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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
f.
For Immedi
:January.16, 1998
I
e Release
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT;
'
AT CHARTER SIGNING CEREMONY
East Room
2:45 P.M. EST
I
THE PRESIDENT: .Thank you. President Meri; President ·
Bra~auskas; President Ulmanis; members of thei Estonian,
Lithuanian, and Latvian delegations; Secretar¥ Albright; Mr.
Berger; members of Congress, Senato'r Dole, Mr:. Brzezinski 1 and
all friends of the Baltic nations who.are here.
'
.
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The Vice President and I·. and our administration were
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honoted to welcome President Meri, President Brazau~kas, and
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President Ulmanis to Washington to reaff~rm O"\Jr common vision of
a Europe whole and free, where Estonia, Lithu?nia, and Latvia
play their full and rightful roles, and to sign a Charter of
Partnership to build that Europe together.
To the three Presidents, .let me say thank you.
Thank you
for the key role you have played in making this moment possible;
holding to the dif cult path of political and economic reform;
leading Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania back
the community of
free nations where they belong.
·
.
I
This Charter of Partnership underscores DOW.far your
nation~ have come.
Almost exactly seven year~ ago today, Baltic
cit~zens were facing down tanks in the struggle to reclaim their
independence.
Today your democracies have taken root.
You
. stand among Europe's fastest growing economie~. Your nations
are a source of stability within· your region and beyond, through
the Partnership for Peac~, the Baltic Peaceke~pihg Batta~ion~
and your contributions in Bosnia.
·
____________________________ ___ _
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America has been proud to support this ~rogress, through
our seed assistance program, more than 500 Peace Corps
volunteers, and in many other ways. We share a stake in your
success. And with.this charter we set out aifrarnework to
achi.eve our common goals.
It affirms our commi trnent to
promoting harmony and human dignity within our societies.
It
stresses our interest in ciose cooperation aciong the .Baltic
states and with all their neighbors.
It lau~ches new working
groups on economic development to spur gre~ter trade,
investment, and growth, complementing the efforts of our
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European friends. And it furthers America's commitment to help
Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia to·deepen the~r integration and
prepare.for membership in the European Union 1and NATO.
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Of course, there can be no guarantees oft. admission to the
Alliance.
Only NATO's leaders, operating by 1
consensus, can
offer membership to an aspiring state. But America's security
is tied to Europe, and Europe will never be f~lly secure if
Baltic security is in doubt. NATO's door is and will remain
open to every partner nation, and America is :determined to
create the conditions under which Estonia, Li~huania, and Latvia
can one day walk through that door.
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The hopes that fuel the ~oals of this charter must be
matched by our will to achieve them.
That's why we're forming a
new partnership commission which Deputy Secre;tary.of State
Strobe Talbott will chair.
I'm pleased to report that the
charter is making a difference already. · Yest~rday our nations
signed treaties to eliminate double taxation,lwhich will
encourage American business to play an even greater role in
- Baltic prosperity. We're also· expanding our i:ommon· efforts to
combat organized crime with better information-sharing and more
joint operations.
I
And this year the United States, in a unique public-private
partnership with the Soros Open Society Institute, will be
creating a Baltic-American Partnership ·Fund tb promote the
development of civic organizations. Nothing is more crucial to
derno~racy's success than a vibrant network ofilocal groups
.committed to their communi ties and their nation.
I want to
thank George Soros for his visionary generosi~y.
I also want to say a special thanks· to t~e Baltic American
communities.
For 50 years Lithuanian, LatviaB, and Estonian
Americans kept alive the dream of Baltic freedom.
Now on the
verge of a new century, they are working here:at horne and with
�the
Baltic brothers and sisters to make
the-hard-won
blessings of liberty will never be lost again.
President Meri, President Brazauskas,
esident Ulmanis, we
rec 1 the August day in 1989 when hundreds of thousands of
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people linked hands from Tallinn to Riga
Vilnius~ forming a
human chain as strong as the values for whic~ it stood. Today
that Baltic chain
. across the Atlantic Ocean. America's
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hands .and hearts and hopes are joined as one 1 with yours.
Working together we can build a new Europe of democracy, .
ity, and peace, where security is
:Province of every
nation. And the
·
belongs to the
·
·
.
.
Thank you very much.
I
(Applause.)
PRESIDENT ULMANIS: Dear President, la~:Llles and gentlemen,.,
today is a happy day as we are signing
u:s.A.-Baltic
Charter. This charter will serve as a key fqr the next century.
