September 26, 2007 - UN General Assembly - Baltic statements
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http://www.un.org/ga/news/news.asp?NewsID=23980
September 20, 2007- Estonia Won't Allow Survey for Pipeline By JARI TANNER, Associated Press Writer TALLINN, Estonia (AP) - Estonia decided Thursday it will not allow a German-Russian consortium to conduct a survey of its exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea for a planned underwater gas pipeline. The survey was necessary for a possible rerouting of the 750-mile pipeline that will deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. "Each coastal country has full sovereignty and a right to make decision involving its own waters," Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in a news conference. "Furthermore, we think the Baltic Sea is not a proper place for such a pipeline." Estonia's refusal won't stop the $7 billion project _ dubbed Nord Stream _ from proceeding toward its 2010 launch. The pipeline's route, approved last year by the consortium, does not cross into Estonia's territorial waters. More... June 27, 2007- President Toomas Hendrik Ilves speech at CSIS
June 12, 2007- President Bush Attends Dedication of Victims of Communism Memorial For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary
May 24, 2007- U.S. House Moves Closer to Passing Resolution Supporting Estonia JBANC Press Release Washington, DC (JBANC) --- The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) representing principle national organizations of Americans of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian heritage has released a Position Paper this week calling for the United States Congress to stay on course in supporting Estonia against aggressive behavior by the Russian Federation. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering legislation stating solidarity with Estonian and condemning Moscow's recent malevolent actions. More... U.S. Must Support Estonia and Other Targets of Russian Aggression JBANC Position Paper: May 23, 2007 The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC), representing one million Americans of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian heritage, fully supports H. Res. 397, condemning the recent violence and attacks against Estonia and expressing solidarity with the government and people of Estonia. JBANC supports Estonia's decision to move the Bronze Soldier Soviet monument. The Bronze Soldier Soviet monument and the graves of a dozen soldiers in central Tallinn were not removed from view, or destroyed, but moved from a heavily trafficked urban area to a more appropriate location in a wartime cemetery in the Estonian capital. Those who want to honor the fallen Red Army soldiers can do so in a contemplative and respectful manner at this new site. More... JUNE 12th: Dedication of the Victims of Communism Memorial Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Presents a Day of Dedication for the Memorial, on June 12, 2007, in Washington D.C. The dedication will take place at the Memorial site at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave., N.W., New Jersey Ave., N.W., and G St., N.W., two blocks from Union Station and within view of the U.S. Capitol. A reception will follow the ceremony. The day's activities will conclude with a gala dinner at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, at which a Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom will be presented to William F. Buckley, Jr., and the late Senator Henry M. (Scoop) Jackson. Senator Joe Lieberman will present the Medal of Freedom to Senator Jackson's daughter, Anna Marie Laurence. View the Invitation here. RSVP for the Event here. For more information, click here May 28, 2007- Putin's Powerful Youth Guard By Owen Matthews and Anna Nemtsova Newsweek International The Kremlin has a new weapon in its war on real or imagined enemies, from opponents at home to foreign revolutionaries. The attacks came in waves, with military precision. Hours after Estonia removed a World War II statue of a Soviet soldier from downtown Tallinn last month, virtual war broke out. News agencies, banks and government offices were targeted in a blitzkrieg of spam—an onslaught of billions of e-mails, many apparently generated in Russia, that brought down servers and jammed bandwidths to bursting. As "eTonia's" famous digital-based free markets and democracy buckled under the strain, top NATO Internet security experts last week rushed to construct defenses against the world's first massive cyberstrike by a superpower on a tiny and almost defenseless neighbor. More... May 15, 2007- Why modern Russia is a state of denial By Boris Berezovsky, www.telegraph.co.uk Last week saw the commemoration of Victory Day in Russia, which remembers the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Last month came the upsetting removal of a Soviet war memorial, known as The Bronze Soldier, from the centre of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, to a Russian military cemetery on its outskirts. These events forced me to revisit aspects of the Soviet Union's shameful and violent communist past, which now need to be addressed by present-day Russia in order to preserve relations between my motherland and post-communist Eastern Europe. More... May 10, 2007- H.Res. 397 introduced in support of Estonia House resolution introduced on May 10 in support of Estonia by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL), co-chairman of the House Baltic Caucus. The text of the resolution mirrors the Senate resolution passed on May 4. Status as of May 10. H.RES.397 Title: Condemning violence in Estonia and attacks on Estonia's embassies in 2007, and expressing solidarity