Leader of U.S. Balts: Lieberman is supporter of Baltics

RIGA (BNS) - Former president of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Alliance of Connecticut knows U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate, as a strong supporter of the Baltic countries.

"I have known Senator Lieberman since 1988 when he came out in support of Baltic independence," Vaira Paegle, a member of Latvia's present parliament who lived and worked in Connecticut until 1998, told BNS on Aug. 8.

Paegle said the senator never refused Baltic requests to meet with him, attended their demonstrations and participated in their fundraising events.

"Even now, he is a member of the Senate Baltic Caucus," said Paegle, adding that his election would be very favorable to the Baltic countries as opposed to the Bush-Cheney Team.

Paegle said that Lieberman's integrity and moral authority are recognized by both parties, and his selection was not only courageous but a smart political move with instantaneous benefits to Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic Party's candidate for president.

"My personal impressions of Lieberman are that of an approachable man, with great humor and intelligence," Paegle added.

Opinion polls show the Republican candidate George W. Bush way ahead of Gore. The U.S. presidential elections will be in November and the United States' new president will take office next January.