III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 536 

Recognizing the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the 

30th anniversary of the restoration of their independence. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2020 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mrs. 

FEINSTEIN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. ROUNDS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. 

COLLINS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. COTTON, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. TILLIS, 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. COONS, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. 

RUBIO, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. 

REED, and Ms. STABENOW) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the 30th anniversary of the restoration of their 

independence. 

Whereas, 3 decades ago, the peoples of Estonia, Latvia, and 

Lithuania inspired the world through their victory over 

the forces of Soviet totalitarianism after decades of resistance; 

Whereas the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 

originally declared their independence in 1918 and established diplomatic relations with the United States as 

independent countries on July 28, 1922; 


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•SRES 536 IS 

Whereas, 100 years ago this year, Soviet Russia signed treaties with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania recognizing their 

sovereignty and renouncing all territorial claims over 

each Baltic State in perpetuity; 

Whereas, on August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi 

Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which contained a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into 

spheres of influence, with the Baltic States ultimately 

being assigned to the Soviet Union, leading soon after to 

the forcible incorporation of the Baltic States into the 

Soviet Union; 

Whereas, following World War II, the Soviet Union occupied 

the Baltic States, imposing for more than 5 decades its 

model of Soviet totalitarianism, which the United States 

never recognized, instead maintaining 98 years of continuous diplomatic relations with the Baltic States; 

Whereas, in August 1989, approximately 2,000,000 people 

joined hands in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to form 

a 373-mile human chain across the 3 states known as the 

Baltic Chain of Freedom; 

Whereas, in February 1990, the people of Lithuania participated in the first free election to select a new parliament, 

which promptly voted for restoration of independence, 

making Lithuania the first occupied Soviet republic to 

declare the restoration of independence on March 11, 

1990, a move subsequently followed by Latvia on May 4, 

1990, and Estonia on August 20, 1991; 

Whereas, in January 1991, Soviet military forces tried to 

quash the growing independence restoration movement, 

leading to approximately 14 Lithuanian deaths, as well 

as 6 Latvian deaths and many injuries; 


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•SRES 536 IS 

Whereas, in February and March 1991, the Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian people voted overwhelmingly in support of their respective independence restoration referendums, which the United States recognized later that year; 

Whereas the Baltic States helped pave the path for democracy and freedom across Eastern Europe, leading to the 

fall of the Soviet Union; 

Whereas, after restoration of independence, the economies of 

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania emerged as modern market economies leading in technology and financial services 

sectors; 

Whereas Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania continue to demonstrate their commitment to advancing democratic values, peace, and security through their membership and 

active participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), and the 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); 

Whereas the Baltic States have been loyal NATO allies, contributing to regional security and global security through 

operations in Afghanistan and leadership in the NATO 

Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia, the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Latvia, and the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Lithuania; 

Whereas the Baltic States further their contributions to the 

security of the Euro-Atlantic area by spending at least 2 

percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defense, 

and contribute to global security through determined participation in international allied operations and missions; 


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•SRES 536 IS 

Whereas, since their restoration of independence in 1990 and 

1991, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have faced considerable Russian aggressive behavior, intimidation, and 

cyber attacks, and as a result have worked to shape total 

defense strategies to counter Russian intervention; 

Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has pursued an aggressive disinformation campaign in the Baltic 

States, including intimidation of Western civilians and 

troops stationed in Europe and abroad via hacking, pushing propaganda, and other cyber attacks, and has increased air provocations in Eastern Europe; 

Whereas the presence of the United States in the Baltic 

States remains a crucial factor for ensuring security in 

the region and complements the efforts of NATO to 

strengthen its deterrence and defense posture, including 

an Enhanced Forward Presence posture in the eastern 

part of the Alliance with multinational battlegroups; 

Whereas, in 2019, the United States and the Baltic States 

signed the Security Cooperation Roadmaps outlining joint 

security cooperation priorities for 2019 to 2024; 

Whereas the Baltic States have been models for democratic 

governance with strong institutions and respect for civil 

liberties and the rule of law, cherished shared values between the Baltic States and the United States; and 

Whereas the democratic development and progress of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since those countries regained 

independence has established the Baltic States as 3 shining beacons for freedom: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 536 IS 

1 (1) congratulates the Baltic States of Estonia, 

2 Latvia, and Lithuania on the 30th anniversary of 

3 the restoration of their independence; 

4 (2) commits continued support for the Baltic 

5 allies of the United States through economic and se6 curity cooperation, further strengthening trans7 atlantic ties and regional presence; 

8 (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

9 States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 

10 and the enduring transatlantic alliance; 

11 (4) recognizes the courage and resilience of the 

12 Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian people in their 

13 fight for freedom and democracy in the face of Rus14 sian aggressive behavior; and 

15 (5) expresses the wish that the next 30 years of 

16 friendship between the Baltic States and the United 

17 States are just as full of positive achievements and 

18 progress as the last 30 years have been. 

Æ 


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