19th SESSION OF THE BALTIC ASSEMBLY |
Chairman of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly | Vice-Chairperson of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly | Vice-Chairman of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly |
Trivimi VELLISTERepublic of Estonia | Giedre PURVANECKIENERepublic of Lithuania | Romualds RAZUKSRepublic of Latvia |
Tallinn, 15 December 2001
DECLARATION
On the Solidarity of the Baltic States with the International Anti-Terrorist Coalition
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the world has changed.
In this new situation, the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, express their solidarity with the international anti-terrorist coalition. The Baltic states wish to make their contribution to the strengthening of peace and security in the Baltic Sea region and all over the world. In this connection, the Baltic Assembly once again expresses the will and readiness of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to accede to international security organisations, first of all, to the North-Atlantic Alliance.
Standing up for democratic values, as well as for human rights and the right of nations to self-determination, the Baltic Assembly expresses the conviction that no nation or religion can be considered terroristic because of its individual representatives. At the same time, one has to consistently combat terrorism and organised crime and condemn the political regimes, which favour the activities of terrorist organisations, harbour criminals and refuse to participate in the international and law enforcement cooperation. To root out terrorism, the efforts of the entire democratic world must be combined.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
APPEAL
To the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Holding Referenda on the Accession to the European Union
Our nations were united in the struggle for the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The highlight of this movement was the Baltic Chain in 1989, when more than two million people joined their hands to form a human chain as a demonstration of their common striving for independence. Our cohesion played an important role in the restoration of independence of our states.
Today the Baltic states are successfully conducting negotiations on the accession to the European Union.
It would be a symbol of the unity of the Baltic states to hold the referenda on the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the European Union simultaneously.
The Baltic Assembly proposes to the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to consider, in appropriate time, the expediency of holding the referenda on the accession to the European Union simultaneously.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
RESOLUTION
On Further Development of the National Languages of the Baltic States in a Common Baltic Education Space
The Baltic Assembly,
appreciating the measures for the protection and development of languages of small European nations declared by the European Union for 2001;
recognising the great importance of a common Baltic education space in strengthening unity and mutual understanding of the Baltic States, in the process of preparation for accession to the European Union;
emphasising the particular importance of the national languages of the Baltic States in further development of communication among the countries and promoting co-operation in all spheres of the economy,
calls on the Baltic Council of Ministers to:
- recognise the great importance of the acquisition of the national languages of the Baltic States in ensuring further development of a common Baltic education space;
- coordinate actions with regard to the process of acquisition of the national languages of the Baltic States, as well as with regard to methodological, material and technical issues;
- facilitate teaching of the national languages of the Baltic States in the secondary and higher educational institutions in the border areas of the Baltic States by including in their curricula programmes of teaching the languages of the neighbouring states and by providing qualified teachers and textbooks, particularly, dictionaries of the Baltic States' national languages;
- continue further development of a common Baltic education space, emphasising the importance of learning the Baltic States' national languages in order to promote co-operation and harmonised mutual actions.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
RESOLUTION
On the Development of Marine Tourism in the Baltic States
The Baltic Assembly,
recognising that tourism is one of the biggest and most rapidly developing branches of economy, which has an important role in the popularisation of national culture and propagation of the ideas of nature protection;
taking into account that marine tourism comprises a significant and promising field of tourism and that the location of our countries in the Baltic Sea region enables us to successfully realise the potential arising from consistent development of marine tourism;
proceeding from the main positions of the Tourism Round Table of May 5, 2000, of the Economic and Social Affairs Committee, Environment and Energy Committee, and Communications and Informatics Committee of the Baltic Assembly and from those of the Marine Tourism Conference of October 5, 2001,
calls on the Baltic Council of Ministers to:
- organise, in the first six months of 2002, mapping of the common problems in marine tourism and substantial exchange of information for raising the mutual awareness of the development programmes regulating the field of marine tourism and launch a discussion on working out a joint strategy for the Baltic marine tourism;
- provide, in the national programmes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on development of tourism, solutions to the problems of marine tourism, paying special attention to the development of the network of small ports, with the involvement of international sources of financing, where possible;
