109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 35

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the incorporation in 1940 of the Baltic countries of

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the Soviet Union was

an act of aggression carried out against the will of sovereign people;

Whereas the United States was steadfast in its policy of not

recognizing the illegal Soviet annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;

Whereas the Russian Federation is the successor state to the

Soviet Union;

Whereas the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, including its

secret protocols, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet

Union provided the Soviet Union with the opportunity to

occupy and annex Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;

Whereas the occupation brought countless suffering to the

Baltic peoples through terror, killings, and deportations

to Siberian concentration camps;

Whereas the peoples of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania bravely resisted Soviet aggression and occupation;

Whereas the Government of Germany renounced its participation in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 and publicly apologized for the destruction and terror that Nazi

Germany unleashed on the world;
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2

SCON 35 ES

Whereas in 1989, the Congress of Peoples’ Deputies of the

Soviet Union denounced the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of

1939 and its secret protocols;

Whereas President Putin recently confirmed that the statement of the Congress of Peoples’ Deputies remains the

view of the Russian Federation;

Whereas the illegal occupation and annexation of the Baltic

countries by the Soviet Union remains unacknowledged

by the Russian Federation;

Whereas a declaration of acknowledgment of the illegal occupation and annexation by the Russian Federation would

lead to improved relations between the people of Estonia,

Latvia, and Lithuania and the people of Russia, would

form the basis for improved relations between the governments of the countries, and strengthen stability in the region;

Whereas the Russian Federation is to be commended for beginning to acknowledge grievous and regrettable incidents

in their history, such as admitting complicity in the massacre of Polish soldiers in the Katyn Forest in 1940;

Whereas the truth is a powerful weapon for healing, forgiving, and reconciliation, but its absence breeds distrust,

fear, and hostility; and

Whereas countries that cannot clearly admit their historical

mistakes and make peace with their pasts cannot successfully build their futures: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Gov3 ernment of the Russian Federation should issue a clear

4 and unambiguous statement of admission and condemna-
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3

SCON 35 ES

1 tion of the illegal occupation and annexation by the Soviet

2 Union from 1940 to 1991 of the Baltic countries of Esto3 nia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the consequence of which will

4 be a significant increase in good will among the affected

5 peoples and enhanced regional stability.

Passed the Senate May 19, 2005.

Attest:

Secretary.
109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 35

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the Governand Lithuania. 1991 of the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, annexation by the Soviet Union from 1940 to and condemnation of the illegal occupation and clear and unambiguous statement of admission ment of the Russian Federation should issue a