Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today to mark the 21st anniversary of Canada's re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania:
"On August 26, 1991, Canada committed to re-establishing diplomatic ties with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, following their declarations of independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
"Canada, as a democratic country, has always supported the Baltic States in their courageous efforts to secure freedom and realize their own destinies. Today, as friends, partners and allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada and the Baltic States share the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
"Today is also an occasion to recognize the important contributions of the more than 96,000 Canadians of Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian descent.
"As we look back on the re-establishment of our relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, we celebrate the obstacles they have overcome, and the tremendous progress they have made over the past 21 years. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with these countries in the years to come."