- apply for launching a new European Union Programme for the development, with the use of the aid of the European Union, of small ports, marine tourism and coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and other candidate countries at the Baltic Sea.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
DECLARATION
On the Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
The Baltic Assembly,
mindful that during the past century the humanity was shocked by atrocities, to which millions of peopleâŔ“children, women and menâŔ“fell victim,
affirming that crimes against humanity, incl. genocide and war and aggression crimes, must not go unpunished and that their effective prosecution can be ensured by taking measures at the national level and by international cooperation,
emphasising that such grave crimes threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world,
recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes,
noting that the International Criminal Court, established on July 17, 1998, under the Rome Statute, signed also by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, is only complementary to national criminal jurisdictions,
considering that the Riigikogu of Estonia ratified, on December 5, 2001, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,
calls on the Parliaments of Latvia and Lithuania to ratify as soon as possible the said Statute.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
RESOLUTION
On the Cooperation of the Baltic States in the Field of Control of Dangerous and Extremely Dangerous Infectious Diseases
The Baltic Assembly,
taking into account the positions of the World Health Organisation and of the bodies of the European Union on strengthening the international cooperation in the field of prevention and control of infectious diseases,
notes the emergence of a new threat to the population of the Baltic states consisting in the possible use of the bacteriological weapon and other actions of terrorists aimed at the propagation of extremely dangerous infectious diseases;
recognises the importance of international cooperation in strengthening the control of extremely dangerous diseases;
notes that efficient system of prevention and control of infectious diseases is an obligatory requirement for socio-economic development and integration into the European Union;
proposes to the Baltic Council of Ministers to pay special attention to the cooperation of the Baltic states in the field of prevention and control of extremely dangerous infectious diseases by monitoring the occurrence of these diseases, creating a system of operative response and international exchange of information, raising the awareness of the population of these issues, establishing active international cooperation of the competent national and local government agencies and other interested bodies and organisations.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
RESOLUTION
On the Cooperation of the Veterinary Services of the Baltic States in Protecting Their Territories from Dangerous Infectious Animal Diseases
On the Cooperation of the Veterinary Services of the Baltic States in Protecting Their Territories from Dangerous Infectious Animal Diseases
The Baltic Assembly,
taking into account the possibility of spreading of dangerous infectious diseases (foot-and-mouth disease, BSE), accompanying the widening of international trade,
emphasising the increasing role of national veterinary services in protecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the infectious diseases mentioned above,
striving to enhance the cooperation and communication between the veterinary services of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,
calls on the Baltic Council of Ministers to encourage the heads of national veterinary services to establish, at their next working meeting, a working group of leading specialists in the field of prevention and control of dangerous infectious diseases, in order to ensure systematic exchange of experience and closer cooperation in combating dangerous infectious diseases.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
STATEMENT
On the Necessity to Ratify the Agreements on the Readmission of Illegal Migrants
The Baltic Assembly,
noting with satisfaction that in the face of the problems and threats common to all, the nations of the world, including those of Europe, have embarked on a road of better understanding,
considering that our states are situated in a region that can be crossed by flows of illegal migration,
expresses the hope that the authorities of the Russian Federation and Belarus will do everything possible to conclude and ratify in the nearest future the prepared agreements with the Baltic states on the readmission of illegal migrants.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
RESOLUTION
On the Prevention of Spread of Alcoholism
The Baltic Assembly,
pointing out that the spread of alcoholism and abuse of alcoholic drinks threaten the health, mental potential and social development of nations, jeopardise the prospects of the young generation, create conditions for delinquency and pose a threat to the society,
calls on the Governments of the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania to:
- combine the efforts of public agencies and non-governmental organisations, incl. the Church, as well as of family and school in working out comprehensive measures to minimise the consumption of alcohol;
- develop and strengthen the international cooperation in harmonising excise taxes and co-ordinating the activities in preventing the illegal traffic in alcohol and the production of alcohol of poor quality;
- pay special attention to the protection of children and teenagers from alcohol;
- work out more efficient national strategies for preventing alcohol addiction and relieving the consequences of alcohol abuse;
- report to the national Parliament, as well as inform the Baltic Assembly of taking necessary measures.
Tallinn, December 15, 2001
