[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 25, 1991]
[Pages 723-725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message to the Congress Transmitting the Report on Restoration of the 
Baltic States Independence
June 25, 1991

To the Congress of the United States:
    In accordance with Public Law 101-309 (104 Stat. 265), I am 
submitting to you this report on U.S. Government actions in support of 
the peaceful restoration of independence for the Baltic States.
    In 1940, the Soviet Union forcibly occupied the independent Baltic 
States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Following sham elections, the 
three countries were incorporated into the USSR. The United States has 
never recognized the incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR. 
The United States maintains diplomatic relations with representatives of 
their last free governments and is in close touch with the new 
democratically elected governments in each of the three Baltic States.
    The United States has consistently stood with the majority of Balts 
who never lost hope that they would one day regain their freedom. In the 
late 1980s, pro-democracy movements in the three Baltic States emerged 
and began to grow in strength. Among the most active were Sajudis in 
Lithuania, the Latvian Popular Front, and the Estonian Popular Front and 
Estonian Citizens' Committees. In largely free elections in early 1990, 
pro-democracy forces gained a majority in all three legislatures and 
formed pro-independence governments.
    On March 11, 1990, the Lithuanian legislature proclaimed the full 
and immediate restoration of Lithuanian independence. Eight days later, 
on March 19, President Gorbachev declared the Lithuanian proclamation 
invalid and insisted that the Lithuanians restore the status quo that 
existed prior to March 11 and recognize the supremacy of Soviet law. The 
Soviet government followed up this decree with intimidating troop 
movements in Vilnius and later an economic embargo on the supply of key 
products, including oil and natural gas. Undeterred, Estonia and Latvia 
subsequently issued their own proclamations espousing restoration of 
independence as their goal following a transitional period.
    In response to the Soviet embargo against Lithuania, I conveyed to 
President Gorba-

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chev my deepest concern and regret over Soviet actions and urged him to 
begin a peaceful dialogue with the Lithuanian government. Secretary 
Baker pressed the same points in exchanges with Foreign Minister 
Shevardnadze. Finally, in late June 1990, the Soviet government lifted 
its embargo when the Lithuanian Supreme Council agreed to a formula 
whereby the independence proclamation would be suspended during the 
course of negotiations with Moscow on Lithuania's future.
    Thereafter, Moscow and the three Baltic States began to inch toward 
talks, but these broke off after only a few sessions with each side 
accusing the other of being unwilling to negotiate in good faith.
    At the end of 1990, pro-Moscow forces in the three Baltic States 
stepped up their pressure on the popularly elected governments there. In 
January, pro-Moscow forces--including local Communist Party members, 
Black Beret special Interior ministry troops, and Soviet Army 
paratroops--attacked and occupied communications and other facilities in 
Vilnius, Riga, and other cities, leaving at least 21 dead.
    In the wake of this Soviet pressure against the Baltic States, our 
Government has undertaken a vigorous diplomatic effort designed both to 
help avert future violent confrontations in the Baltic States and to 
enable the Baltic peoples to realize their legitimate but long-denied 
aspirations. We have held lengthy exchanges with our NATO Allies, 
neutral countries, and central European democracies on this issue. We 
have succeeded in forging a strong, common position among CSCE 
signatories rejecting violence and intimidation and calling for peaceful 
dialogue among the parties. The United States currently supports giving 
the Baltic States observer status at CSCE meetings and will support full 
membership once these nations regain independent statehood.
    Also this spring, the United States took a leading role in the U.N. 
Human Rights Commission's (UNHRC) discussion of the January violence in 
the Baltic States. The United States successfully worked for consensus 
on the UNHRC resolution calling on the Soviet Union to review the 
January events and provide a full report to the Commission.
    In numerous contacts with Soviet President Gorbachev and other 
Soviet officials since mid-January, both Secretary Baker and I have 
repeatedly raised the matter of the Baltic States. There can be no doubt 
that the Soviet leadership understands this issue's importance to the 
United States and our unwavering support for the cause of Baltic 
freedom. We have underscored the unacceptability of the use of force and 
intimidation and the urgent need for dialogue and negotiations with the 
freely elected representatives of the Baltic States, which will lead to 
an outcome that respects Baltic aspirations for self-determination. Each 
of the Baltic States began negotiations with the Soviet Union on a broad 
range of issues in April. We are following these talks closely and hope 
they will be conducted in good faith, free of threats and intimidation 
by all sides.
    Secretary Baker and I have met with representatives of the Baltic 
States on numerous occasions. I met with Lithuanian President 
Landsbergis, Estonian Prime Minister Savisaar, and Latvian Prime 
Minister Godmanis in May; with Estonian President Ruutel in March; with 
President Landsbergis in December 1990; Prime Minister Savisaar in 
October 1990; Prime Minister Godmanis in July 1990; and then-Prime 
Minister Prunskiene in May 1990. Secretary Baker has met with the three 
Baltic permanent representatives in Moscow and with the foreign 
ministers of all three Baltic States in Washington, New York, and Paris. 
Our Consulate General in Leningrad also maintains a nearly continuous 
diplomatic presence in the Baltic States and is in close contact with 
the governments there. We have used these and other contacts with Baltic 
leaders to keep current on the state of affairs in the Baltic States and 
to convey U.S. support for the legitimate aspirations of the Baltic 
peoples.
    In addition, the Department of State maintains regular contact with 
the Charges d'Affaires of the three Baltic diplomatic legations 
accredited to the United States. The radio services of Radio Free Europe 
and the Voice of America have also played an important role in conveying 
and explaining

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U.S. policy on the Baltic States.
    The Administration has also attempted to express our support for the 
Baltic people in new ways. Working through Project Hope, we shipped 
medical aid directly to the Baltics on February 28 to meet basic medical 
needs. We are now following up with a second shipment of medical 
supplies this month. We provided U.S. technical help to Latvia after a 
chemical spill in the Daugava River in November 1990. The Department of 
Agriculture began a program to assist Lithuanian agriculture and support 
U.S. agricultural sales there by modernizing a feedgrain mill. Visits by 
a number of Members of Congress and Administration officials have also 
underscored the American people's support for Baltic self-determination.
    These extensive contacts reflect our recognition of the fact that 
these governments are democratically elected, represent the will of the 
Baltic peoples, and deserve our support.
    The United States has stood and will continue to stand in solidarity 
with the Baltic peoples in their striving for freedom and self-
determination. Our intensified diplomatic efforts over the past year 
have played a critical role in galvanizing global support for the cause 
of the Baltic peoples and for a peaceful, negotiated outcome that takes 
proper account of legitimate Baltic interests. We strongly encourage the 
Soviet government and the three Baltic governments to progress in talks 
begun in early April on the issues that divide them.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
June 25, 1991.