with the Government and the people of Estonia. Sponsor: Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] (introduced 5/10/2007) Cosponsors (19) Latest Major Action: 5/10/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. ----------------------------------------------------------- COSPONSORS(19), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] - 5/10/2007 Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 5/10/2007 Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 5/10/2007 Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 5/10/2007 Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 5/10/2007 Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] - 5/10/2007 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 5/10/2007 Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/10/2007 Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 5/10/2007 Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/10/2007 Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 5/10/2007 Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 5/10/2007 Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 5/10/2007 ; Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 5/10/2007 Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 5/10/2007 Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/10/2007 Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 5/10/2007 Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 5/10/2007 Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 5/10/2007 May 10, 2007- JBANC Letter to Members of U.S. House of Representatives ...We ask that you stand with us in helping Estonia, our ally in NATO and member of the EU, fend off these unwarranted attacks. Moscow should be admonished for supporting such bullying and for interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. We look forward to your support of House legislation that would mirror S. Res. 187, passed May 3, which condemns those tactics. More... May 10, 2007- Stand by Estonia Telegraph UK Vladimir Putin needs a history lesson. At a parade in Red Square yesterday commemorating the end of the Second World War, the Russian president accused the Estonian government of belittling that conflict, desecrating a monument to war heroes, insulting its own people and sowing distrust between nations. More... May 7, 2007- RUSSIAN STRATEGY, EU DRIFT IN ESTONIA By Vladimir Socor Russia’s ongoing political offensive against Estonia -- and implicit challenge to the European Union -- constitutes the first serious attempt to reverse the post-1991 status quo in Europe. Moscow seems to be targeting Estonia as a first test case of such a process. Further Russian challenges to the existing European order are likely to ensue if European governments and institutions tolerate, as seems mostly to be the case thus far, the assault on Estonia. More from jamestown.org May 7, 2007- A Soviet Memorial -- and Mind-Set By Fred Hiatt, The Washington Post In 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Estonian counterpart, the polymath Lennart Meri, chummily drank together in a Kremlin chamber as their foreign ministers labored nearby to complete a historic treaty to withdraw all Russian troops from the tiny Baltic state. When it was time to celebrate the finished draft, Yeltsin mocked his own foreign minister, Andrei Kozyrev, for his weak drinking skills -- "Bring the boy some ice cream," he roared to an attendant -- but approved the agreement. That may have been the high-water mark of Russia's willingness to face its imperialist history and allow its neighbors to live in peace. More...
May 3, 2007- Estonia Statue Crisis by Hon. Thaddeus G. McCotter, United States Representative United States House of Representatives "... After a long, illegal, and unjust Soviet occupation, Estonia now rightly and proudly stands by our side in the ranks of free nations. Nobly and selflessly, Estonia is steadfast in its defense of civilization from our barbaric enemies, and has championed the cause of human freedom throughout our world. Disturbingly, last week this free people's very national sovereignty was threatened. More... May 3, 2007- Imperially Deluded By MART LAAR Wall Street Journal TALLINN -- Flush with petrodollars, and amid disarray in the Western camp, Russia's hopes of restoring its lost empire are rising. Vladimir Putin's annual address to both houses of the parliament, delivered last week, was just the latest signal. The Russian president declared that his country's obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty would be suspended as long as the U.S. planned to install a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Mr. Putin threatened Russia would abandon the treaty if NATO countries failed to address his grievances. The defense shield, he claimed, was a threat to national security. More... May 2, 2007- Tensions in Estonian-Russian Relations http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/may/84181.htm Press Statement Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC We welcome the restoration of calm in Tallinn following the relocation of the Bronze Soldier monument. Decisions on placement of the memorial to soldiers who died fighting the Nazis in World War II belong to the Estonian government. Throughout the past week's controversy following the Estonian Government's relocation of the Soviet-era memorial, we have urged the Estonian and Russian governments to maintain dialogue and respect for the strong feelings on both sides. We are concerned, however, about continuing reports of violence and harassment, including harassment of Estonian diplomatic personnel and premises in Moscow. We welcome President Ilves' call today for reconciliation among Estonia's citizens and for dialogue between Estonians and Russians. We urge authorities in Moscow to do everything possible to reduce tensions, carry out responsibilities under the Vienna Convention concerning diplomatic premises and diplomats, and avoid harsh words and escalation. May 1, 2007- SHIMKUS ISSUES STATEMENT SUPPORTING ESTONIA Washington, DC.....Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) issued the following statement in support of Estonia: "I strongly condemn Russian actions and look forward to Russia's swift cooperation in respecting the sovereignty of Estonia. I call for an immediate end to the blockade of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow, as well as for the cancellation of all other attempts to undermine the Estonian government. If necessary, I am ready to raise this issue on the floor of the United States House." Shimkus is co-chair of the Baltic Caucus and a U.S. delegate to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The Estonian Embassy in Moscow has been under siege by demonstrators since April 26, and Russian authorities are not controlling the situation. Before making a visit to Estonia, a Russian Duma (parliament) delegation issued a statement that "the government must step down." The Russians are also making cyber attacks against official Estonian websites. Estonia has also increased border security in order to stop pro-Putin extremists from entering the country. May 1, 2007- ALIEN VANDALISM IN ESTONIA’S CAPITAL By Vladimir Socor
March 19, 2007- Shimkus Cosponsors Visa Waiver Program Legislation Washington, DC.....Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) is joining as the lead Republican sponsor of Visa Waiver Program legislation introduced by Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D, Illinois-5). The Visa Waiver Modernization Act of 2007 (HR 1543) is similar to Senator Voinovich's amendment that has already passed the Senate. More... March 13, 2007- Sen. Voinovich's Visa Waiver Legislation Passes Senate WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the full Senate voted for passage of S. 4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The bill includes an amendment authored by U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) that extends visa-free travel privileges to our allies in the Global War on Terror. The amendment, called the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007, will improve cooperation with key allies while strengthening U.S. national security interests and promoting U.S. economic competitiveness. The bill was passed by a vote of 60 to 38. More... February 14, 2007- Keynote speech by President Valdas Adamkus at the JBANC 7th Baltic Conference: "Oil and Blood: Baltic Energy and the Legacy of Communism" Honorable Senators, Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends of Lithuania and All Friends of the Baltic Nations, I am delighted to be here today among our true friends, supporters of Lithuania and the other Baltic States, who walked together with us down the long road to independence and national rebirth, to Lithuania's return to the family of European nations and its establishment as an active promoter of democracy further into the East of Europe. More... February 14, 2007- Conference Gallery Day One Day Two
Photo by Anders Brownworth January 28, 2007, Senator Richard Lugar to Speak at JBANC Conference
Saturday�s panels are focused on energy security, energy alternatives, Russian-Baltic relations, and remembrance of the victims of communism, and include experts from the Hudson Institute, Heritage Foundation, Holocaust Museum, Jamestown Foundation, CSIS, along with the European Commission, and the three Baltic countries. Admission to the two day conference is $125. December 8, 2006 - BDRA passes U.S. House of Representatives by vote of 397-2. 1. FULL TEXT of Rep. Chris Smith statement 2. From December 7 Congressional Record: Bill Text and House Debate (Reps. Gallegly, Lantos, Smith) Full Floor Statement of U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith, sponsor of Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006. More...;
September 26, 2006 - House Baltic Caucus Co-Chairs Join Seven Embassies to Support Visa Waiver Program
(Joining Congressmen John Shimkus and Dennis Kucinich were Polish Ambassador Janusz Reiter, Estonian Ambassador
J�ri Luik, Latvian Ambassador Maris Riekstins, Czech Ambassador Petr Kolar, Hungarian Ambassador Andras Simonyi,
Slovak Ambassador Ratislav Kacer, and Lithuanian Deputy Chief of Mission Kornelija Jurgaitiene.) March 14, 2006 - Window on Eurasia: Lennart Meri (1929-2006) The Passing of the Symbol of the Continuity of Estonia
Paul GobleTallinn, March 14 --- Lennart Meri, the former president of Estonia who symbolized in his own person the principle of the continuity of that Baltic republic’s statehood, died in his sleep early this morning after a long battle with cancer. Born on March 29, 1929 -- coincidentally the date on which a then very junior U.S. diplomat named George F. Kennan arrived in Estonia -- Lennart Meri was the son of one of Estonia’s most distinguished pre-war diplomats and grew up in the Estonian missions in Paris and Berlin where his father, learning not only those languages but English as well to perfection. More... March 8, 2006- Belarus Democracy Resolution Passes in U.S. House Washington, DC (JBANC) --- A resolution expressing support for democratic processes in Belarus on the eve of the presidential election there, passed this afternoon in the U.S. House of Representatives by a commanding margin. The March 8 vote gained 419 “yeas,” with only one dissenting vote. Two members voted “present.” More... Speech of Dr. Vaira Vîíe-Freiberga, President of Latvia At the