POLITICAL EXTREMISM CONDEMNED Political figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the rise of extremism in Lithuania, including the candidacy of a neo-Nazi leader in the upcoming local election in Siauliai. The small Independent Party on 29 January placed Mindaugas Murza, the leader of the unregistered National Socialist Unity, at the top of their electoral list. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and parliamentary Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis both each warned against the appearance of such extremist and "street" politicians.
* The Bishops Conference of the Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania issued a formal apology for collaboration with the KGB during the Soviet era and called all former collaborators to admit their guilt and ask for forgiveness. The conference said that a similar statement on collaboration during the German occupation would be forthcoming.
END NOTE
Reaffirming U.S. Policy In The Baltics
By Mel HuangU.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott reaffirmed Washington's support for the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the European Union and NATO during a 2 February speech in Tallinn. Speaking to his immediate audience, Talbott said that "Estonia is coming home to the West; it is coming home to Europe; it is coming home to where it has always belonged."
"For Americans," Talbott continued, "the fate of the Baltic states is nothing less than a litmus test for the fate of this entire continent, where the United States has such deep and abiding interests. It's not just a test for you to pass, but for us to pass it together. We will do so when these three distinctive and deserving nations--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-are secure, stable, prosperous democracies integrated into all the structures of the Euro-Atlantic community."
Talbott appealed to the European Union to move quickly on Baltic membership to the union. "The more broadly Europe defines itself...the more peaceful and secure Europe will be." With respect to NATO, Talbott reiterated Washington's "open-door" policy, once again stressing that history and geography will not be a factor in the NATO eligibility of any country.
"The Baltic states in particular should not be punished for having prevailed over occupation and dictatorship," he continued, "nor should you be forgotten or neglected now that you have made such progress in establishing prosperity and openness in your neighborhood." Speaking directly to those who oppose Baltic membership in NATO, Talbott said that their inclusion would help ensure "that this region as a whole never again becomes a zone of insecurity and instability."
Talbott also discussed the EU's Northern Dimension program, which seeks to involve Kaliningrad and northwestern Russia. He said that Washington was actively backing this approach through its own North European Initiative which is intended to promote cooperation across this entire region. "Our hope is that Russia will come, over time, to view this region not as a fortified frontier but as a gateway; not as a buffer against invaders who no longer exist, but as a trading route in a word, that Russia will come to view the Baltics Hanseatically."
In other comments, Talbott praised Estonia's commitment to raising defense spending to 2 percent of GDP and its participation in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and in Georgia. And he lauded Estonia's "real and impressive progress" at integrating its minorities. But concerning the future of the OSCE mission in Estonia, Talbott said only that Washington would seek to ensure that the OSCE "registers the very real progress that Estonia has made and that that progress is reflected in the OSCE's future role and mission in Estonia."
(Compiled by Mel Huang)
Copyright (c) 2000. RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved.
RFE/RL Baltic States Report is prepared by Mel Huang on the basis of a variety of sources. It is distributed every Monday.
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