Adding Baltic States to NATO

Susan Eisenhower writes that the U.S.-Baltic Charter is “recklessly preemptive” giving Russians “reason to worry” (Commentary, Feb. 1). Yes, since Russia’s armed forces and reserves have only two Russian soldiers for every man, woman and child in the Baltic, outnumbering Baltic forces 600 to one, Russia’s 149 million inhabitants certainly have a real basis to fear the 7.8 million inhabitants of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

But wait. Wasn’t it Russia, formerly known as the Soviet Union, that illegally occupied the Baltic countries? And didn’t the United States and 31 other countries refuse to recognize their incorporation into the Soviet Union during those 50 long years of military occupation?

The United States should be commended for its commitment to democracy, freedom and economic development in these newly independent countries. Russia should show respect for her neighbors’ sovereignty, not fear.

DACE S. PAVLOVSKIS

Los Angeles

* Eisenhower is entitled to her opinion that the Baltic states should not be admitted to NATO because Moscow does not like it. I do believe, however, that her grandfather, if he still was president, would disagree with her.

NATO enlargement is in the United States’ best interest because it increases stability in Europe. A stable Europe is also in the best interest of a democratic Russia. It is false to assert that Russia’s security is threatened by the Baltic states’ admission to NATO. Neither NATO nor the U.S. has attacked any country in Europe and Russia knows it. Unfortunately, Russia and the Soviet Union have a long history of aggression against neighbors.

VINCE VISKANTA

Rancho Palos Verdes