On 8 September at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was celebrated.
Philip Gordon, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, recalled the experiences of the peoples in the Baltic countries and their long struggle for freedom. Gordon also recollected that the United States never recognised the occupation of the Baltic states and said the reestablishment of their independence was a victory for democracy in the world. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State acknowledged and thanked Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for their strong partnership with the United States both bilaterally and in NATO. He also confirmed that, based on the mutual defence clause contained in Article 5 of the NATO, history and trust are on a strong footing.
Speeches were also given by Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the former President of Latvia, Marju Rink-Abel, the President of the Estonian American National Council, and Viktoras Nakas who worked as a diplomat at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington from 1991 to 1993.
The local Baltic mixed choir also performed at the event, and a photo exhibition was opened, which covers the events from 20 years ago including the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The photo exhibition will be open at the U.S. State Department building until the end of September.
For more information, contact:
Terje Raadik
Press Representative
Estonian Embassy in the United States
(1 202) 588 0101
[email protected]