Expressing Sense of Congress Regarding the Baltic Countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE BALTIC COUNTRIES OF ESTONIA, LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA -- (House of Representatives - July 22, 2005)
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Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, although I will not object to this resolution, but I want to claim the time to speak in support of this resolution.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, with 29 other Members of Congress, that calls upon Russia to acknowledge the occupation and subsequent suffering of the Baltic people under Soviet control during the period of time of the secret Molotov Richenberg agreement.
The resolution comes to the floor in a timely manner. This week is Captive Nations Week, first declared so by the U.S. Congress on July 17, 1959 as a joint resolution against continuing Communist domination of the Baltic countries. President Bush has again declared this week Captive Nations Week and urges Americans to reaffirm their commitment to all those seeking liberty, justice and self-determination. I can think of no better way to honor the memories of those who fought for freedom against Communist control than to pass this resolution.
During Communist occupation of the Baltics, hundreds of thousands of people were torn from their families and deported to Siberia, many never to be heard from again. No one can exactly be sure of the amount of those who died or fled Soviet control, but it has been estimated from 500,000 to 750,000 people. You cannot meet a person in these countries that did not have a family member or loved one who was not affected by these horrible practices. Russia has been unwavering in its nonrecognition of the mass deportations, tortures, and murders committed during the Soviet regime; a Soviet regime that was a Communist regime, not a supposedly more open Russian government that purports to be democratic today.
I feel, along with the 29 cosponsors of this resolution, that Russia needs to acknowledge the mistakes of the past so it can move forward and become a truthful State and, in turn, a stronger democracy. It is important that the United States join with our allies in the Baltics and stand for democracy and the rights of individuals to be protected everywhere. Democracy and freedom cannot exist without truth and transparency.
I would hope Russia would take a step towards this as a Nation by acknowledging the past, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
I also want to take the time to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Lantos), the gentleman from California (Chairman Gallegly), and the gentleman from Florida (Ranking Member Wexler) for allowing this to be moved in an expeditious manner.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
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