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85 years – the relations between the Baltic States and the USA have lasted that long. On this occasion, the 85th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Baltic States and the USA, a meeting was held at the Heritage Foundation, a bastion of the conservative thought, in Washington.

The Foreign Ministers of the three Baltic States and several officials from other states participated in the Forum. Speeches were delivered by the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Ambassador Daniel Fried.

Although with the approaching date for the event some doubts were expressed that the event would probably have only a symbolic significance, the meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State was much more intense than expected. Serious problems in bilateral and multilateral relations were raised, beginning with the participation of the Baltic States in the Visa Waiver Programme and ending with the condemnation of Russia’s attacks against Estonia.

The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia Artis Pabriks and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia Urmas Paet at the U.S. State Department. During the meeting issues of Trans-Atlantic security, support for democratic development, energy and visas were discussed. In welcoming her guests, the U.S. Secretary of State emphasised that the United States was on the side of the Baltic States even when these states were going through a dark period. “I remember very well one of my speeches at the National Security Council – that the USA did not recognise the incorporation of the Baltic countries by the Soviet Union”, said the influential politician.     

In her speech, Dr. Rice emphasised that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were members of the alliance, not only of NATO, bet also of a global partnership all over the world. “And the most important thing is that the said countries are members of the alliance, which is doing its best to help democracy grow in those countries, which have not experienced it before”, stated Condoleezza Rice. Lithuania and the USA established diplomatic relations on the 28 July 1922.

The problem of visas addressed

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Petras Vaitiekūnas emphasised that previously the Baltic States were not only allies in defence matters. Later Mr. Vaitiekūnas repeated to the journalists once again that the Forum in Washington was far from being only a symbolic gesture to commemorate the historic relations between the Baltic States and the USA. According to Vaitiekūnas, during the meeting with Condoleezza Rice “the visa-free regime, energy safety and other important issues were addressed”.

“We spoke about a summit meeting about the issue of energy safety to be organised in October in Lithuania and another, about Lithuania’s ambitions to hold the presidency over the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. We discussed this and other issues not only with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice but also with the Congressman Alcee Hastings”, said the Minister as he shared his impressions of the meeting with us. Petras Vaitiekūnas said that he had also mentioned the issue of the anti-rocket defence planned by the USA for Europe. “We think that this will increase security in the region, as well as that of Russia. The system is not directed against Russia”, said the Minister, repeating Lithuania’s position in Washington once again. According to Vaitiekūnas, the theme of the visa-free regime, a very urgent matter for Lithuania, was discussed at length.

“America is a democratic country, which, goes without saying, can solve its own problems. Following September 11, America has been concerned about security, which is normal. However, we presented our arguments. We pointed to the fact that we were partners and that we shared the burden of security. Furthermore,  strengthening of Trans-Atlantic relations starts with relationship among people”, said Petras Vaitiekūnas.

Lithuania’s position was understood

According to Petras Vaitiekūnas, in the co-operation with US officials it was felt that Lithuania’s positions was understood, and expert examination of our country and our experience of working in the region were appreciated. When asked about the new monument built in memory of the victims of Communism in Washington, the Minister, who had visited the site, was satisfied with the monument. He did not agree with some critics who said that the monument was too modest and that the site chosen for it was too far away from the White House (by the way, the residence of the US President is well seen from the busy junction where the monument stands).

“What I liked about the monument was its size, which was not too large. It is the right “measurements of a human being”. It is just of the size that is suitable for paying homage to the people who did not yield to tyranny. The essence does not lie in its size. Does the seed, from which a tree grows, have to be big? Later that tree gives thousands of such small seeds”, spoke the Minister metaphorically.

In his address, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania reminded his audience that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were under occupation by the Communist regime for more than 50 years – the people of these countries could not live in a free and democratic society. “The 14th of June is the day when we, Lithuanians, remember the beginning of mass deportations of our people to Siberia”, said the Minster Petras Vaitiekūnas and emphasised that even during that time of Soviet occupation hope did not die for the Lithuanian nation. The Head of Lithuanian diplomatic relations expressed his gratitude to the USA for never recognising Lithuania’s forced incorporation into the Soviet Union.   

“It is because of you that the day of independence of Lithuania has been celebrated year after year and the national flag of Lithuania holds its place among the flags of other countries at the State Department”, noted the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania.

Lithuania’s cavalry will not attack Russia

In his very stern speech, Daniel Fried criticised the methods of Russia’s foreign policy and warned Russia to stop threatening and start to solve its problem in a more civilised manner. According to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, misunderstandings that sometimes arise between Russia and the Baltic States are based on a different interpretation of history.

