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Background information on the anniversary of 15 years from the establishment of the Council of the Baltic States11.05.2005
12 May 2005 celebrates the anniversary of 15 years from the signing of the Declaration on Unity and Co-operation by the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania in the White Hall of the Riigikogu in Tallinn, which re-established full-scale co-operation between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In line with the Treaty on Concord and Cooperation between the three Baltic states in 1934 in Geneva, the Baltic Council was established in 1990.
The documents signed on May 12, 1990 by the three Baltic heads of states - a declaration and a communiqué follow:
DECLARATION
On Unity and Co-operation by the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania
We, Arnold Rüütel, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia; Anatolijs Gorbunovs, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia; Vytautas Landsberis, President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania,
- Based on our people's unshakeable belief in the ideals of freedom and independence, in consideration of the historical experience of our trilateral co-operation, and
- In affirming our adherence to universally accepted principles of international law,
- Are determined to continue and develop political and economic cooperation among our three countries, in seeking to make their further contribution to the general development of current process in Europe,
- And, as representatives of three countries, which are former members of the League of Nations ready to take their rightful and legal place in the United Nations as equals among nations of the world,
Have decided:
- To renew, and do hereby renew the Treaty on Unity and Co-operation and the resulting Declaration signed by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in Geneva on September 12, 1934, which was illegally suspended in 1940,
- To improve the mechanism of mutual relations, as stated in Article Two (2) of the 1934 Treaty, according to current circumstances,
- To create a Council of the Baltic States in order to assist in the full restoration of state independence of the three Republics.
- To ascertain that the Council of the Baltic States, which meets either periodically or by initiative of one of the three States, includes the presidents of the Supreme Councils of the Baltic Republics and other officials of highest rank as seen fit by the three countries.
This declaration is signed on May 12, 1990 in Tallinn. This document has been written in five languages Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, English + Russian), the text of which is identical in all.
ARNOLD RÜÜTEL
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia
ANATOLIJS GORBUNOVS
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia
VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS
President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania
COMMUNIQUÉ
Issued at the conclusion of the meeting of the Chairmen of the Supreme Councils of the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania
Arnold Rüütel, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia, Anatolijs Gorbunovs, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia, Vytautas Landsbergis, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania met in Tallinn, on May 12, 1990.
The meeting passed in a cordial and understanding atmosphere, reflecting the longstanding aspirations of the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania towards good-neighbourly cooperation and mutual support to each other. The commitment of the participants of the meeting to the ideals of freedom and independence was reconfirmed.
Trilateral negotiations on strengthening of mutual relations between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were held. The Declaration on Unity and Cooperation by the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania was signed. An appeal was sent to the President of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Mikhail Gorbatchov, and the President of the United States of America George Bush, also a joint statement on the participation in the European Security and Cooperation Conference. The participants of the meeting informed each other of the situation in their country and their foreign policy activities.
The Chairmen of the Supreme Councils of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania acknowledged the unity of historical destiny of their states. As full-fledged members of the League of Nations the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania were active and universally acknowledged subjects of world politics. Their relations with the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the USSR were and shall be based on the bilateral peace treaties of 1920 and other documents arising thereof.
The forcible incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR following the signing of the 1939 Soviet-German non-aggression pact and the additional secret protocols to it was the act of occupation and annexation. The Supreme Councils of the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have passed resolutions, which declare the decisions to join the USSR null and void. As it is known, a considerable number of the UN member countries have never recognised the annexation of the Baltic states and consider that the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have continued to exist de jure.
In recent years, the people of the Baltic states have had an opportunity to confirm their unwavering aspiration to restore their independence. This has been demonstrated at mass events, during elections and in legislative activities. In 1990 on March 11, May 4 and May 8 the Supreme Councils of the three countries passed historic resolutions on the full restoration of the independence of their states. The Baltic states wish to contact the negotiations with the USSR on restoration of independence, coordinating their positions between themselves and not compromising the principle of independence.
The Baltic States wish to switch into international life and set a goal to become full-fledged members of the United Nations Organisation and other international organisations.
The Baltic states are fully determined to contribute to the Helsinki Process and will accordingly apply for the inclusion to the parties of the Helsinki II. The viewpoint of the Baltic states is that the issue of their independence has to be included to the agenda of the new Summit and the European Security and Co-operation Conference.
The Baltic states recognise the importance of adherence to universally accepted principles of international law, including not to use violence and economic pressure in international relations. They condemn the use of such acts towards whichever state, including the countries participating at the meeting.
The Baltic states consider their return to world politics as a step contributing to the strengthening of international trust, security and cooperation.
Tallinn, May 12, 1990
On behalf of the Republic of Estonia
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia
ARNOLD RÜÜTEL
On behalf of the Republic of Latvia
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia
ANATOLIJS GORBUNOVS
On behalf of the Republic of Lithuania
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania
VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 11, 2005
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