It
s us allies. Our signatures provi
the strategic
philosophy for the next century. They mark strong Atlantic -and also the formation of a new Europe. The :Baltic region is a
success story for all who shape it by their.~veryday work.
I call on President Clinton and his admi:nistration to get.
act
ly involved in the formation of ·its fut~ure.
The symbol
meaning of the charter
.been expressed in ;its first words,
which . speak about our common vision of the fu;tur~.
I1t has been
created by people of our country in continuou:s work by mutual
enrichment. .r am proud of my people and
trengths .·
I am
proud of my fri~nds who I am happy to wel
here.
Thank you.
(App
e.)
PRESIDENT .BRAZAUSKAS: Dear President, l.adies and
.
gentlemen, today we are signing the particula·rly impo'rtant
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document with the Unit
States of America, w'i th which we not
only share common values, but are also linked! by a number of
American Lithuanians who have found home in the United States.
The Charter of Partnership establishes the
· ti tutional
framework that promotes
furtherance of bilateral and
multilateral cooperat
, reciprocal suppo
':to the EuroAtlantic integration and common efforts
ig;ned for the
consolidation of security, prosperity, and st~bility within the
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region and Euro-Atlant
area as a whole.
The U.S.-Balt
Charter confirms repeatehly that Lithuania
is a serious candidate for accession to NATO,, as well as that
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the Uni t,ed States. supports. the· Baltic states 1 aspira'tions and
their efforts to become members of the Allia:t;1ce.
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Lithuania values the Charter first and toremost as th~
commitment to its , further role as· the promo-ter of stability
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within our region and Europe as a whol~; its:commitment to
progress, economic reform~~ and further enha~cement of defense
system effectiveness and interoperability with the North
Atlantic Alliance. We appreciate and 6ur su~poitive of
.President Clinton's and the U.S. role of leadership in opening
up to Central European democracies the- doors'to history's most
successful alliance . . It is our hope that th~s openness to new
members will enhance the security and stabil~ty f(Jr all the
present and aspiring members, as well as other European nations.
,
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.
Thank you.
(Applause;)
PRESIDENT MERI~ Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and
gentlemen, today is- an historic diy iri. the history of our four
nations. With the signing of the Charter of :Partnership among
the United States of America and the RepubliG of Estonia, the
Republic of Latvia, an~ the Republic of Lithqania, we enter a
new phase of even closer United States-Baltic relat.ions
Seventy-five years. ago last summer, the iUriited States and
Estonia :__ ·entered diplomatic relations, thud launching a
special relationship based in mutual respect and trust.
There
is an old saying that one recognizes a true ~riend in times of
need.
with its bipartisan support.for non-r~cognition policy,
America was a true fr.iend of the ·Baltics in ci. time of need,
acting as a beacon of hope thrqu~hout the lo~g, ·dark and cold
1
years of the Soviet occupation.
.
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You, Mr. President, were a true friend ~hen, four years
ago, you personaliy contribute<;i 'to making sure 'that· occupation
would end and the foreign troops would withd~a~.
This
principled beh~vior is one ~uality of United ~State~' foreign
policy that we greatly admire.
The fact tha~ morals play a
major role in America's fore-ign policy is wh~t def,ines _the
United States as. the world's remaining super~ower.
Estonia sees the United States-Baltic Chaiter as~the l~test
expression of that principled ·approach.
The Charter recognizes
the Baltic States' role in the· American strat!egy to guarantee
security and stability onthe European Contirient, and spells out
that the United States has a real, profound, :and enduring
interest in the security and sovereignty of ~he B~ltic 'states.
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An important element in our security strategy is eventual
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full membership in NATO. We believe that NAro continues to be
the sole guarantor of security and stability: in Europe. Estonia
applauds President Clinton for his leadership ~n starting the
process of NATO enlargement which has already redefined the
terms of security policy in Europe.
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enlargement
Estonia also understands that NATO
through the
Baltics will be the next big project of the Alliance. We
believe that the question of Baltic membership in NATO will
b·ecome the real test of post-Madrid security: thinking -- that
. is, that countries. shall be able to choose their security
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arrangement regardless of geography..
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We are confident that with American leadership, this test
will be met with success. Thank you.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT:
I thank you all. We are now going to sign
our chart~r. Before we do, I just want to's~y again how much I
appreciate all of our guests coming here, al~ from the three
nations, their American counterparts. And thank you Senator
Durbin, Congresswoman Pelosi, Congressman Sh~mkus, Congressman
Kucinich.
