---11:00 a.m. - Lithuanian Embassy opens doors (2622 16th St., NW)
---12:00 noon - Baltic Way Song Transmission at Lithuanian Embassy
---2:00 p.m. - DC Baltic Way links up on Mass Ave. bt. Estonian and Latvian Embassies
---2:30 p.m. - Georgian solidarity event at Georgian Embassy (2209 Mass Ave., NW)
---Mass. Ave. embassies are open until 4:00 p.m. with exhibits and information.
This year August 23 will mark the 70th year since the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (MRP) between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. That agreement between Stalin and Hitler doomed half of Europe to decades of misery under foreign tyranny.
On August 23, 1979, the Baltic Appeal was sent by 45 persons from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to demand the MRP’s and its secret protocols' public disclosure and annulment, and the restoration of the independence of the Baltic countries, then occupied by the Soviet Union. This was an important step on the road to back to freedom.
August 23 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Baltic Way, which united the nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania against Soviet oppression and occupation. On that day in 1989, over a quarter of the populations of the three Baltic countries joined hands for nearly 400 miles to demonstrate their love of freedom.
On Sunday, August 23, 2009 those events will be remembered in a half day commemoration and celebration in Washington, DC in which the Baltic Way will be recreated.
You are invited to join that day to remember, take part and link hands in the 2009 Baltic Way, and to show solidarity with our friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including those in the country of Georgia, who have suffered a year since the Russian invasion and occupation of their territories.
For more information on the 1989 Baltic Way, please see: http://www.balticway.net
For 2009 Baltic Way events in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: http://www.balticway.net/index.php?page=naujienos&hl=en
For 2009 Baltic Way in DC event information, please contact JBANC at the address below or visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111863782117
Karl Altau
Managing Director
Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc.
Representing: Estonian American National Council, Inc., American Latvian
Association, Inc., Lithuanian American Council, Inc.
400 Hurley Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
tel. 301-340-1954
[email protected]
http://jbanc.org
http://twitter.com/JBANCchatter
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