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Appeal To the Fourth USSR Congress of People’s Deputies

Appeal To the Fourth USSR Congress of People’s Deputies

The Supreme Councils of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania

We, members of the Supreme Councils of though Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania, gathered in Vilnius, the capital of the Republic of Lithuania, have resolved to adopt the following appeal:

Proceeding on the basis of the historical rights of our nations and their will, the Supreme Councils of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania, passed resolutions to restore their independent statehood.

In the past we have recommended that the Supreme Soviet and the leadership of the USSR conduct negotiations on the recognition of the independent statehood of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, but our repeated proposals have not received any response. Moreover, the leadership of the USSR is attempting to block trade and economic relations between our states and republics of the USSR, and to destabilize the economies of the Baltic States.

We flrmly believe that with the opportunity to develop free economies, and maintain close cooperation and neighborly relations with the USSR, we will be able not only to strengthen our own economies, but contribute to the resolution of the crisis in the Soviet Union, as well.

We also reiterate that the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania wil1 not join in the preparation or signing of a Union treaty.

We strongly protest against attempts to employ methods of economic pressure and threats of military intervention to force the Baltic States to sign a Union treaty.

We protest against the presence of Soviet armed forces on the territories of the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and their interference in the internal affairs of our states. We believe that until the Soviet armed forces are completely withdrawn, their status, as well as the provision of social support for their officers and their familles, must be determined through inter-state agreements between our states and the USSR.

We appel to the USSR to recognise the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and, without delay, begin Inter-state negotiations for the resolution of political and economic relations between the Baltic States and the USSR.

Signed by the Presiding Chairmen of the joint session:

Arnold Ruutel
Chairman Supreme Council Republic of Estonia

Anatolijs Gorbunovs
Chairman Supreme Council Republic of Latvia

Vytautas Landsbergis
President Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania

Vilnius, I December 1990

Source:
copies du texte signé à travers l’Association des lettons des Etats-Unis