RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION RESOLUTION ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE The 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and the founding of the United Nations' Organization has special meaning for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In the name of their long-suffering nations, the representatives of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian parliaments consider it their duty to remind the whole world that the Baltic States were also the members of the League of Nations who lost their independence during World War II. Those who founded the United Nations Organization consented to that act of violence for tens of years. We have to remind that already in 1940"1941 more than 100 000 citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were deported to Siberia. By 1945 the Baltic States had lost one fifth of their population. Now Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have regained their independence and have become members of the United Nations. This took place at a time when the world resolutely revised the course of history " many nations became free of totalitarianism and regulated their mutual relations. The official apologies of the leaders of Germany and Japan to the nations who had suffered because of their activities during World War II were a great contribution to that. We only have to admit with regret that the successor of the Soviet Union " Russia, who was among the winners at the end of the World War II has done it only partially. Therefore we consider it necessary to remind once again that the collusion of Stalin and Hitler of August 23, 1939 determined the disappearance of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the political map of the world. Russia's public condemnation of the aggression and occupation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union in 1940 would noticeably improve the relations between the Baltic States and Russia. The armed forces of the successor of the state that had occupied the Baltic States left by August 31, 1994. Regrettably, violating the conditions of the agreements with Estonia and Latvia, Russia has left thousands of retired military personnel there. These are the reasons why the Baltic Assembly expresses its full support to the decision by the three Baltic Presidents and the President of Poland, not to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the USSR in Europe. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as the states who in World War II lost their independence for half a century, consider it necessary to declare that the year 1995 should become the year of the true end of World War II: the winners of the war should honestly observe the obligations they have taken upon themselves, while those who have committed crimes and injustice should apologize to their victims. Deputy Chairman of Chairman Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of of the Presidium the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly of the Baltic the Baltic Assembly Assembly Arnold Riuitel Maris Budovskis Egidijus Bičkauskas Republic of Estonia Republic of Republic of Latvia Lithuania Ryga, April 22, 1995