US-Baltic Foundation Celebration of the 15 years of Regained Baltic Independence Washington, March 4, 2006 Read... March 6, 2006 - Window on Eurasia: "Communism More Terrible Than Nazism,” MGIMO Professor Says Paul Goble Tallinn, March 6 – A senior historian at the elite Moscow institute that trains Russian diplomats argues that "communism was more terrible than Nazism and fascism because it destroyed society down to its foundations" and consequently, it represents an evil which must be rejected rather than a system that could in some way be reformed. More... March 3, 2006- Latvian NATO Efforts Chronicled in Newly-Published Book Washington, DC (JBANC) --- A copy of the just-published book documenting Latvia’s efforts to join NATO was presented to Edgars Rinkevics, the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Defense, on March 1 at the opening of the new Latvian Embassy in Washington, DC. More... February 22, 2006 - Help Support Democracy and Free and Fair Elections in Belarus - -Co-Sponsors Urgently Needed for H.Res. 673- Washington, DC (JBANC) --- The Belarus Presidential election is fast approaching and the international community needs to strongly urge Alexander Lukashenko, "Europe’s last dictator," to hold free and fair elections on March 19. The Lukashenko regime has been increasingly and aggressively suppressing dissent and freedom of speech in that country in what observers believe is an effort to intimidate voters prior to the election. More... Feb.18, 2006- Belarus Demonstrations in Washington, DC Attracting Growing Attention Washington, DC (JBANC) --- About seventy people gathered outside the Belarus Embassy in Washington, DC on February 16 in support of democracy in that country and to insist that the regime of “Europe’s last dictator” Alexander Lukashenko hold free and fair elections in March. More... Feb. 17, 2006 - Belarus: Activists Gather, but Security Services Ready Indolent Youth by Michael Schwirtz Belarusian democracy activists and their supporters marked the monthly Day of Solidarity with Belarus yesterday. In Minsk, the Belarusian capital about 200 people gathered on October Square and a further 200 people assembled along Skaryna Avenue, Charter 97 reports. A number of activists were beaten and arrested though sources vary as to how many. The BBC puts the number at thirty, while Charter 97 and Agence France Presse report that 20 were arrested. More... Feb.15, 2006 - Don't Forget Belarus The Washington Times by James Morrison Pro-democracy advocates from Belarus focused attention on their repressive government as they visited Washington to seek U.S. support for the dissident movement in the former Soviet republic. Their trip last week preceded another daylong demonstration outside the Belarussian Embassy tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m., to continue highlighting the political abuses in the current presidential election campaign. Organizers plan to hold another rally outside the diplomatic mission at 1619 New Hampshire Ave. NW next month before the March 19 election. More... February 8, 2006- Rep. Thaddeus McCotter to Speak at Lithuanian Independence Day Commemoration in Chicago Washington, DC (JBANC) --- Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan 11th) travels to Chicago to address the upcoming Lithuanian Independence Day commemoration sponsored by the Lithuanian-American Council. The event will be held on Sunday, February 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Maria High School (6727 S. California Ave.), in southwest Chicago. More... January 25, 2006 - PACE strongly condemns crimes of totalitarian communist regimes Strasbourg– The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today strongly condemned the massive human rights violations committed by totalitarian communist regimes and expressed sympathy, understanding and recognition for the victims of these crimes. More... January 17, 2006- Supporters Out for Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus JBANC PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release Washington, DC (JBANC) --- Supporters of democracy in Belarus were out on January 16 in locations across Europe and North America giving freedom in that country a fighting chance. More... The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS) 20th Conference on Baltic Studies June 15-17, 2006 The George Washington University Washington, DC Re-Imagining the Baltic Region: Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future Abstract submission deadline: Jan. 31, 2006: www.aabsconference.org December 14, 2005 - 1980 Solidarity Trade Union receives Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom at event honoring Victims of Communism Solidarity figure accepts Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom at event honoring Victims of Communism Solidarity's legend Anna Walentynowicz accepted the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom on behalf of Solidarity trade union during a ceremony at Poland's embassy in Washington on Tuesday. More... December 14, 2005 - PACE committee adopts text condemning communist crimes The Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a draft resolution condemning the crimes of totalitarian communist regimes. A final vote is expected at the PACE winter session being at the end of January. More... U.S. Congressman John Shimkus' Address to Latvian Saeima, October 13, 2005 It is an unprecedented honor for me to address the Saeima this morning. As the first member of the U.S. Congress to address this esteemed body in its 85-year history, I shall cherish this moment for the rest of my life. I only wish that my wife were here because I'm afraid she would never believe it otherwise. More...