Thank you, Senator Dole and Mr. Brz~zinski.
And I'd also like to point out -- I did~'t earlier -- we
have a very large, unusually large, representation from the
Diplomatic Corps·here, which is a tribute to)the importance of
this moment that the rest of the world commuility attaches to it.
And I thank a,ll the ambassadors who are here;
Thank you all
very much for your presence.
(Applause .. )
(The charter is signed.)
(Applause.)
END
3:05 P.M. EST
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 16, 1998
A CHARTER OF PARTNERSHIP
AMONG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, AND
REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Preamble
The United States of America, the Republic of Estonia, the
Republic of Latvia, and the.Republic of Lithuania, hereafter
referred to as Partners.
Sharing a.common vision of a peaceful 'and increasingly
integrated Europe, free of divisions, dedicated to democracy,
the rule of iaw, free markets, and respect for the h~man rights
and fundamental freedoms of all people;
Recognizing the historic opportunity to build a new Europe, in
which each state is secure in its internationally-recognized
borders and respects the independence and territorial integrity
of all members of the transatlantic community;
Determined to strengthen their bilateral relations as a
contribution to building this new Europe, and to enhance the
security of all states through the adaptation and enlargement oj
European and transatlantic institutions;
Committed to the full development of human potential within just
and inclusive societies attentive to the promotion of harmonious
and equitable relations among individuals belonging to diverse
ethnic and religious groups;
Avowing a common interest in developing cooperative, mutually
respectful relations with all other states in the region;
Recalling the friendly relations that h~ve been continuously
maintained between the United States of America and the Republic
of Estonia, .the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of
Lithuania since 1922;
Further recalling that the United States of America never
recognized the forcible incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania into the USSR in 1940 but rather regards their
statehood as uninterrupted since the establishment of their
�2
independence, a policy which the United States has restated
continuously for five decades;
Celebrating the rich contributions that immigrants from Estonia,
Latvia, .and Lithuania have made to the multi-ethnic culture of
the United States of America, as well as the European heritage
enjoyed by the United States as a beneficiary of the
contributions of intellectuals, artists,. and Hanseatic traders
from the ·Baltic stat~s to the development of Europe; .praising
the tontributioris of U.S. citizens to the liberation and
rebuilding of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Affirm as a'political commitment declared at the highest level,
the· following prin~iples and procedures to guide their
individual and joint efforts t'o achieve the goals of this
Charter.
Principles of Partnership
The United States .of America has ·a real, profound and enduring
interest in th~ independence, sovereignty, and territorial
integrity, and security of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The United States .of Am.erica warmly welcomes the success of
Estonia,: Latvia, and.Lithuania in regaining their freedom and
resuming their rightful places in the community of nations.
The United States of America respects the sacrifices and
hardships undertaken by the people of Estonia, Latvia, ~nd
Lithu~nia to re~establish th~ir independence.
It encourages
efforts by these states to cont~nue to expand their political,
economic, security, and social ties with other nations as full
members of the transatlantic community.
The Partners affirm their commitment to the rul'e of law as a
foundation for a transatlantic community of free and democratic
nations, and to the responsibility of all just societies to
protect and respect the human rights and civil liberties of all
individuals residing within their territories.
The Partners underscore their shared commitment to the
principles and obligations contained in the United Nations
Charter.
The Partners reaffirm their.shared commitment to the purposes,
principles, and provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and
· subsequent OSCE documents,.' including the Charter of Paris and
the documents adopted at the Lisbon OSCE Summit.
The Partners will observe in good .faith their commitments to
promote and respect the.standards for human rights embodied in
the above-mentioned Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) documents and in the Universal Declar~tion on
�3
Human Rights.
They will implement their legislation protecting
such human rights fully and equitably. ·
The United States of America commends the measures taken by
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to advance the integration of
Europe by establishing close cooperative relations among
themselves and with their neighbors, as well as their promotion
of regional cooperation through their participation in fora
such as .. the Baltic Assembly, Baltic Council of Ministers, and
the Council of Baltic Sea States.
Viewing good neighborly relations as fundamental to 6verall
security and stability in the transatlantic community, Estonia,
~atvia, and Lithuania reaffirm their determination to furthei
enhance bilateral relatiohs between themselves and with othei
neighboring states.
