The Three Musketeer Baltic Chairmen Speak the Truth at BAFL Awards Banquet

The weekend of April 20, 2024 was important for our Baltic Community.  This was the first time we had our three Chairmen of their respective foreign affairs committees here in Southern California and the Baltic American Freedom League (BAFL) was honored to host them and the important conversation that ensued.  Chairman Zygimantas Pavilionis of Lietuvos Seimas, Chairman Marko Mihkelson of Eesti Riigikogu, and Chairman Rihards Kols of Latvijas Republikas Saeima led an important discussion to more than 150 loyal and interested members from the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian communities on the status of their respective economies and what they are doing to ensure their security and economic freedom and sovereignty.   We were honored to have so many distinguished guests, not only from our Lithuanian community, but also leaders from the Latvian and Estonian communities, Blue/Yellow USA and Blue/Yellow Lithuania, Angels for Ukraine, as well as others.  Daiva Cekanauskas Navarrette, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Santa Barbara and Central Coast of California, did a magnificent job of welcoming the guests and getting the three chairmen right to business in the program.  

With the Awards Banquet celebrating 75 years of NATO, 35 years of the Baltic Way and 20 years of Baltic Membership as a NATO Ally, the conversation quickly became focused on the security of the Baltics, the importance of supporting Ukraine in every way possible to ensure their successful defense of their sovereign territory, and what can be done to ensure that the war does not spread to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.  Chairman Pavilionis helped to lead the conversation saying that we cannot trust nor have a conversation with Russian President Putin, and that we must, “fight for democracy. Don’t feed the tiger (Putin). Democracy is dying.”   Chairman Michelson from Estonia shared the importance of keeping and shoring up the defenses of our Baltic countries and making them stronger than ever before.  “During our (past) times of strength, our countries defense spending was 3-4%, now we need to invest in defense as Russia is in war mode” and we all need to increase our defense spending percentage of GDP up from where is currently.  Chairman Kols from Latvia eloquently brought the conversation to everyone in the room by stating in words and actions that we all could understand and get behind to ensure success in Ukraine and continued freedom in the Baltics.  All chairmen agreed and supported the efforts of the Baltic American Freedom League in our education and advocacy efforts here in the United States to ensure that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have all the resources they need and deserve from  both the government of the United States as well from as all its citizens whether they be of Baltic or any other heritage.  Tony Mazeika, founding BAFL Board member said it well, “We are not done.  There is still much we need to do.”

Another high point of the evening was when the program turned to honor its members and friends who have helped to build a strong foundation for the Baltics.  

Rima Ziuratis, the recipient of the BAFL Freedom Award perfectly summarized the importance of supporting Ukraine in their battle against Russia for their homeland, their freedom, the future of NATO, and should they not succeed, the future of a free Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.  She embodies the ideals in BAFLs Freedom Award.  Rima is a former board member of BAFL and now serves in an advisory capacity.  She stepped down from the Board when she volunteered to go to Ukraine to serve with Blue/Yellow for Ukraine USA, a nonprofit based in the United States that is providing non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine.  Rima is serving as a medic and teaching others wartime tactical medicine to help save the lives of soldiers and civilians wounded because of Russia’s invasion and illegitimate war.  Rima asks all of us, “What are you doing for Ukraine today?  She also encouraged us to educate our Congressional representatives to encourage funding for Ukraine and the Baltics.  We should never let freedom and democracy die.

We honored our own, Zibute Brinkiene-Alex with the President’s Award for her time, commitment, and legal expertise in our early years so BAFL would be established with a sound non-profit foundation.  Tony Mazeika was also honored with a President’s Award for his decades of relentless pursuit and leadership to ensure that Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia would become and remain free, and recognized by NATO. 

We presented the Congressional Baltic Defender Award to Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) who shared how important it is to have a strong strategic partnership with the Baltics and to support our Baltic Security Initiative to deter aggressions such as Russia’s war with Ukraine.  Congressman Calvert has been a strong supporter of NATO and the Baltics soon after he was elected to Congress in 1992.  We value his partnership and thank him for all his efforts to ensure that the Baltics get the support that is needed from Congress.

Secretary of BAFL, Danute Mazeika, led an important reflection where we took time to honor our Board members who left us in the past few years- Salius Damusis (Lithuanian), Aivars Jerumanis (Latvian), Ivars Miculs (Latvian), and Heino Nurmberg (Estonian) for their many years of loyal and dedicated service.  Their time, energies, and leadership have made it better and safer for all Balts around the world.

We are grateful for the partnership with Laima Jureviciene, our Consul General here in Los Angeles, and her staff, who worked with the Lithuanian Embassy, Chairman Pavilionis’ staff, and her counterparts from the Estonian and Latvian Consulates to help us navigate the logistics of the weekend as well as important meetings here in Southern California with U.S. Representative Young Kim, the World Affairs Council, and University of Southern California to help move our Baltic advocacy and agendas further.  The weekend would not have been nearly as successful as it was if it were not for our Consul General.  Labai aciu!

BAFL has much momentum coming out of the Awards Banquet and appreciate all the support from our Lithuanian and Baltic Communities.  There is much work still to be done and they need your help.  What can you do next to help Chairman Pavilionis and BAFL to keep Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia free and strong?

• Sign up to receive alerts and updates from BAFL (https://bafl.com/contact/)

• Visit our “Call to Action” page and Advocate for the Baltic Security Initiative Act and the House NATO resolution (https://bafl.com/call-to-action/#/)

• Join our team and make a tax-deductible gift to advocate on behalf of the Baltics and help us ensure a free Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine (https://bafl.com/get-involved/make-an-online-gift/)

For more information on BAFL or its education and advocacy efforts, please visit https://bafl.com/.