Chuck Grassley: “I am here to speak about a country that loves freedom, and they are also a friend of the United States and have had a…”

“I am here to speak about a country that loves freedom, and they are also a friend of the United States and have had a good relationship with the United States. It happens that, on February 16, 1918, the Act of Independence of Lithuania was signed by the Council of Lithuania. This act proclaimed independence from the Russian Empire and the restoration of the historic State of Lithuania to be governed, as we would expect, with democratic principles. Some people may be thinking: Isn't Lithuania a former Soviet Republic? No, Lithuanians and their statehood go back to the 13th century, but the modern Republic of Lithuania has existed since 1918. The United States has maintained continuous diplomatic relations with Lithuania way back since 1922. In fact, the Republic of Lithuania has occupied the same building here in Washington, DC, for over 100 years. The United States made crystal clear, at the time--1940, that is--and ever since, that it would not recognize the Soviet annexation of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, those three countries that sometimes we refer to as the Baltic States. And I am proud of the fact that the United States has made that crystal clear. I am sure that many people thought this stance was somewhat silly and didn't recognize the reality of what it meant to be under Soviet domination. In the depths of the Cold War, the notion of Lithuania restoring its de facto independence seemed very, very farfetched.”