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 PROCLAMATION 5069—JUNE 17, 1983 97 STAT. 1593 ans still seek to exercise their human rights to think, speak, and believe as their conscience directs them. The people of the United States of America share the just aspirations of the people of the Baltic nations for national independence, and we cannot remain silent in the face of the continued refusal of the government of the U.S.S.R. to allow these people to be free. We uphold their right to deter- mine their own national destiny, free of foreign domination. The government of the United States has never recognized the forced incor- poration of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union and will not do so in the future. In its defense of the rights of the Baltic people, the United States does not stand alone. On January 13th, the Parliament of Europe passed a resolution by an overwhelming majority on "The situation in Estonia, Latvia and Lith- uania," calling for the restoration of self-determination for the Baltic States. By House Joint Resolution 201, the Congress of the United States has au- Ante, p. 208. thorized and requested the President to designate June 14, 1983, as "Baltic Freedom Day." NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate June 14, 1983 as Baltic Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate remembrances and ceremonies and to reaffirm their commitment to princi- ples of liberty and freedom for all oppressed people. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh. RONALD REAGAN Proclamation 5069 of June 17, 1983 National Scleroderma Week, 1983 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Scleroderma is a painful and debilitating connective tissue disorder that causes hardening of the skin and can also affect several internal organs of the body. Although it can begin at any age, it usually afflicts people in their productive years. Several thousand middle-aged Americans—women more than men—have scleroderma. In the more serious systemic form, scleroderma can not only affect the skin, joints, and muscles but also strike the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, or kidneys. The cause and cure of scleroderma remain unknown, and it may be difficult to treat. Nevertheless, there is ample reason for hope because the outlook for vic- tims of scleroderma has improved significantly in recent years. Previously, the chances of survival were slim when scleroderma attacked the kidneys. But this is no longer the case. Medical researchers have discovered in the

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