Baltic States' Call for Freedom; 35 Years Since the First

“Baltic States' call for freedom; 35 years since the first Resolution of the European Parliament supporting independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania": extracts from the speeches

Reference: I-149103 Duration: 00:04:13 Location: Brussels Date: Jan 10, 2018 Type: EbS PreEdited Link: http://audiovisual.europarl.europa.eu/Assetdetail.aspx?ref=I149103

Background:

MEP Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament, underlined the importance of the EP resolution and the bravery of the Baltic people in her opening speech at the event “Baltic States’ call for freedom heard: 35 years since the first Resolution of the European Parliament supporting independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania”.

The event recalled the European Parliament Resolution of 1983 in support of the Baltic States’ appeal for independency from the Soviet Union. The Resolution had drawn international attention to the ongoing illegal deportations and arrests of thousands of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians. Moreover, the European Parliament condemned the occupation of the formerly independent and neutral Baltic States by the Soviet Union and deemed it illegal as the international society had not recognized the Soviet annexation of those countries.

Summary:

Mairead McGUINNESS, Vice President of the European Parliament, Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue and Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS, Member of the EC in charge of Health and Food Safety deliver the opening speeches at the event "Baltic States' call for freedom heard: 35 years since the first Resolution of the European Parliament supporting independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania” in the EP Library Hall, Brussels. Only the original language version is authentic and it prevails in the event of its differing from the translated versions.

TIME DESCRIPTION DURATION

00:00:00 Title 00:00:05

00:00:05 Exterior shots of the EP, Brussels 00:00:05

Family photo including Mc Guinness, (EP Vice-President), the 3 Commissioners, 2 signatory members of the Baltic 00:00:10 00:00:10 Appeal, Mr Ints CALITIS, and Mr Julius SASNAUSKAS and the members of the panel discussion, (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS,

The date the 13 January 1983 and in three days’ time will be marking the 35th anniversary of the work of the 00:00:20 European Parliament, its resolution on the situation in 00:00:26 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And on that date 1983, the Parliament expressed its support for the Baltic people’s pursuit for self-determination and independence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE),

The Baltic States were occupied by the Soviet Union during the Second World War. Most European States, but also the 00:00:46 USA, Canada and the Vatican, never formally recognised 00:00:24 this occupation. This is one of the reasons why in 1983 almost 90% of Members of the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the resolution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE),

It is also thanks to your commitment that we could witness the fall of the Iron Curtain and finally celebrate the restoration of the independence of the Baltic States at the beginning of the 1990s. I want to personally thank you for 00:01:10 your heroic action. I salute your courage and your bravery 00:00:36 and I am so glad that you are here with us this evening. This is the right time to remember the significant role played by the European Parliament 35 years ago. A show of solidarity expressed with the desire to shape European history together. SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market,

00:01:46 The European Parliament’s resolution 35 years ago 00:00:19 supporting the Baltic Appeal and the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was a courageous step. It was the only international body to react to that desperate message from the Baltic freedom fighters.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market,

We must always remember the basic values about 00:02:05 00:00:17 self-determination and democracy. We need to continue to react when they are under attack like now in Crimea and East Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue,

By making the demand for independence of Baltic States 00:02:22 heard the signatories choose sides on this kind of power 00:00:30 and eventually prevail. And term of the resolution of support the EP showed on what side it is on this debate and provided much needed support for people in the Baltic States.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue,

00:02:52 The idea of open and free democratic societies is again 00:00:17 under pressure in Ukraine it is under threat constantly. The EU can still make a difference by speaking out, by concrete support.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS, Member of the EC in charge of Health and Food Safety,

Please bear in mind that the signatories of the document 00:03:09 00:00:16 took the risk to lose everything including their life in claiming openly their real names. In 1949 the declaration signed pseudonymous. SOUNDBITE (English), Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS, Member of the EC in charge of Health and Food Safety,

In the middle of the cold war; this battle was next door; 00:03:25 00:00:18 tanks and armies. This was probably the biggest achievement of the resistance movement within the Baltic States and you are very brave colleagues.

00:03:43 Cutaways (5 shots) 00:00:25

00:04:08 End 00:00:05