30 March 1999

TEXT: HOUSE SPEAKER HASTERT BEFORE LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT 3/30

(Says the new Europe must be willing to fight injustice) (1850)

Vilnius -- Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives, congratulated Lithuania for becoming a model of
regional stability and a strong ally in the Partnership for Peace
program.

He noted support in the U.S. Congress for Lithuania's bid to become a
full member of the European Union, and his own support for NATO
membership for Lithuania, in remarks before the Lithuanian Parliament
March 30. Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, Chairman of the House
Baltic Caucus, was also present.

"The American people continue to be inspired by your successful
efforts to create a stable democracy in order to provide a better way
of life for Lithuania's children," Hastert said as he described a new
Europe with "a profound relationship with the United States."

"The new Europe is built on mutual trust, not mutual hatred," he said.
"It is built on democracy, not totalitarianism. It is built on trade,
not protectionism. It is built on the free exchange of ideas, not the
narrow bounds of nationalism. It appeals to the better nature of
mankind."

Hastert related this concept to the current conflict in the Balkans.
"No one should doubt the resolve of the American people as we work to
bring justice to the Kosovo region," he said.

"If it is true that Serbia is attempting to wipe out Kosovar
Albanians, those Serbs will be brought to justice. The democratic
nations of Europe, and the United States as their partners in NATO,
should not sit idly by when genocide is carried out in Europe."

"Defending freedom," Hastert added, "means defending defenseless
people. The new Europe must be on the front lines when it comes to
fighting injustice."

Following is the text of Hastert's remarks:

(begin text)

Speech of U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert
Before the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania
March 30, 1999

(Text as Prepared for Delivery)


Mr. Chairman, Members of the Seimas, distinguished guests: Let me
thank you for this great honor of addressing this assembly.

I have traveled far to be here today -- but not nearly as far as you
have traveled over the last ten years.

Outside this building I was shown the barricades manned by those who
stood their ground and defended this very Parliament. We in the United
States Congress try to do our duty each day -- to protect freedom and
promote democracy. But for almost 200 years, we have not had to defend
our Capitol Building from attack.

Of course, we know the stories of our founders who met in Philadelphia
and swore their lives and property to defend our new democracy. That
is why the pictures of your courageous stand for freedom -- flashed
across the world -- reminded us in the Congress of our own beginnings.
It drove home the fact that freedom at times must be defended with our
very lives.

Professor Landsbergis, your courageous stand for liberty served as an
inspiration to all Americans.

The American people continue to be inspired by your successful efforts
to create a stable democracy in order to provide a better way of life
for Lithuania's children.

As you may know, I am from the state of Illinois, which is the home of
the great city of Chicago. I think you all have heard of the city of
Chicago. We are pleased President Adamkus was able to spend some of
his life in Chicago. He contributed much to our country, and we are
grateful for those contributions. But his heart was always here in
Lithuania, with your struggle for freedom.

Illinois is also the home of two of my political heroes: Abraham
Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. Abraham Lincoln is best known to history
for ending the barbaric practice of slavery in the United States. It
was Abraham Lincoln who said "Government of the people, by the people
and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

By working hard to create a stable and secure democracy, the
Lithuanian people prove that truth.

History will record that Ronald Reagan challenged the 20th century
version of slavery. It was Ronald Reagan who said: "Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this wall."

That eloquent statement, coupled by the hard work of Eastern Europeans
yearning to be free, helped end Soviet aggression and created a new
and bigger Europe. It is this new Europe that I want to talk to you
about today.

The new Europe has a profound relationship with the United States.
Part of that relationship comes from our cultural ties. In no small
measure, Europe helped build America with the contributions of its
people, whether they be Irish or Polish or German or Italian, or
Lithuanian.

An American ambassador once said to the Soviet premier, "When we talk
about human rights behind the Iron Curtain, we are not interfering in
your internal affairs. We are talking about family matters."

Practically every family here has family in America. In fact, close to
one million Americans identify themselves as Lithuanian Americans. One
of those Lithuanian Americans is Illinois Congressman John Shimkus,
Chairman of the House Baltic Caucus, and a member of our delegation
here today.

The American people stood by Lithuania in its times of trouble. They
will stand by Lithuania in its times of prosperity.

