WORLD : Lithuanian Challenges Soviet Parliament on Independence
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MOSCOW — A Lithuanian lawmaker today challenged the Kremlin in front of the entire Soviet Parliament to begin talks leading to full independence for his Baltic republic.
Lithuania “was forcibly included in the Soviet Union,” said Deputy Kazimeras Motieka. If the Kremlin is serious about reform, he said, it should move to eliminate the results of the crimes of dictator Josef Stalin, who annexed the Baltic region.
Drawing a parallel with Romania, where President Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown today, Motieka said: “We also have a dictator: Moscow. If the Soviet Union is building a government of laws, well, legality and occupation don’t go together.”
It was the first time a delegate from one of the restive Baltic republics used the national Parliament to advance demands for full independence.
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