Speech #960251263

Whereas the United States. as a signatory to the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. endorsed Principle VIII concerning equal rights and selfdetermination of peoples. and Whereas in 1940 the Soviet Union unilaterally and forcibly annexed the Baltic States (Lithuania. Latvia. and Estonia). which were sovereign members of the League of Nations. and Whereas in 1954 the House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate Communist Aggression concluded that the Baltic States "were forcibly occupied and illegally annexed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" and that "the continued military and political occupations of Lithuania. Latvia. and Estonia by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a cause of the dangerous world tensions which now beset mankind and therefore constitute a serious threat to the peace". and Whereas the desire of the citizens of the Baltic States for national independence remains strong despite efforts by the Soviet Union to destroy the Baltic peoples as distinct cultural. geographical. ethnic. and political entities through dispersion and deportations to Siberia. replacing them with ethnic Russians. and Whereas the peoples of the Baltic States are entitled to equal rights and self determination as set forth in Principle VIII of the Helsinki Final Act and should be allowed to hold free elections conducted under the auspices of the United Nations after the withdrawal of all Soviet military forces and political. administrative. and police personnel from the Baltic States. and Whereas the United States has consistently refused to recognize the unlawful Soviet occupation of the Baltic States. and continues to maintain diplomatic relations with representatives of the independent Republics of Lithuania. Latvia. and Estonia. and Whereas in past years this policy has received strong support in the Congress. and Whereas. in addition. the United States since its inception has been committed to the protection of its citizens. whether naturalized or native born. and Whereas the Soviet Union recently promulgated a law designating as a Soviet citizen any person who was born in the Soviet Union. was naturalized as a Soviet citizen. or is the child of parents who were Soviet citizens at the time of the childs birth. irrespective of whether the child was born on Soviet territory. and Whereas this law which went into effect on July 1. 1979. states that a person who is a Soviet citizen is not recognized as having the citizenship of a foreign state. and thus specifically does not recognize United States citizenship in such cases. and Whereas this law applies to millions of Americans. including those who. under United States law. are nativeborn citizens of the United States. and Whereas this Soviet law intimidates many United States citizens who might otherwise travel to the Soviet Union or come under Soviet authority or control: Now. therefore. be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring). That (a) it is the sense of the Congress that the President. in order to assure true and genuine peace in the Baltic region and in Europe in general. should instruct the United States delegation to the 1980 Madrid meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to seek full implementation of Principle VIII of the Helsinki Final Act concerning equal rights and selfdetermination of peoples. (b) It is further the sense of the Congress that the President should. through such channels as the International Communication Agency and other information agencies of the United States Government. do his utmost to bring the matter of the Baltic States to the attention of all nations by means of special radio programs and publications. (c) It is further the sense of the Congress that the President should use his good offices to make every effort to gain the support and cooperation of other nations for the realization of the independence of the Baltic States. SEC. 2. (a) The Congress views with deep concern the action on the part of the Soviet Union making citizenship claims on millions of Americans who were born in the United States or duly naturalized. (b) It is the sense of the Congress that the President should warn the Soviet Union against taking any action under this new Soviet citizenship law which would be detrimental to the interests of the United States and its individual citizens. and that the Secretary of State should inform United States citizens planning to visit the Soviet Union of the implications of this law.