1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             memorializing Congress to support the admission of the 
  1.3             Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to the 
  1.4             North Atlantic Treaty. 
  1.5      
  1.6      WHEREAS, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
  1.7   Lithuania are free, democratic, and independent nations with a 
  1.8   long and proud history; and 
  1.9      WHEREAS, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is 
  1.10  dedicated to the preservation of the freedom and security of its 
  1.11  member nations; and 
  1.12     WHEREAS, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
  1.13  Lithuania desire to share in both the benefits and obligations 
  1.14  of NATO in pursuing the development, growth, and promotion of 
  1.15  democratic institutions and ensuring free market economic 
  1.16  development; and 
  1.17     WHEREAS, these nations recognize their responsibilities as 
  1.18  democratic nations and wish to exercise those responsibilities 
  1.19  in concert with members of NATO; and 
  1.20     WHEREAS, the Baltic States desire to become part of NATO's 
  1.21  efforts to prevent the extremes of nationalism; and 
  1.22     WHEREAS, the security of the United States is dependent 
  1.23  upon the stability of central Europe; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  1.24     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  1.25  that it urges the President and Congress to act in support of 
  2.1   the admission of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
  2.2   Lithuania to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 
  2.3      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.4   State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.5   memorial and transmit them to the President of the United 
  2.6   States, the Committee on International Relations of the United 
  2.7   States House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign 
  2.8   Relations of the United States Senate, and Minnesota's Senators 
  2.9   and Representatives in Congress.