Chairman Zygimantas Pavilionis to speak at BAFL Banquet on April 20

With Chairman Zygimantas Pavilionis, Ph.D., Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, Lietuvos Seimas, speaking at the Baltic American Freedom League (BAFL) Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 20, we thought it was a good time to re-introduce to some of you who are BAFL, what do they do, and why are they important our community and to Lithuania.  Come join us at our Conference and Awards Banquet on April 20 at 6PM at the Latvian House in Los Angeles to see how we all can be defending Lithuania’s bright future. 

1. Who is Baltic American Freedom League (BAFL) and what do they do?

Baltic American Freedom League was founded in 1981. We are a non-partisan American Interest Group focused on issues of Baltic-Americans. We are here to educate the public, Congress and the U.S. State department of issues that affect the Baltics and Americas. Our primary focus in 1981 is having the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia Free from Soviet Occupation. 

2. What has BAFL accomplished in the past 60 years?

Some of the major accomplishments we have done as an organization have been multiple White House meetings with President Reagan and Bush Staff in the 1980s and 1990s to push for the Freedom of the Baltics. On April 11, 1990, 30 days after Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union, BAFL meet with President Bush to press him in recognizing the Landsbergis led government. After full US recognition of the Baltic States, BAFL worked through the 1990s and early 2000s in getting the Baltic States into NATO as well as starting the Bi-Partisan Baltic Caucus in the House and Senate. These efforts have been successful in helping fund Baltic defense from aggressive parties toward the Baltic States. In the last 4 years, BAFL has successfully helped fund Baltic Defense through US Congressional support with over $1 Billion to the Baltics. 

3.  Why is this year’s Awards Banquet especially important?

The BAFL Conference and Awards Banquet is especially important because we are bringing in for the first time the Chairmen of Foreign Affairs from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They will be here to share how Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been leading voices for democracy, security and economic freedom in Eastern Europe and answer questions of why it is important to support the Baltic Security Initiative as well as supporting Ukraine through its successful defense of its homeland.  

If Ukraine is conquered by Russia, then the Baltics will be next. The Suwalki Gap has been referenced many times as the point where Russia and Belarus will invade to isolate the Baltics from its NATO Allies.   We will also have a video from a past BAFL Board member, Rima Žiuraitiene, who is currently serving as a Medic Trainer from Ukraine, 

4. What is your Call to Action for our Lithuanian and Baltic Community?

We have Congressional Call to Actions at least yearly to help fund Baltic Security. Congressional Staff is very eager to hear from their constituents so every time someone participates in our call to action whether it is an email, letter, or telephone call it all counts for support. When we have participation, it is easier for us to set meetings with Congressional Staff to discuss Baltic issues easier than directly from our organization.  

It is important for the Grass Roots to participate right now as Putin will have more aggressive action toward the Baltics and repressions towards his own people since their election. The occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine are the same size of all of Lithuania. Many of those cities in Eastern Ukraine have been destroyed to the size of rocks. Do you want to see your favorite places in Lithuania destroyed by Russian forces?

For more information about the Awards Banquet, please see our invitation, RSVP by April 10 at reservations@balf.com, or contact Mykolas Andrulis (mandrulis@yahoo.com, 310.569.0351).