IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 367
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States nonrecognition policy
of the Soviet takeover of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and calling
for positive steps to promote a peaceful and democratic future for the
Baltic region.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 2000
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. HOBSON, Mr.
BILBRAY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. LARSON, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. MENEN-
DEZ, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. BORSKI, Mr.
KOLBE, Mr. KING, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. DOYLE) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States non-
recognition policy of the Soviet takeover of Estonia, Lat-
via, and Lithuania and calling for positive steps to pro-
mote a peaceful and democratic future for the Baltic
region.
Whereas in June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic
countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and forcibly
incorporated them into the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics;
Whereas throughout the occupation, the United States main-
tained that the acquisition of Baltic territory by force
•HCON 367 IH
was not permissible under international law and refused
to recognize Soviet sovereignty over these lands;
Whereas on July 15, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
issued Executive Order No. 8484, which froze Baltic as-
sets in the United States to prevent them from falling
into Soviet hands;
Whereas on July 23, 1940, Acting Secretary of State Sumner
Welles issued the first public statement of United States
policy of nonrecognition of the Soviet takeover of the Bal-
tic countries, condemning that act in the strongest terms;
Whereas the United States took steps to allow the diplomatic
representatives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in
Washington to continue to represent their nations
throughout the Soviet occupation;
Whereas Congress on a bipartisan basis strongly and consist-
ently supported the policy of nonrecognition of the Soviet
takeover of the Baltic countries during the 50 years of
occupation;
Whereas in 1959, Congress designated the third week in July
as ‘Captive Nations Week’, and authorized the President
to issue a proclamation declaring June 14 as ‘Baltic
Freedom Day’;
Whereas in December 1975, the House of Representatives
and the Senate adopted resolutions declaring that the
Final Act of the Conference for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, which accepted the inviolability of borders in
Europe, did not alter the United States nonrecognition
policy;
Whereas during the struggle of the Baltic countries for the
restoration of their independence in 1990 and 1991, Con-
gress passed a number of resolutions that underscored its
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continued support for the nonrecognition policy and for
Baltic self-determination;
Whereas since then the Baltic states have successfully built
democracy, ensured the rule of law, developed free mar-
ket economies, and consistently pursued a course of inte-
gration into the community of free and democratic na-
tions by seeking membership in the European Union and
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
Whereas the Russian Federation has extended formal rec-
ognition to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as inde-
pendent and sovereign states; and
Whereas the United States, the European Union, and the
countries of Northern Europe have supported regional co-
operation in Northern Europe among the Baltic and Nor-
dic states and the Russian Federation in addressing com-
mon environmental, law enforcement, and public health
problems, and in promoting civil society and business and
trade development: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the
United States nonrecognition policy of the Soviet
takeover of the Baltic states and the contribution
that policy made in supporting the aspirations of the
people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to reassert
their freedom and independence;
(2) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
for the reestablishment of their independence and
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the role they played in the disintegration of the
former Soviet Union in 1990 and 1991;
(3) commends Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
for their success in implementing political and eco-
nomic reforms, which may further speed the process
of their entry into European and Western institu-
tions; and
(4) supports regional cooperation in Northern
Europe among the Baltic and Nordic states and the
Russian Federation and calls for further cooperation
in addressing common environmental, law enforce-
ment, and public health problems, and in promoting
civil society and business and trade development,
and similar efforts that promote a peaceful, demo-
cratic, prosperous, and secure future for Europe,
Russia and the Nordic-Baltic region.
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