Speech #970185347

For this reason. we must affirm our support for the independence of these nations and keep faith with them here in the United States. The peoples of the Baltic States have refused to give up their ethnic identity and heritage and continue to resist the onslaughts of russification. The Soviet regime has resettled large numbers of ethnic Russians in the Baltic States. has deported untold numbers of the indigenous populations and yet these peoples persevere in their brave call for their right to selfdetermination. The strength of this commitment is demonstrated by such evidence as the Baltic memorandum of 1979. proclaimed by 45 courageous dissidents on the 40th anniversary of the shameful NaziSoviet Pact on which the 1940 aggression was based. Mr.