The Partners will intensify .their efforts to promote the
security, prosperity, and stability of the region.
The
Partner& will draw on. the points noted below in focusing their
efforts to deepen the integration of the Baltic states into
transatlantic and European institutions, promote cooperation in
security and defense, and develop the economies of Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania.
A Commitment to Integration
As part of a common vision of a Europe whole and free, the
Partners declare that their shared goal is the full integration
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into European and
transatlantic political, economic, security and defense
institutions. Europe will not be fully secure unless Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania each ·are secure:
The Partners
reaffirm their commitment to the principle,
in th~ Helsinki Final Act, repeated in the Budapest
and Lisbon OSCE summit declarations, and also contained in the
OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security,
that the security of all states in the Euro-Atlantic community
is indivisible.
·
e~tablished
The Partners further share a commitment to the core principle,
also articulated in the OSCE Code of Conduct and reiterated in
subsequent OSCE summit declarations, that each state has the
inherent right to individual and collective self-defense as
well as the right freely to choose its own security
arrangements, including treaties of alliance.
The Partners support the. vital role being played. by a number of
complementary' institutions and bodies -- including ·the ·oscE,
the European Union (EU), the West European Union (WEU) the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council (EAPC), the Council of Europe (COE), and
the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) ~- in achieving the
�4
partners' shared goal of an integrated, secure, and undivided
Europe.
They believe that, irrespective of factors related to history
or geography, such institutions should be open to all European
democracies willing and able to shoulder the responsibilities
and obligations of membership, as determined by thos~
institutions.
The Partners welcome a strong and vibrant OSCE dedicated to
promoting democratic institutions, human rights, and
fundamental freedoms.
They strongly support the OSCE's role as
a mechanism to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts and
crises.
Estonia, L~tvia, and Lithuania each reaffirm their goal to
become full members of all European and transatlantic
institutions, including the European Union and NATO.
The United States of America recalls its longstanding support
fo~ the enlargement of the EU, affirming it as a core ·
institution. in the new Europe and declaring that a stronger,
larger, and outward-looking European Union will further
security and prosperity fot all of Europe.
The Partners believe that the enlargement of NATO will enhance
the security of the United States, Canada, and all the
countries in Europe, including those states not immediately
invited to membership or not currently interested in
membership.
The United States of America welcomes the aspirations and
supports the efforts of 'Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to .
join NATO. It affirms its: view that NATO's partners can become
members as each aspirant proves itself able and willing to
assume the responsibilities and·obligations of membership, and
as NATO determines that the inclusion of these nations would
serve European .stability and the strategic interests of the
Alliance.
The United States of America reiterates its view that the
enlargement of NATO is an on-going process.
It looks forward
to future enlargements, and remains convinced that not only
will NATO~s door remain open to new members, but·that the first
countries invited to membership will not be the last. No nonNATO country has a veto over Alliance decisions. The United
States notes the Alliance is prepared to strengthen its
consultations with aspirant countries on the full range of
issues related to possible NATO membership.
The Partners welcome the results of the Madrid Summit.
They
support the Alliance's commitment to an open door policy and
welcome the Alliance's recognition of the Baltic states as
�5
aspiring merrlbers 9f NATO. ·Estonia, Latvia, and Li.thuania .
pledge to deepen their close relations with the Alliance
through the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership
for Peace, and.the inten~ified dialogue process.
The Partners underscore their interest. in Russia's democratic
and stable development. and support a· strengthened NATO-Russia
relationship as a core element of their shared vision of a new
and peaceful Europe.
They welcome the signing of the NATORussia Founding Act and the NATO-Ukraine Charter, both of which
further 'improve European security.
Security Cooperation
The Partners will consult together, as well ~s:with other
countries, iri the event that a Partner perceives that its
territorial integrity, independente, or security is threatened
or at risk.
The Partners will use bilateral. and· multilateral
mechanisms for such consultations.
The Unite¢ States welcomes ·and appreciates the contributions
that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have already made to
European security through the peaceful ~estoration of
independence and their active participation in the Partnership
for Peace.
The United States also welcome~ their contributions
to I~OR, SFOR, and other international peacekeeping missions.
Building on the existing cooperation among their respective
ministries of defense and armed forces, the United States of
America supports the efforts of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
to provide for their legitimate defense needs, including
development of appropriate and interoperable military forces.
