ON THE EMBASSIES OF LITHUANIA IN PARIS AND ROME

ON THE EMBASSIES OF LITHUANIA IN PARIS AND ROME SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA resolution ON THE BUILDINGS OF THE EMBASSIES OF LITHUANIA IN PARIS AND ROME 17 June 1999 Vilnius On 2 June 1999 the Russian Duma adopted the Law on the Management of the Russian Federation Property Abroad, whereby the Russian Federation assumes all the rights and obligations regarding the property of the former Russian Empire, USSR and even other states, and declares that this property “may not be subject to legal action and court orders”. Since the Republic of Lithuania had never been a legitimate part of the USSR, but was only occupied and annexed following the 1939-1940 conspiracy of Stalin and Hitler against the sovereign nations, even though Russia renounced any possible claims to Lithuania in the Peace Treaty of 12 July 1920, the aforementioned Law of the Russian Duma would currently affect the Republic of Lithuania in only one aspect. This would ensue in the event Russia’s Government continues evading to return the occupied property of Lithuania in Paris and Rome, now making further argument based on the adopted Law, comparable to a new annexation. The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania trusts that such actions will not follow, and the Russian Federation will demonstrate goodwill to fulfil without delay its commitment to the Council of Europe with regard to the return of Lithuania’s embassies. CHAIRMAN OF THE SEIMAS VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA