A resolution urging NATO membership for the Baltic states is stalled in a subcommittee of Congress, so Baltic-Americans are being asked to contact their legislators to push for its adoption.

Valdis Pavlovskis, president of the Baltic American Freedom League, issued a call to action regarding HCR 116 in a letter circulated via e-mail.

In the meantime, BAFL appears concerned that another resolution might gain more favor, although the group says it supports both. HCR 116, which recommends integration of the Baltics into the NATO defense alliance, was introduced April 26, 2001, by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). The resolution was referred to the House Committee on International Relations’ Subcommittee on Europe.

While HCR 116 has seen little movement for more than a year, the chair of the subcommittee, Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) on June 27 put forth another resolution, HCR 468, which supports NATO expansion but fails to stress membership for the Baltics.

“The odds are against us, but then when has that stopped Balts from doing the right thing,” Pavlovskis asked in his letter. Observers say Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are sure to be invited to joing NATO during the alliance’s November summit in Prague.

BAFL, which recently revamped its Web site, is one of several lobby groups pushing Congress to support Baltic membership in NATO.

Sen. Ben E. Nelson (D-Neb.) has joined the U.S. Senate’s Baltic Freedom Caucus, says the Joint Baltic American National Committee. Nelson has shown an interest in the Baltic countries and their aspirations to join the NATO defense alliance, JBANC said in a press release.

He was a part of a five-member Senate delegation that attended “Rīga 2002: The Bridge to Prague” summit of the NATO aspirant countries July 5-6 in Rīga. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Nelson is closely involved in the Senate’s NATO enlargement ratification debate.

With Nelson the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus has 11 members. The House Baltic Caucus has 71 members.

JBANC, based in Washington, D.C., represents the American Latvian Association, the Estonian American National Council and the Lithuanian American Council.

Latvia’s two top women’s basketball teams have joined forces to take on local teams during a tour of Australia.

The Latvian women, from the Rīga Technical University RTU Klondaika squad and from TTT Rīga, are scheduled to begin their tour Aug. 26 in Adelaide.

The tour is sponsored by Basketball Australia, in conjunction with state leagues, and by the Adelaide Latvian Sports Club, according to Valdis Jaudzems, a member of the sports club’s organizing committee.

In the Adelaide area, games are scheduled Aug. 26 in Underdale, Aug. 27 in Evanston and Aug. 28 in Mount Barker. In the Melbourne area, a game is set Aug. 31 in Templestowe. And in the Sydney area, games are planned Sept. 3 in Sutherland and Sept. 4 in Crows Nest.