[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[January 16, 1998]
[Pages 71-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



A Charter of Partnership Among the United States of America and the 
Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia, and Republic of Lithuania
January 16, 1998

Preamble

    The United States of America, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic 
of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania, hereafter referred to as 
Partners.
    Sharing a common vision of a peaceful and increasingly integrated 
Europe, free of divisions, dedicated to democracy, the rule of law, free 
markets, and respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of 
all people;
    Recognizing the historic opportunity to build a new Europe, in which 
each state is secure in its internationally-recognized borders and 
respects the independence and territorial integrity of all members of 
the transatlantic community;
    Determined to strengthen their bilateral relations as a contribution 
to building this new Europe, and to enhance the security of all states 
through the adaptation and enlargement of European and transatlantic 
institutions;
    Committed to the full development of human potential within just and 
inclusive societies attentive to the promotion of harmonious and 
equitable relations among individuals belonging to diverse ethnic and 
religious groups;
    Avowing a common interest in developing cooperative, mutually 
respectful relations with all other states in the region;
    Recalling the friendly relations that have been continuously 
maintained between the United States of America and the Republic of 
Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania since 
1922;
    Further recalling that the United States of America never recognized 
the forcible incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the 
USSR in 1940 but rather regards their statehood as uninterrupted since 
the establishment of their independence, a policy which the United 
States has restated continuously for five decades;
    Celebrating the rich contributions that immigrants from Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania have made to the multi-ethnic culture of the 
United States of America, as well as the European heritage enjoyed by 
the United States as a beneficiary of the contributions of 
intellectuals, artists, and Hanseatic traders from the Baltic states to 
the development of Europe; praising the contributions of U.S. citizens 
to the liberation and rebuilding of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
    Affirm as a political commitment declared at the highest level, the 
following principles and procedures to guide their individual and joint 
efforts to achieve the goals of this Charter.

Principles of Partnership

    The United States of America has a real, profound and enduring 
interest in the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, 
and security of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
    The United States of America warmly welcomes the success of Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania in regaining their freedom and resuming their 
rightful places in the community of nations.
    The United States of America respects the sacrifices and hardships 
undertaken by the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to re-
establish their independence. It encourages efforts by these states to 
continue to expand their political, economic, security, and social ties 
with other nations as full members of the transatlantic community.
    The Partners affirm their commitment to the rule of law as a 
foundation for a transatlantic community of free and democratic nations, 
and to the responsibility of all just societies to protect and respect 
the human rights and civil liberties of all individuals residing within 
their territories.

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    The Partners underscore their shared commitment to the principles 
and obligations contained in the United Nations Charter.
    The Partners reaffirm their shared commitment to the purposes, 
principles, and provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent OSCE 
documents, including the Charter of Paris and the documents adopted at 
the Lisbon OSCE Summit.
    The Partners will observe in good faith their commitments to promote 
and respect the standards for human rights embodied in the above-
mentioned Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 
documents and in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. They will 
implement their legislation protecting such human rights fully and 
equitably.
    The United States of America commends the measures taken by Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania to advance the integration of Europe by 
establishing close cooperative relations among themselves and with their 
neighbors, as well as their promotion of regional cooperation through 
their participation in fora such as the Baltic Assembly, Baltic Council 
of Ministers, and the Council of Baltic Sea States.
    Viewing good neighborly relations as fundamental to overall security 
and stability in the transatlantic community, Estonia, Latvia, and 
Lithuania reaffirm their determination to further enhance bilateral 
relations between themselves and with other neighboring states.
    The Partners will intensify their efforts to promote the security, 
prosperity, and stability of the region. The Partners will draw on the 
points noted below in focusing their efforts to deepen the integration 
of the Baltic states into transatlantic and European institutions, 
promote cooperation in security and defense, and develop the economies 
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

A Commitment to Integration

    As part of a common vision of a Europe whole and free, the Partners 
declare that their shared goal is the full integration of Estonia, 
Latvia, and Lithuania into European and transatlantic political, 
economic, security and defense institutions. Europe will not be fully 
secure unless Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania each are secure.
    The Partners reaffirm their commitment to the principle, established 
in the Helsinki Final Act, repeated in the Budapest and Lisbon OSCE 
summit declarations, and also contained in the OSCE Code of Conduct on 
Politico-Military Aspects of Security, that the security of all states 
in the Euro-Atlantic community is indivisible.
    The Partners further share a commitment to the core principle, also 
articulated in the OSCE Code of Conduct and reiterated in subsequent 
OSCE summit declarations, that each state has the inherent right to 
individual and collective self-defense as well as the right freely to 
choose its own security arrangements, including treaties of alliance.
    The Partners support the vital role being played by a number of 
complementary institutions and bodies--including the OSCE, the European 
Union (EU), the West European Union (WEU) the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO), the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), the 
Council of Europe (COE), and the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS)--in 
achieving the partners' shared goal of an integrated, secure, and 
undivided Europe.
    They believe that, irrespective of factors related to history or 
geography, such institutions should be open to all European democracies 
willing and able to shoulder the responsibilities and obligations of 
membership, as determined by those institutions.
    The Partners welcome a strong and vibrant OSCE dedicated to 
promoting democratic institutions, human rights, and fundamental 
freedoms. They strongly support the OSCE's role as a mechanism to 
prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts and crises.
    Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania each reaffirm their goal to become 
full members of all European and transatlantic institutions, including 
the European Union and NATO.
    The United States of America recalls its longstanding support for 
the enlargement of the EU, affirming it as a core institution in the new 
Europe and declaring that a stronger, larger, and outward-looking 
European Union will further security and prosperity for all of Europe.
    The Partners believe that the enlargement of NATO will enhance the 
security of the United States, Canada, and all the countries in Europe, 
including those states not immediately invited to membership or not 
currently interested in membership.
    The United States of America welcomes the aspirations and supports 
the efforts of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to join NATO. It affirms 
its view that NATO's partners can become

