The CEEC is an umbrella organization representing 22 million Americans with roots from thirteen countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Earlier in the day, members of JBANC met with Nordic and Baltic desk officers at the State Department, to discuss the latest developments in U.S.-Baltic relations. State Department officials participating were Deborah Graze, Director, Office of Nordic and Baltic Affairs; Conrad Tribble, Coordinator, Northern Europe Initiative; and Vonda Delawie, Deputy Office Director.

JBANC was represented at the meeting by Janis Kukainis, President, American Latvian Association, Inc. (ALA); Mati Kõiva, President, Estonian American National Council, Inc. (EANC); John Bolsteins, chairman, JBANC; Algis Rimas, Lithuanian American Council, Inc., Vello Ederma, EANC, Janis Gramatins, ALA, Karl Altau, Managing Director, JBANC and Ilmars Dambergs, ALA.

Prior to the meeting, the participants had an impromptu meeting with James Holmes, the current U.S. ambassador to Latvia.

JBANC represents the Estonian American National Council, Inc., the American Latvian Association, Inc., and the Lithuanian American Council, Inc.