We salute you for that. Let me now turn to economics, another area in which we've made significant progress together. The bilateral working groups envisioned under the Baltic Charter have begun to identify key areas in which we can promote trade and investment. The American co-chair of that bilateral economic effort is my friend and colleague, Under Secretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, who is heading this way later this week. He will be working with your colleagues on many of these same issues at the Council of Baltic Sea States Ministerial on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Vilnius on Friday, July 10.
Agriculture is a priority as well.
The United States was pleased to join the Baltic states this morning in signing a memorandum of understanding that will expand our cooperation in that critical area. In all of our economic efforts, we are putting a premium on partnership with the private sector. It is therefore fitting that more than 30 senior representatives of Baltic and American businesses are participating in this inaugural meeting of the Partnership Council. Finally, a word about security. As in the areas of democratization and economic reform, when you gained your independence 7 years ago you faced tremendous challenges in meeting your security needs.