The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

reminding that from the standpoint of international law the secret protocols signed by the USSR and Germany on 23 August 1939, 28 September 1939 and 10 January 1941, according to which the territories of Eastern and Central European countries not belonging to the contracting parties were divided between them and which meant an aggression agreement against the said countries, are null and void, i.e. invalid from the very moment of their conclusion;

stating that, for the purpose of implementing the Treaty of Non-aggression of 23 August 1939 between Germany and the USSR and its secret protocol, also the German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty of 28 September 1939 and its secret protocol, other bilateral agreements had been concluded, including the agreement on the resettlement of the population entered into between the USSR and Germany on 10 January 1941 and the secret protocol on the basis of which persons of Lithuanian descent were forcibly transferred from the territory of the Republic of Poland occupied by the German Reich (Suwałki Region) to the territory of the Republic of Lithuania occupied by the USSR;

emphasising that international law prohibits an occupying state from forcibly resettling or deporting the population in the occupied territory, and such forced resettlement or deportation of the population in the occupied territory constitutes a gross violation of international law for which the occupying state in control of the respective territory shall be primarily responsible; however, another state which assists in committing such a violation shall also be held responsible;

taking into consideration the current social status and age of the victims of the occupation regime of the German Reich;

witnessing that so far the issue concerning compensations to the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who were forcibly removed from the occupied territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of the agreement on resettlement of 10 January 1941 between the USSR and Germany when addressed at non-governmental level has not produced any outcome;

particularly appreciating the goodwill of the present-day Federal Republic of Germany towards the satisfaction of the legitimate expectations of the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who suffered from the occupation of the German Reich or their close relatives;

being convinced of the importance of constructive and mutually respectful bilateral relations between the Republic of Lithuania and the Federal Republic of Germany;

urges the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to initiate consultations with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on compensations to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who were forcibly removed from the occupied territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of the agreement on resettlement of 10 January 1941 between the USSR and Germany, as well as to raise the issue of the responsibility of the Russian Federation as the state continuator of the other state responsible for this unlawful resettlement, while implementing the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Compensation for Damage Resulting from the Occupation by the USSR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS                                                            IRENA DEGUTIENĖ