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members as each aspirant proves itself able and willing to assume the 
responsibilities and obligations of membership, and as NATO determines 
that the inclusion of these nations would serve European stability and 
the strategic interests of the Alliance.
    The United States of America reiterates its view that the 
enlargement of NATO is an on-going process. It looks forward to future 
enlargements, and remains convinced that not only will NATO's door 
remain open to new members, but that the first countries invited to 
membership will not be the last. No non-NATO country has a veto over 
Alliance decisions. The United States notes the Alliance is prepared to 
strengthen its consultations with aspirant countries on the full range 
of issues related to possible NATO membership.
    The Partners welcome the results of the Madrid Summit. They support 
the Alliance's commitment to an open door policy and welcome the 
Alliance's recognition of the Baltic states as aspiring members of NATO. 
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania pledge to deepen their close relations 
with the Alliance through the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the 
Partnership for Peace, and the intensified dialogue process.
    The Partners underscore their interest in Russia's democratic and 
stable development and support a strengthened NATO-Russia relationship 
as a core element of their shared vision of a new and peaceful Europe. 
They welcome the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and the NATO-
Ukraine Charter, both of which further improve European security.

Security Cooperation

    The Partners will consult together, as well as with other countries, 
in the event that a Partner perceives that its territorial integrity, 
independence, or security is threatened or at risk. The Partners will 
use bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for such consultations.
    The United States welcomes and appreciates the contributions that 
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have already made to European security 
through the peaceful restoration of independence and their active 
participation in the Partnership for Peace. The United States also 
welcomes their contributions to IFOR, SFOR, and other international 
peacekeeping missions.
    Building on the existing cooperation among their respective 
ministries of defense and armed forces, the United States of America 
supports the efforts of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to provide for 
their legitimate defense needs, including development of appropriate and 
interoperable military forces.
    The Partners welcome the establishment of the Baltic Security 
Assistance Group (BALTSEA) as an effective body for international 
coordination of security assistance to Estonia's, Latvia's and 
Lithuania's defense forces.
    The Partners will cooperate further in the development and expansion 
of defense initiatives such as the Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion 
(BaltBat), the Baltic Squadron (Baltron), and the Baltic airspace 
management regime (BaltNet), which provide a tangible demonstration of 
practical cooperation enhancing the common security of Estonia, Latvia, 
and Lithuania, and the transatlantic community.
    The Partners intend to continue mutually beneficial military 
cooperation and will maintain regular consultations, using the 
established Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Relations.

Economic Cooperation

    The Partners affirm their commitment to free market mechanisms as 
the best means to meet the material needs of their people.
    The United States of America commends the substantial progress its 
Baltic Partners have made to implement economic reform and development 
and their transition to free market economies.
    Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania emphasize their intention to deepen 
their economic integration with Europe and the global economy, based on 
the principles of free movement of people, goods, capital and services.
    Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania underscore their commitment to 
continue market-oriented economic reforms and to express their resolve 
to achieve full integration into global economic bodies, such as the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) while creating conditions for smoothly 
acceding to the European Union.
    Noting this objective, the United States of America will work to 
facilitate the integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the 
world economy and appropriate international economic organizations, in 
particular the WTO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD), on appropriate commercial terms.

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    The Partners will work individually and together to develop legal 
and financial conditions in their countries conducive to international 
investment. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania welcome U.S. investment in 
their economies.
    The Partners will continue to strive for mutually advantageous 
economic relations building on the principles of equality and non-
discrimination to create the conditions necessary for such cooperation.
    The Partners will commence regular consultations to further 
cooperation and provide for regular assessment of progress in the areas 
of economic development, trade, investment, and related fields. These 
consultations will be chaired at the appropriately high level.
    Recognizing that combating international organized crime requires a 
multilateral effort, the partners agree to cooperate fully in the fight 
against this threat to the world economy and political stability. 
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania remain committed to developing sound 
legislation in this field and to enhance the implementation of this 
legislation through the strengthening of a fair and well-functioning 
judicial system.

The U.S.-Baltic Relationship

    In all of these spheres of common endeavor, the Partners, building 
on their shared history of friendship and cooperation, solemnly reaffirm 
their commitment to a rich and dynamic Baltic-American partnership for 
the 21st century.
    The Partners view their partnership in the areas of political, 
economic, security, defense, cultural, and environmental affairs as 
contributing to closer ties between their people and facilitating the 
full integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into European and 
transatlantic structures.
    In order to further strengthen these ties, the Partners will 
establish a Partnership Commission chaired at the appropriately high 
level to evaluate common efforts. This Commission will meet once a year 
or as needed to take stock of the Partnership, assess results of 
bilateral consultations on economic, military and other areas, and 
review progress achieved towards meeting the goals of this Charter.
    In order to better reflect changes in the European and transatlantic 
political and security environment, signing Partners are committed 
regularly at the highest level to review this agreement.


William J. Clinton                      Lennart Meri
President                               President
United States of America                Republic of Estonia
Guntis Ulmanis Algirdas                 Brazauskas
President                               President
Republic of Latvia                      Republic of Lithuania

Washington D.C.,

January 16, 1998

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this agreement.