The Partners welcome the. establishment of the Baltic Se~urity
Assistance Group (BALTSEA) as an effective1 body for
·
international coordination Df security assistance to.Estonia's,
Latvia's and Lithuania's defense forces.
The Partners will cooperate further in the development and
expansion of defense initiatives such as the Baltic
Peacekeeping Battalion (BaltBat), the Baltic Squadron
(Baltron), and the Baltic air~pace management regime (BaltNet),
which provide a tangible demonstration of practical. cooperation
enhancing the common security of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania, and the transatlantic comm,uni ty.
The Partners intend to continue mutually beneficial military
cooperation and will maintain regular consultations, using the·
established Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military
Relations.
�6
Economic Cooperation
The Partners affirm their commitment to free market mechani::;ms
as the best means to meet the material needs of their people.
The United States of America commends the substantial progress
its Baltic Partners havemade to implement economic reform and
development and their transition to free market economies.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania emphasize their intention to
deepen their economic integration with Europe and the global
economy, . based on the principles of free movement of people,
goods, capital and services.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania underscore their commitment to
continue market-oriented economic reforms and to express their
resolve to achieve full integration. into global economic
bodies, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) while
creating conditions for smoothly acceding to the European
Union.
·
Noting this ·objective, the United States of America will ·work
to facilitate the integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
with the world economy and appropriate international economic
organizations, in particular the WTO and the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), on appropriate
commercial terms.
The Partners will .work individually and together to develop
legal and financial conditions in their countries conducive to
international investment. Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania
welcome U.S. investment in their economies.
The Partners will continue to strive for mutually advantageous
economic relations building on the priticiples of equality and
non-discrimination to create the conditions necessary for such
cooperation.
The Partners will commence regular consul tat ions to .further
cooperation and provid~ for regular assessment of progress in
the areas of economic development, trade, investment, and
related fields.
These consultations will be chaired at the
appropriately high level.
Recognizing that combating international organized crime
requires a multilateral effort, the ·partners agree ~o cooperate
fully in the fight against this threat to the world economy and
political stability.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania remain
committed to developing sound.legislation in this field and to
enhance the implementation of this legislation through the
strengthening of a fair and well-functioning judicial system.
�7
The U.S.-Baltic.Relationship
In all of these spheres of common endeavor, the Partners ,
building on their shared. history of friendship and cooperation,
solemnly reaffirm their commitment to a rich and dynamic
Baltic-American partnership for the 21st century.
The Partners view their partnership in the areas of political,
econom'ic, security, defense, cultural, and environmental·
affairs as .contributing to closer ties between their people and
facilitating the full integration of Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania into European and transatlantic structures.
In order to further strengthen these ties, the Partners will
establish a Partnership Commiss.ion chaired at the
appropriately high level to evaluate common efforts.
This
Commission will meet once·a year or as needed to take stock of
the Partnership, assess results of bilateral-consultations ·on
economic, military and other areas, and review progre~s
achieved towards meeting the ~oals of this Charter
In order to better reflect changes in the European and
transatlantic political and security environment, signing
Partners are committed regularly at the highest level to review
this agreement.
FOR THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA:
FOR THE REPUBLIC
OF ESTONIA:
FOR THE REPUBLIC
OF LATVIA:
FOR THE REPUBLIC
OF LITHUANIA
January 16, 1998
Washington D.C.
# # #
�THE WHITE HOUSE
,.
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate· Release
January 16, 1998
"BALTIC" CHARTER SUMMARY
The Charter of Partnership, signed on January 16, 1998 by the
presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the.United States,
is a political statement of common principles that will guide
the deepening of mutual cooperation and advance common
objectives, including Baltic integratioh into the European and
transatlantic communities.
It makes clear the Baltic.states are
part of the U.S. vision for a new Europe and that they will not
be left out or discriminated against due to factors of history
or geography.
•
It notes that the United States has a "real, profound, and
enduring" interest in their security and independence of the
three Baltic states.
The Charter begins with expression of ·commitments by the four
governments to shared principles and
common vision for a
secure, prosperous, and undivided Europe.
It notes how U.S.Baltic cooperation can contribute to the integration of the
Baltic states.
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In that context, the Charter notes the shared goal ·of Baltic
integration into European and transatlantic institutions, such
as the European Union, OSCE, the World Trade Organization and
NATO.
•
On NATO, the. Charter recalls the Madrid Summit Communique
language and notes that the United States we~comes Baltic
aspirations and supports their efforts to join NATO.