In Daniel Fried’s words, the world understands Russia’s feelings and assesses its contribution to overcoming Nazism. However, Fried says that “Russia should also take into consideration the feelings of the Baltic States”. The high U.S. official reminded the audience that along with overcoming Nazism the Baltic States encountered a new threat – Soviet occupation.

Daniel Fried criticised harshly Russia’s frequently expressed concern that its neighbours, after they had become members of the European Union and NATO now “surround” Russia and possibly posed a threat to it. In response Daniel Fried answered asking a rhetorical question: “What does Russia have in mind by saying that the Baltic States “surround” it? Is it not in Russia’s national interest to be surrounded by peaceful, wealthy and democratic countries?”

Condoleezza Rice’s Assistant confirmed that a threat posed to the neighbours did not come from the democratic world, which the USA regarded Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to be part of. “Threats come from dictatorships”, underlined the influential US diplomat.

“Though I am fascinated with progress that the Armed Forces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have made, I do not think that we should expect to see the Lithuanian cavalry galloping through Smolensk heading East”, said Fried jokingly.

The official spoke with great emotion about the occupation of the Baltic Stets and their liberation from the Soviet Empire at the beginning of the 1990s. He also said that America accepted some of blame for it “did not do what [it] should have, which was to defend all of Europe having emerged from the ... war free but fragile”, said Daniel Fried with regret.

The Minister expressed gratitude

In his address, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania reminded his audience that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were under occupation by the Communist regime for more than 50 years - the people of these countries could not live in a free and democratic society. “The 14th of June is the day when we, Lithuanians, remember the beginning of mass deportations of our people to Siberia”, said the Minster Petras Vaitiekūnas and emphasised that even during that time of Soviet occupation hope did not die for the Lithuanian nation. The Head of Lithuanian diplomatic relations expressed his gratitude to the USA for never recognising Lithuania’s forced incorporation into the Soviet Union.. 

“It is because of you that the day of independence of Lithuania has been celebrated year after year and the national flag of Lithuania holds its place among the flags of other countries at the State Department”, said the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania.

The new Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact?

The threat to the Baltic States, which was rising from Russia’s direction theme was continued by the Chairman of the Council of Directors of the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) Ramūnas Kondratas who posed a question to the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia, which received vocal response, and which was received by the Estonian diplomats and journalists with applause and shouts of approval.

According to Ramūnas Kondratas, the oil pipeline that is to be laid these days between Russia and Germany through the bottom of the Baltic Sea, and in whose construction the Baltic States are not included, can be compared to a new Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. “This is a new attempt to divide Europe. Since according to the new plans this pipeline would run much closer to Estonia’s territorial waters with Finland, can we expect Estonia to take the initiative to stop this project?”, asked Ramūnas Kondratas.

Urmas Paet diplomatically evaded a direct answer, but he admitted that Estonia had many possibilities to influence the course of construction of the pipeline. “Our greatest concern is related to possible harm done to the environment, the Baltic Sea, in particular. We shall consider carefully the requests submitted by the company in charge of the construction of the pipeline and we shall do our best to ensure that any risk relating to both environmental protection and to all other issues would be kept to a minimum”, spoke the Head of Estonian diplomacy.

The Latvian diplomat had to make do with a normal citizen’s passport

If the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania boldly revealed the threats posed by Russia and the anti-democratic tendencies of the foreign policy of that country, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia Artis Pabriks who took the floor after him, expressed his strong opinion about the Baltic States’ joining the Visa Waiver Programme. Later the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Lithuania said that he fully agreed with the opinion expressed by the Latvian Foreign Minister who emphasised this problem in his speech as well. In order to show the necessity of the visa-free regime with the USA, Artis Pabriks presented an example from his own experience. “Prior to arriving here to participate in the events of commemorating the 85th anniversary of the relations between the Baltic States and the USA, I visited several other foreign states, including Japan. Since I had to submit my diplomatic passport to the US consular services in advance, though I represented my country as the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia, I had to visit the Asian countries with a normal citizen’s passport.

I think nobody would dare state that Latvia’s relations with Japan or Singapore are deeper or closer (than those with the USA). Therefore, I do hope that in commemorating this anniversary, whether it is the 87th, or the 100th anniversary, this problem will not repeat itself. Citizens of Latvia, at least its diplomats and ministers, must be granted the right to travel to the USA without visas as soon as possible,” said Artis Pabriks, expressing his strong position on the issue of the visa-free regime.