Cohen, co-chair of the Helsinki Commission, asks experts on Russia’s threat to the Baltic countries
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), co-chair of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the Helsinki Commission, today questioned expert witnesses at the Commission’s hearing on “The Baltics under pressure”. The leading Baltic legislators in the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian parliaments witnessed today’s sitting.
In his speech, Co-Chair Cohen said in part:
“You are all on the edge of Russia and I have visited all your countries … I suspect that if the three Baltic states were not members of NATO, you would have already met Vladimir Putin’s armies … He is a dangerous man and we want to assure you that we are with you…
“There’s a sign that was shown to us on the wall of Vilnius City Hall, and it’s a quote from President George Bush saying, ‘Anyone who chose Lithuania as an enemy has also made an enemy of the United States.'” Our travel guide was very proud to show it to me. In this matter, Americans are mutual… I would say that 95 percent of Parliament and I suspect 100 percent of the Senate strongly support NATO and our NATO allies and Article 5, and we are there with you as President Bush was and America is today. ”
See the full remark by Co-President Cohen here.
At today’s hearing, witnesses were:
- Laima Andrikiene, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament);
- Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament); and
- Rihards Kols, Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (Latvian Parliament).
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