogue and negotiations with the
    freely elected representatives of the Baltic States, which will lead to
    an outcome that respects Baltic aspirations for self-determination. Each
    of the Baltic States began negotiations with the Soviet Union on a broad
    range of issues in April. We are following these talks closely and hope
    they will be conducted in good faith, free of threats and intimidation
    by all sides.
        Secretary Baker and I have met with representatives of the Baltic
    States on numerous occasions. I met with Lithuanian President
    Landsbergis, Estonian Prime Minister Savisaar, and Latvian Prime
    Minister Godmanis in May; with Estonian President Ruutel in March; with
    President Landsbergis in December 1990; Prime Minister Savisaar in
    October 1990; Prime Minister Godmanis in July 1990; and then-Prime
    Minister Prunskiene in May 1990. Secretary Baker has met with the three
    Baltic permanent representatives in Moscow and with the foreign
    ministers of all three Baltic States in Washington, New York, and Paris.
    Our Consulate General in Leningrad also maintains a nearly continuous
    diplomatic presence in the Baltic States and is in close contact with
    the governments there. We have used these and other contacts with Baltic
    leaders to keep current on the state of affairs in the Baltic States and
    to convey U.S. support for the legitimate aspirations of the Baltic
    peoples.
        In addition, the Department of State maintains regular contact with
    the Charges d'Affaires of the three Baltic diplomatic legations
    accredited to the United States. The radio services of Radio Free Europe
    and the Voice of America have also played an important role in conveying
    and explaining

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    U.S. policy on the Baltic States.
        The Administration has also attempted to express our support for the
    Baltic people in new ways. Working through Project Hope, we shipped
    medical aid directly to the Baltics on February 28 to meet basic medical
    needs. We are now following up with a second shipment of medical
    supplies this month. We provided U.S. technical help to Latvia after a
    chemical spill in the Daugava River in November 1990. The Department of
    Agriculture began a program to assist Lithuanian agriculture and support
    U.S. agricultural sales there by modernizing a feedgrain mill. Visits by
    a number of Members of Congress and Administration officials have also
    underscored the American people's support for Baltic self-determination.
        These extensive contacts reflect our recognition of the fact that
    these governments are democratically elected, represent the will of the
    Baltic peoples, and deserve our support.
        The United States has stood and will continue to stand in solidarity
    with the Baltic peoples in their striving for freedom and self-
    determination. Our intensified diplomatic efforts over the past year
    have played a critical role in galvanizing global support for the cause
    of the Baltic peoples and for a peaceful, negotiated outcome that takes
    proper account of legitimate Baltic interests. We strongly encourage the
    Soviet government and the three Baltic governments to progress in talks
    begun in early April on the issues that divide them.

                                                                 George Bush

    The White House,
    June 25, 1991.