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Appeal to the Parliaments of the World

Appeal to the Parliaments of the World

We, the deputies of the Supreme Councils of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania, meeting in a joint session in Vilnius, the capital of the Republic of Lithuania,

Reaffirming our nations’ proclaimed will to restore the complete independence of the three Baltic States;

Adhering to the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Final Act reaffirmed in the Paris Charter for a New Europe;

Stating that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania participated on an unequal basis at the Paris meeting of the Conference on Security and Cupertino in Europe, and that full and equal participation in the CSCE Paris meeting was supported by its member-states;

Recalling that the Baltic nations, having led an armed resistance to occupation and annexation in the past, are now directing all their efforts towards the peaceful and democratic restoration of the liberty heretofore denied them;

Stating that continuing threats by the Soviet Union to use force against the territorial integrity and political independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania directly contradict the Soviet Union’s renewed pledges outlined in the Paris Charter and Joint Declaration;

Testifying that the Soviet Union has persistently violated the right of nations, emphasised in the Charter, to determine their own future in accordance with the principles of the United Nations;

Emphasising the fact that the Soviet Union, by avoiding genuine interstate negotiations, is creating the risk of open conflict with the Baltic States in this region of Europe, Which, up to now, has remained at peace; and

Adhering to the pledges of the Paris Charter to call upon third nations for the peaceful regulation of conflict, therefore

Appeal to the parliaments of the world to fully employ their influence and help to assure:

1) that the Soviet Union end all threats as well as its policy of applying political and economic pressures, and, without delay, begin inter-state negotiations with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on the recognition of their independence;

2) that a co-ordinated schedule be determined for the withdrawal of the USSR armed forces from the territories of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, together with a guarantee by these forces not to interfere in the affairs of the Baltic States;

3) that any nuclear-free zone in northern Europe also include the territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania;

4) that all obstacles hindering direct relations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the entire world, be removed;

5) that said parliaments agree to participate as mediators in inter-state negotiations between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and the Soviet Union;

6) that the issue of the Baltic States be included in the agenda of the executive bodies of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

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, 1. December 1990

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