Condeming the Brutal Actions of the Soviet Military in Litunia, Latvia, Estonia and Urging Elected Leaders to Support Economic Stablization of Independent Baltic States

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RESOLUTIONNO. XV041 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CONDEMNING THE BRUTAL ACTIONS OF THE SOVIET MILITARY IN LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA AND URGING ELECTED LEADERS TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC STABILIZATION OF INDEPENDENT BALTIC STATES. WHEREAS, Soviet Union President Gorbachev has deployed troops to the Baltic States, resulting in widespread brutality, repression and the deaths of 15 unarmed citizens in Lithuania and 5 Latvian citizens; and WHEREAS, the Soviet regime, through these and other aggressive actions, is attempting to overthrow the democratically - elected governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; and WHEREAS, the United States never recognized the forcible annexation and subsequent occupation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union; and WHEREAS, the Baltic States have been the leaders of "perestroika;' that is, economic and democratic reform, within the Soviet Union, and WHEREAS, these democratic developments in Lithuania and the other Baltic States represent the accomplishment of goals and aspirations long supported by the government as well as the people of the United States of America; and WHEREAS, the government of Lithuania has appealed for formal diplomatic recognition by democratic nations; and WHEREAS, the government of Lithuania has recently issued an urgent pleas for support by the United States and all democratic nations to protect the independence and democracy of Lithuania; and WHEREAS, the United States Senate has recently adopted a resolution (Senate Resolution 12) calling upon Soviet President Gorbachev to refrain from "coercive tactics against the democratically elected government of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia ..... at the time when the world, including the Soviet Union itself, is united in opposition to the forcible annexation of another small nation, Kuwait, by it's brutal neighbor, Iraq "; and WHEREAS, Saturday, February 16, 1991 marks the 73rd anniversary of Lithuania's Declaration of Independence (February 16, 1918), which was recognized by the Soviet Union in 1920. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I: The Common Council of the City of South Bend hereby condemns the brutal actions of the Soviet military in their attempt to overthrow the freely and democratically elected governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. SECTION II: The Council urges President Bush, as well as our Senate and Congressional representatives to support the economic stabilization of independent Baltic States. SECTION III: The Council specifically urges Congressman Roemer to support House Resolution 559, which makes granting Most Favored Nation status for the USSR conditional on Baltic independence, and urges Senator Coats and Senator Lugar to support Senate Bill 9, which amends U.S. foreign aid policy toward countries in transition from communism to democracy by extending such aid directly to the republic level. SECTION IV: The Council urges President Bush to extend full diplomatic recognition to The Republic of Lithuania immediately. SECTION V: The Council requests that certified copies of this Resolution be sent to: President George Bush, Congressman Tim Roemer, Senator Dan Coats, Senator Richard Lugar as well as the Lithuanian legation in the Unites States. SECTION VI: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Member of the Common Council " MemYr of the Common Council