In a special address to the Vilnius 10 Prime Ministers meeting in Riga, Senator Trent Lott stated “Today we have come to the Baltics to speak of our common future"

In a special address to the Vilnius 10 Prime Ministers meeting in Riga, Senator Trent Lott stated “Today we have come to the Baltics to speak of our common future and to echo President Bush’s belief that “it is long past time to put talk of a divided continent behind us.” Senator Lott, accompanied by four other US Senators, had been asked by President Bush to attend the Riga Aspirant Countries’ Summit, following their just completed visit to Russia. Sen. Lott told the Vilnius 10 Prime Ministers that NATO is open to all that share the vision of democratic ideals and the rights of man. He cited President Bush in noting that the question of ‘when’ for some may still be open to debate but the question of ‘whether’ is not in doubt. Lott stressed that “We can never again tolerate the division of this great continent. No more Munich. No more Yaltas.” Prior to Lott’s public address in the Great Hall of Latvian University, the five US Senators met informally with the Vilnius 10 Prime Ministers in an adjoining room over coffee. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins hosted the informal meeting and later introduced Senator Lott to open the special session. Senators Lott, Bunning, Thomas, Nelson and Bennett, have been in Riga since July 3rd and have met with Latvia’s President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. On July 4th they marked US independence day at a morning flag raising ceremony at the US Embassy and in the afternoon participated in Latvian Holocaust memorial events at a Riga synagogue together with President Vike-Freiberga.