February is a month for patriotic Lithuanians and Estonians to gather world wide, note with formal assemblies - aktused - the days, 16th and 24th, respectively, of national declarations of independence. Such assemblies were, during occupation years, heavy on the historical past, the future addressed often only in terms of expressing hopes of one day seeing the hated occupants leave. Political lobby organizations kept reminding us that the West did not de jure accept the occupation - though de facto that was the case, and nobody was willing to enforce change of the tenuous status quo.
Balts took matters into their own hands, being, by all accounts the catalysts in the collapse of the evil communist empire. By insisting on historical wrongs being righted in a peaceful manner independence was regained, and since those heady days great steps have been taken. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are internationally recognized as forward-looking democratic nations, full members in the global family of nations. Acceptance into key organizations is only the most obvious proof.
These days the assemblies commemorating Independence Days focus not on the past, but on the future. Politicians delivering key note speeches lay out not only recent achievements, but focus on the challenges ahead. For complacency is a dangerous thing - as events the world over show, we still do not share a peaceful planet. Russia in particular, the historical enemy and occupier, knows not the meaning of democracy, and still agitates to have influence in its former sphere of influence returned, by hook or by crook. At stake now: the “freedoms and rights: of Russians in now genuine democracies, demanded at the possible cost of Baltic freedoms.
The Baltic republics are not about to allow any reversal to take place. A key indicator is seen in how Balts use democratic forums to further the spread of freedom.
A fine example was to be found last week, when an international conference, "The Future of Democracy beyond the Baltics", - its focus on Belarus and Ukraine - was held in Riga on February 6. Speakers representing Baltic, Scandinavian, Central European countries and the USA gathered to address what the future will bring, given that the Baltic geopolitical position, while bolstered by imminent membership in the most important defense and economic unions of Europe is still under Russian sniping. Though the shots are at present only verbal, the fact is that no such barrage should go unanswered.
The Riga conference noted the obvious.The enlargements of NATO and the European Union have expanded the area of stability and democracy in Europe and considerably advanced the goal of a Europe whole and free. Democracy has been re-established in the regions that are now rooted in NATO and the European Union. However, the quest for democracy in Europe has not ended - there are countries and regions that are still reforming their societies and seeking their own path towards integration in the community of European democracies. Diplomatically not mentioning Russia outright, the conference organizers pointed out that, sadly, there remain
countries whose leaders are still attached to the temptations of political
authoritarianism and geopolitical isolation.
The conference emphasized that the new members of the EU and NATO have a responsibility to make use of their new situation and to share the results of their achievements with the new neighbors in Europe. They have a responsibility to alert the international community on the necessity to pay closer attention to the developments in these regions and to do so in close co-operation with all Governments and NGOs in the Euro-Atlantic community.
These views were supported by the keynote speech of Senator John McCain. This was not the first time that observers were given cause to wonder what if - what if McCain had been able to defeat George W. Bush in the Republican presidential primaries? The world may have become a much different place under his presidency. Yet, such speculations are the domain of newsprint - consider instead, how McCain used his opportunity in Riga to deliver a message to Moscow and the world.
The Senator opened with a quote from Hegel, a statement made when empire-building ruled the world. "The history of the world is none other than the progress of the consciousness of freedom.” McCain noted that in our recent times freedom's consciousness defeated fascism and destroyed a global empire of tyranny. In today's world, democratic government is the norm and dictators are a dying breed. Saddam Hussein has been proved a coward, there is no place for men like him in a free society.
Today’s world order does not encourage individual action - teamwork is the building block. McCain commended the political acumen of Baltic politicians, and offered positive support. He emphasized that the American government, their European allies, and civic activists from free
Europe can help level the political playing field in Belarus and other like places - providing resources for them to function and organize, supporting free media that would otherwise not exist. Thus in principle adding moral force to the Baltic campaign for democratic change, for an
end to repression and fear, and for national independence and pride as part
of a free and secure Europe.
McCain’s speech hads some elements of the new American policies, suggesting that the international community should further isolate Belarus and encourage a new approach to Minsk in Moscow, where President Putin's creeping coup against democratic opposition and media freedom is all the more reason for the West to encourage democratic change.
It is noteworthy that Estonians and Lithuanians use the days leading up to Independence Day celebrations to focus on issues outside their own borders. The Latvian government as conference organizers are firmly on board. They, more than the other two Baltic countries are most subject to Russia’s demands of “rights” for Russian speakers abroad, a claim that focuses on ethnicity, not citizenship.
Democratic citizens of the Baltics, supported by key world organizations, countries and politicians, knowing the privileges and the price of freedom are speaking oit for democracy in the near abroad. That is perhaps the most significant issue to bear in mind when we celebrate together the founding of our free and democratic nations, equal and importanmt participants in the world community this month.

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