It also
reaffirms U.S. policy that NATO's partners can become members·
.as each aspirant proves itself able and willing to assume the·
responsibilities and obligations of membership, and a's NATO
determines that the inclusion of these nations would serve
European stability and the strategic interests of the
Alliance.
�------------~------------------~--~--------------------------------------------------
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The Charter affirms a shared commitment to promotion of
harmonious and equitable.relations among individuals belonging
to diverse ethnic and religious groups.
The parties affirm
their desire to develop close cooperative relationships among
all the states in,Northeastern Europe.
The Charter takes note of the progress of existing bilateral
working groups on se~urity and military affairs, and establishes
new bilateral working groups on economic reform, trade,
investment and related fields.
Eabh year thes~ groups will
review progress on· bilateral objectives and set the agenda for
the year ahead.
•
The Charter also establishes a "Partnership Commission,"
headed by the Deputy Secretary of State, to review annually
the activities of the bilateral military and economic working
groups.
The Charter in no way pre-commits the United States to Baltic
membership in NATO.
The Baltic states will have to meet the
same criteria and standards expected of other states.
So too,
·the Charter does not offer "back-door" security guarantees.
Th~
Baltic governments understand, and have said so publicly, that
such guarantees can only come through NATO membership.
The
Charter is .not an alternative to NATO membership, nor is it an
effort to regionalize the security of the Baltic states.
# # #
�Draft 1/12/97
Fact Sheet
Visit by the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
Signing of the Charter of Partnership .
Significance of the Visit
This visit will strengthen U.S. bilateral relations .with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and give
further dynamism to our efforts to advance the integration of these states into the European and
trans-Atlantic communities.
·
The visit builds on the Administration's earlier efforts to promote these goals, particularly the
Baltic Action Plan of September 1996. This Action Plan called for a Charter of Partnership that
would clarify the principles upon which U.S. relations with the Baltic states are based and
provide a framework for strengthening ties and pursuing common goals . . .
During their visit to the United States, January 13-16, the three Baltic Presidents will meet with
President Clinton to sign the Charter of Partnership and discuss the overall direction of relations.
They will also meet with other senior U.S. government officials to implement several concrete
improvements in our relations including steps that will expand trade and investment, strengthen
the development of the private sector in the Baltic region, advance defense reforms, and deepen
cooperation on issues of mutual concern, including combating organized crime.
The three Presidents will also meet with business and civic leaders, members of Congress, and
·
the Baltic-American communities.
Background
For over fifty years, successive U.S. Administrations maintained a strong policy of nonrecognition of the forcible incorporation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the former Soviet
Union. The United States has played a critical role in helping these states implement democratic
and free market reforms and strengthen their security and sovereignty since the reestablishment
of their independence in 1991.
Since 1991, the United States has provided the Baltic states with over $128 million under the
Support for East European Democracy Program (SEED), to advance fundamental econo~ic and
political reforms. In 1994, the United States established the Baltic-American Enterprise Fund,
capitalized at $50 million, to promote the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in these
countries.
Through the Law and Democracy Program we are helping these three countries and oth~r
emerging European democracies to combat organized crime and corruption. Through the SEED
program and other efforts we have been helping CEE states improve their customs, banking
regulations, and police training.
'
�2
More than 400 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in the three-countries since
1992. ·There are presently 128 volunteers working on a variety of projects, including English
language training and advising small entrepreneurs in business practices.
The United States has greatly expanded its security and military assistance with the Baltic states.
They have received over $XX mider the President's Warsaw Initiative security assistance
program as well as over $10 million in equipment and services to develop the Baltic
Peacekeeping Battalion, elements of which are serving with NATO SFOR in Bosnia today. A
U.S.-sponsored Regional Airspace initiative, various military education and training programs,
and close cooperation with counterparts in the Michigan, Maryland, and Pennsylvania National
Guards have also contributed to the development of their armed forces.
The United States has also provided about $8.5 million for the demolition of the ex-Russian large
phased-array radar at Skrunda, Latvia and $2 million for the clean up of the formerRussian
nuclear reactor facility at Paldiski, Estonia.·
What is the Charter?
The Charter of Partnership is a political statement of common principles that will guide the
deepening of mutual cooperation and advance common objectives, including -Baltic integration
into the European and transatlantic communities. It makes clear the Baltic states are part of the
U.S. vision for a new Europe and that they will not be left out or discriminated against due to
·
factors of history or geography.