August 8, 2005 - JBANC Meets with Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis >>> July 22, 2005- U.S. House of Representatives Passes H. Con. Res. 128 Washington, DC (JBANC) --- The United States Congress has issued another signal to the Russian Federation that it should be truthful about its past Soviet legacy with respect to the Baltic countries. Legislation seeking an acknowledgement and condemnation by the Russian Federation of the Soviet Union’s occupation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania passed today, July 22, in the House of Representatives. The legislation passed by unanimous consent, meaning that there was no opposition. House Concurrent Resolution 128 (H. Con. Res. 128) was introduced by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) on April 29. The measure had also received the strong support of Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), and other members of the House Baltic Caucus. More... Captive Nations Week, 2005 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America Office of the Press Secretary July 15, 2005 America stands for freedom and supports those who are oppressed. During Captive Nations Week, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing democracy, defending liberty, and protecting human rights around the world. When President Eisenhower issued the first Captive Nations Week proclamation in 1959, freedom was being denied by communist regimes in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Millions were deprived of their rights to freely practice religion, assemble in public, and exercise freedom of speech. The Cold War and the captivity of millions of people in Central and Eastern Europe have since ended, and we have witnessed the rise of democratic governments in countries across the globe. More... July 13, 2005- Joint Declaration on the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the United States policy of non-recognition regarding the forcible seizure of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union On June 22, 2005, the President of the European Parliament made a statement on behalf of the largest democratic representative body in the world, conveying his sympathy to the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian nations on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the illegal occupation of the three independent Baltic states by the Soviet Union and also expressing his satisfaction that these nations have been able to return to the family of united Europe as free and democratic member states. More...
-------- June 17, 2005 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC), I would like to thank you for your support of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and specifically for meeting with the three Baltic presidents in Latvia on May 7th. The show of support was critical at that time. You fully acknowledged the legacy of the Yalta agreement which, as you put it, “traded freedom for security” in Eastern Europe. You paved the way for what would have been a perfect opportunity for President Putin to also express contrition for Russia’s contribution to the suffering of the Baltic peoples. However, he refused to do that. JBANC is greatly concerned about the recent changes in Russia that are moving it away from democracy. In addition, the resurgence of nostalgia for Stalin, complete with images of the hammer and sickle, are alarming, to say the least. As Russia continues to search for its post-cold war identity, it is important that we in the West help to steer it down the right path, and not allow it to glorify a time of purges, wholesale deportations and mass executions. Russia must be held accountable for its actions that are not in accordance with democratic principles. To quote Natan Sharansky in his book The Case for Democracy, “… the security of the free world depends on using all possible leverage moral, political, and financial to support democracy.” If we in the West do nothing, we may very well regret it later. Thank you once again, Mr. President, for your support of the Baltic countries, and your mission of freedom around the world. Sincerely, Lya M. Karm, M.D. Chair Joint Baltic-American National Committee, Inc. May 19, 2005- Expressing Continued Support For The Construction Of The Victims Of Communism Memorial -- More... May 18, 2005- ALA elects chair, supports Congress resolution LatviansOnline The American Latvian Association has elected a new chairperson and has voiced its support of a resolution proposed in Congress asking Russia to acknowledge the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states.More... |
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