III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 70 

Congratulating the people of the Republic of Lithuania on the 1000th 

anniversary of Lithuania and celebrating the rich history of Lithuania. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2009 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. VOINOVICH, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the people of the Republic of Lithuania on 

the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania and celebrating the 

rich history of Lithuania. 

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; 


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•SRES 70 IS 

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; 


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•SRES 70 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the people of the Republic of 

3 Lithuania on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary 

4 of Lithuania; 

5 (2) commends the Government of Lithuania for 

6 its success in implementing political and economic 

7 reforms, for establishing political, religious, and eco8 nomic freedom, and for its commitment to human 

9 rights; and 

10 (3) recognizes the close and enduring relation11 ship between the United States Government and the 

12 Government of Lithuania. 

Æ 


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