HomeMy WebLinkAboutFormal Recognition of Republic of Lithuania's Re-Declaration of its IndependenceRESOLI�TION
NO. 1 74 -90
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
April 9, 90
19
,/—,, e_ — ^J City Clerk
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
April 10, 90
9
Approved and signed by me
of Common Council.
• • 1
City Clerk
Mayor
RESOLUTION NO. 1774'.'. =90
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
BEND, INDIANA, IN FORMAL RECOGNITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF
LITHUANIA'S RE- DECLARATION OF ITS INDEPENDENCE AND IN
c0PPORT FOR AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF LITHUANIA IN
THEIR DRIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
WHEREAS, the nation of Lithuania is the home of a
vigorous culture that traces its existence to the 13th
century and whose people have long struggled to preserve
their culture, heritage and autonomy; and
WHEREAS, the Republic of Lithuania declared its
independence on February 16, 1918 and functioned as a free
notion until 1940; and
WHEREAS, Lithuania, along with the other Baltic
rmpublics of Latvia and Estonia, were forcibly occupied by
ttn Soviet Union in 1940 and have been, for the past fifty
ors, unlawfully subjugated by the Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, the Red Army has been an unwanted oppressive
�"rce in Lithuania as a result of the secret and illegal
IIDLOTOV- Ribbentrop pact between Germany and the Soviet Union
1940; and
WHEREAS, the United States government, spanning every
Eriministration since President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has
never recognized the illegal annexation of Lithuania by the
Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS the Republic of Lithuania has always maintained
diplomatic relations with the United States and its other
Western allies; and
WHEREAS, the people of Lithuania, through a free,
ffemocratic and multi -party election, gave a clear mandate to
--heir elected representatives on February 24, 1990; and
WHEREAS, these freely - elected representatives voted, by
s count of 124 to 0, to reconstitute the Republic of
Mithuania by redeclaring independence from the Soviet Union
7n March 11, 1990; and
WHEREAS the new president of the legislature of
S.ithuania, Vytautas Landsbergis, has appealed for formal
3iplomatic recognition by democratic nations; and
WHEREAS, these democratic developments in Lithuania
represent the accomplishment of goals and aspirations long
supported by the government as well as the people of the
United State of America; and
WHEREAS, the Soviet government has recently undertaken
invert and aggressive actions - including military takeovers
of key government buildings and the expulsion of all press
from Lithuania - designed to intimidate the Lithuanian
leaders;
NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE 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,
Indiana, hereby commends Lithuania on her efforts to regain
independence.
SECTION II: The Council recommends that the Soviet Union
negotiate with Lithuania on an equal basis without economic
intimidation.
SECTION III: The Council condemns the use of force by the
Soviet Union to suppress Lithuania's democratic aspirations
a gross violation of human rights.
SECTION IV: The Council urges President Bush to recognize
an independent and democratic Lithuania at the earliest
possible time, and urges the President to seek political
support among our allies for Lithuanian self - determination.
SECTION V: The Common Council further recommends that a
copy of this Resolution be sent to President Bush and to the
Honorable Vytautas Landsbergis, President of the Republic of
Lithuania, as a symbol of our support.
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.
Stephen Luecke,
First District
Second
Third District
Ann- huzzello, U�
Fount Dis xct
i� .�t7
Lina_s Slavinskas,
Fifth District
Sixth Didrfict
ATTEST:
Irene Gammon,
City Clerk
qS�sspfi E. Kernan, Mayor