United States resolution on the 90th anniversary of the Latvian Republic
Encyclopedia
The 90th Anniversary of the Latvian Republic was celebrated in 2008. Proclaimed on November 18, 1918, the Latvian republic asserted independence from Imperial Russia. International de jure recognition was obtained on January 26th, 1921.
In addition to the various domestic and international events organised to celebrate the anniversary, a commentrative stamp and coin were issued to mark the occasion. Various governments issued proclamations congratulating the Latvian republic; The US resolution, backed by Barack Obama
, was unique in that it both congratulated Latvia on the eve of the 90th anniversary of its independence and called for the US president to push Russia to admit the illegality of the Soviet occupation.. The 90th anniversary prompted the publication in 2010 of an academic retrospective of the Latvia nation state during the period of the occupation of the Baltic states
' speech at the Freedom Monument
on November 18, where a military parade was also held on that day.
" at the Moscow Cinematography Center. The acclaimed chamber orchestra "Kremerata Baltica
", pianist Vestards Simkus
, cellist Marta Sudraba and mezzo-soprano Baiba Berke performed.
A concert program was held in the city of Vitebsk
in Belarus
, where contemporary and traditional Latvian music was showcased.
In addition to a gift of historical documents from the archives of the Hoover Institute related to Latvia – United States relations, the USA granted Latvia inclusion into the Visa Waiver Program
.
), during the 110th United States Congress
. The resolution congratulated the people of Latvia on the 90th anniversary of Latvia's November 18, 1918, declaration of independence; commended the government of Latvia for its success in implementing political and economic reforms, for establishing political, religious and economic freedom, and for its commitment to human and civil rights; and called upon the US President
and the Secretary of State to urge the government of the Russian Federation to acknowledge that the Soviet occupation of Latvia
, Estonia
, and Lithuania
under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
and for the succeeding 51 years was illegal. The resolution was introduced on June 9, 2008 and passed unanimously without amendment on September 16, 2008.
In addition to the various domestic and international events organised to celebrate the anniversary, a commentrative stamp and coin were issued to mark the occasion. Various governments issued proclamations congratulating the Latvian republic; The US resolution, backed by Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, was unique in that it both congratulated Latvia on the eve of the 90th anniversary of its independence and called for the US president to push Russia to admit the illegality of the Soviet occupation.. The 90th anniversary prompted the publication in 2010 of an academic retrospective of the Latvia nation state during the period of the occupation of the Baltic states
Domestic events
The celebrations, which spanned the month of November, were broadcast live and viewed by a total of 1.34 million Latvian residents, culminating with over 500,000 viewing President Valdis ZatlersValdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
' speech at the Freedom Monument
Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence . It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia...
on November 18, where a military parade was also held on that day.
International events
A number of cultural events were held in Russia. On November 8th a concert was held in Moscow by the Moscow Latvian Culture Society Choir. On November 11th on Latvian Freedom Fighters' Remembrance Day saw the Russian premiere of the Latvian feature film "Defenders of RigaDefenders of Riga
Defenders of Riga is a 2007 Latvian film directed by Aigars Grauba starring Elita Kļaviņa, Jānis Reinis, and Artūrs Skrastiņš.Already by the fifth week of screening, the film had become the most watched Latvian film produced after the return of independence in 1991. By then, it had been viewed by...
" at the Moscow Cinematography Center. The acclaimed chamber orchestra "Kremerata Baltica
Kremerata Baltica
Kremerata Baltica is a chamber orchestra consisting of young musicians from Baltic countries . It was founded by Gidon Kremer in 1997.The name is a pun on camerata, the general word applying to various chamber music groups....
", pianist Vestards Simkus
Vestards Šimkus
Vestards Šimkus is a Latvian pianist and composer.He won the 2001 International Performers Competition in Stockholm, the 2002 Los Angeles' Liszt Competition and the 2009 Maria Canals International Music Competition, and was awarded the Latvian Grand Music Award in 2002...
, cellist Marta Sudraba and mezzo-soprano Baiba Berke performed.
A concert program was held in the city of Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, where contemporary and traditional Latvian music was showcased.
In addition to a gift of historical documents from the archives of the Hoover Institute related to Latvia – United States relations, the USA granted Latvia inclusion into the Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...
.
United States resolution on the 90th anniversary of the Latvian Republic
In recognition the US Senate commemorated the event by resolution. The 90th anniversary of the Latvian Republic resolution was submitted to the U.S. Senate by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OROregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
), during the 110th United States Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
. The resolution congratulated the people of Latvia on the 90th anniversary of Latvia's November 18, 1918, declaration of independence; commended the government of Latvia for its success in implementing political and economic reforms, for establishing political, religious and economic freedom, and for its commitment to human and civil rights; and called upon the US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and the Secretary of State to urge the government of the Russian Federation to acknowledge that the Soviet occupation of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, was an agreement officially titled the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and signed in Moscow in the late hours of 23 August 1939...
and for the succeeding 51 years was illegal. The resolution was introduced on June 9, 2008 and passed unanimously without amendment on September 16, 2008.
Co-sponsors
The resolution has 6 co-sponsors (in alphabetical order):- Sen. Robert CaseyBob Casey, Jr.Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Jr. is the senior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Pennsylvania Treasurer, and Pennsylvania Auditor General. He is the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr..He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in...
[D, PA] - Sen. Richard DurbinRichard DurbinRichard Joseph "Dick" Durbin is the senior United States Senator from Illinois and the Senate Majority Whip, the second highest position in the Democratic Party leadership in the Senate....
[D, IL] - Sen. Herbert Kohl [D, WI]
- Sen. Carl LevinCarl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
[D, MI] - Sen. Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
[D, IL] - Sen. George VoinovichGeorge VoinovichGeorge Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
[R, OH]