The new Europe is built on mutual trust, not mutual hatred.

It is built on democracy, not totalitarianism. It is built on trade,
not protectionism. It is built on the free exchange of ideas, not the
narrow bounds of nationalism.

It appeals to the better nature of mankind, not to the darker side of
evil.

America's special relationship with the new Europe also comes from
strategic considerations.

This strategic relationship can partly be seen though the prism of
NATO. NATO was founded as an organization dedicated to protecting its
members from attack. It must not lose sight of its important mission:
to defend its members.

Lithuania is a strong ally in the Partnership for Peace program. I
support its membership -- full membership -- in NATO.

I want to congratulate you on your defense budget, soon to reach two
percent of Gross Domestic Product. Your commitment to building a
strong defense can only help your case as you seek to become a full
strategic partner.

As a legislator who is working on his nation's budget, I know how
difficult those choices can be. But you have made the right choice to
fund the military and to improve the living conditions of its
personnel.

A great threat to the new Europe is the current instability in the
Balkans. The Milosevic regime [in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]
is evil and free nations should confront evil wherever it occurs. We
have a duty to say no to ruthless dictators, to draw the lines where
evil knows no bounds.

We had a debate in the House of Representatives about the virtues of
America's involvement in the Balkans conflict. Many of my colleagues
in the House had reservations about American involvement in that
region. But now that the United States is involved, let there be no
mistake: No one should doubt the resolve of the American people as we
work to bring justice to the Kosovo region.

The reports we have from Kosovo are deeply disturbing. If it is true
that Serbia is attempting to wipe out Kosovar Albanians, those Serbs
will be brought to justice.

The democratic nations of Europe, and the United States as their
partners in NATO, should not sit idly by when genocide is carried out
in Europe.

Defending freedom means defending defenseless people. The new Europe
must be on the front lines when it comes to fighting injustice.

One way to achieve this goal is to become bigger. A bigger European
Union is a better European Union. I believe it should stretch eastward
to include the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe.

It is better for the United States for trade and security reasons. And
it is better for the people of Europe who want to move to a more
secure and prosperous future.

We in the Congress support Lithuania's bid to become a full member of
the European Union. By becoming a full member, Lithuania has a better
opportunity to develop its export capabilities and its free market
system.

I want to congratulate Lithuania for becoming a model of regional
stability. You have excellent relations with Poland, and your
cooperation with your Nordic and Baltic neighbors is vitally
important.

We also appreciate your efforts to find common ground with Russia and
with your help in Kaliningrad. And we know how hard you are working to
develop a positive relationship with Belarus.

Let me conclude by saluting you, the people of Lithuania. You have
given much to the United States. You have given us athletes who star
in basketball and hockey. You have given us politicians who help us in
the United States Congress. And you have given us hundreds of
thousands of unheralded, hard-working citizens who help make up the
intricate tapestry that is America.

Someone once asked President Reagan whether he thought we were living
in a time without heroes. He replied by saying that those who fear we
have no heroes "just don't know where to look. You can see heroes
every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in
number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world
beyond. You meet heroes across a counter -- and they are on both sides
of that counter.

-- They are entrepreneurs -- with faith in themselves and faith in an
idea -- who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity.

-- They are individuals and families whose taxes support the
government, and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity,
culture, art and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their
values sustain our national life."

Many of these everyday American heroes call Lithuania their ancestral
homeland.

Let me say a final word about Lithuania's heroes. Later today, our
delegation will visit the KGB museum. We will go there to pay our
respects to those who suffered and died in the hands of an evil and
brutal occupation.

President Lincoln, when he dedicated the cemetery at Gettysburg, said
that mere words could not dedicate nor consecrate the sacrifices of
brave men who defend liberty.

Likewise, there is nothing that we who have not experienced such a
place, can do to honor it. Those who suffered in that building in
defense of freedom, have already made it hallowed ground. But we can
remember -- and we can educate future generations, and by so doing
ensure that such a place will never be built again.

America is a better place because of Lithuania. And I hope that
Lithuania is a freer and a stronger democracy because of the efforts
of the American people.

Many God bless the people of Lithuania like He has blessed the people
of the United States.

(end text)

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