•
It notes that the United States has a "real, profound, and enduring" interest in their security
and independence of the three Baltic states.
The Charter begins with expression of commitments by the four governments 'to shared
principles and a common vision for a secure, prosperous, and undivided Europe. It notes how
U.S.-Baltic cooperation can contribute to the integration of the Baltic states.
•
In that context, it notes the goal of Baltic integration into European and transatlantic
institutions, such as the European Union, NATO, and the World Trade Organization.
•
·On NATO, the Charter builds on the Madrid Summit Communique language. The United
States welcomes Baltic aspirations and supports their efforts to join NATO. It also reaffirms
U.S. policy that NATO's partners can become members as each aspirant proves· itself able
and willing· to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership, .and as NATO ·
determines that the inclusion of these nations would serve European stability and the
strategic interests of the Alliance.
·
·
The Charter affirms a shared commitment to promotion of harmonious and equitable relations
among individuals belonging to diverse ethnic and religious groups. The Charter stresses the
promotion of dose cooperative relationships throughout the Baltic region, in particular to the
enhancement of bilateral relations among the Baltic states and neighboring states.
�3
The Charter takes note of the progress of existing bilateral working groups on security and
military affairs, and establish a new working group on economic reform, trade, investment and
related fields. Each year these groups will review progress on our bilateral objectives and set the
agenda for the year ahead.
•
The Charter also establishes a "Partnership Commission," headed by a senior State
Department official, to review annually the activities of the independent military and
economic bilateral working groups ..
What the Charter Isn't
While the Charter welcomes Baltics aspirations for NATO membership, it in ·no way precommits the United States to Baltic membership. The Baltic states will have to meet the same
criteria and standards expected of other states.
Neither does the Charter offer "back-door" security guarantees. The Baltic governments
understand, and have said so publicly, that such guarantees can only come through NATO
membership. The Charter is not an alternative to NATO membership, nor is it an effort to
regionalize the security of the Baltic states.
··
Implementation Already Underway
In addition, the following undertakings will also be realized, reflecting fleshing our Charter's
framework:
Baltic/American Partnership Fund: As we wind down the SEED programs in .the Baltics,
$7.5 million in appropriations will be matched by a grant from the Soros Foundation to
endow a Baltic-American Partnership Fund. The Fund will be chartered to give grants to
promote the development of non-governmental organizations. This legacy of the SEED
program will strengthen and help consolidate civil society in the Baltic states.
.
.
Double Tax Treaties: These treaties with all three states will be signed to eliminate double
taxation as a way to foster trade and investment..
Anti-Crime Initiative: The FBI and the Justice Department-- drawing on the work of
attaches in the Baltic and Nordic states, Poland, and Russia --will undertake new efforts to
expanded cooperation with the Baltic states in combating crime, to include information
sharing and joint operations. The United States is also prepared to participate in the
Operative Committee of the CouncilofBaltic Sea States' Task Force on Organized Crime.
This work will help establish a stable, secure business climate essential to the growth of
Baltic trade and investment and also serve·u.s. trans-national law enforcement efforts.
MOU on Agricultural Cooperation: Will provide for an annual exchange of agricultural
mlSSlOnS.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Speechwriting Office - Edward Widmer
Creator
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National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Edward Widmer
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Edward Widmer served as President Clinton’s chief foreign policy speechwriter from 1997-2000. As an NSC speechwriter Widmer worked on remarks for a wide variety of topics dealing with countries such as China, Korea, Argentina, Ghana, Canada, the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Russia, and Venezuela. Widmer wrote speeches concerning the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sanctions, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations, Islam, and the European Union.</p>
<p>This collection consists of speech drafts, memoranda, handwritten notes, newspaper articles, publications, schedules, reports, and papers. Many of the speech drafts are marked up with extensive critical comments and suggested revisions. Widmer’s handwritten notes can be found on scraps of paper, napkins, and the back of other records.</p>
<p>This collection was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Date
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1997-2000
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36419" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585793" target="_blank">National Archives Collection Description</a>
Identifier
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2006-0471-F
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Extent
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250 folders in 14 boxes
Text
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Original Format
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Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Baltics
Creator
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National Security Council
Speechwriting Office
Edward (Ted) Widmer
Identifier
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2006-0471-F
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 2
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0471-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7585793" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Medium
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
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10/16/2014
Source
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42-t-7585793-2006471f-002-011-2014
7585793