This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.
50 years ago the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe adopted Resolution
189 (1960)
on the situation in the Baltic States on the twentieth
anniversary of their forcible incorporation into the Soviet Union. The
Resolution was initiated by the Members of the Non-represented Nations
Committee of the Assembly, Ms Marie Antoinette von Lowzow, Danish
MP, being appointed as a rapporteur.
The Resolution was permeated with the hope that Soviet communist
oppression and occupation would not succeed in crushing the Baltic
spirit and faith in freedom and democracy and expressed the Assembly’s anticipation
that the time would come when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania would
be able to play their part as free nations in democratic international
institutions. Adopted half a century ago, this political document
was the united European response to the brutal Soviet occupation
and annexation.
The historic experience of the three Baltic States and other
countries behind the Iron Curtain clearly
shows that peace, freedom and democracy cannot be taken for granted.
Having gained their independence two decades ago, these countries
have come to the point of expressing deep appreciation and sincere
gratitude to former politicians who had not forgotten their fellow
Europeans, who were supporting and standing for the statehood and
political independence of these countries.
