Baltic News
News highlights from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Monday—December 22, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Some 3,000 backers of embattled President Rolandas Paksas demonstrated over the weekend in support of the Lithuanian leader, who, by most accounts, is destined to be impeached within the next half year. Paksas, accused of having ties to Russian organized crime, has lost support across the country, with most top political leaders calling on him to resign and spare the country a drawn-out impeachment process. (See details on the initiation of impeachment proceedings in last week's reports.) The Saturday protesters said that the allegations against Paksas were contrived and that "dark forces were plotting" against him. Overall support for Paksas has plummeted since the scandal broke almost two months ago, but he maintains backing in some rural areas. 

Friday—December 19, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) It will take the Baltic states years, if not decades, to catch up to living standards in the European Union as a whole, according to a newly released EU study. Latvia's per capita GDP is a mere 35 percent of the current EU average, while Lithuania's is 39 and Estonia's 40 percent, according to the so called Eurostat figures, based on 2002 growth rates. On the bright side, the Baltic states have boosted their standards of living much faster than anyone expected they would ten years ago, and they stand out far above the likes of neighboring Russia and Belarus. The Baltics, with economic policies emphasizing dynamic growth, also appear to be catching up faster with the EU than any other future EU states—with annual growth rates of 5 percent or more. Among the group of 10 countries that will join the EU this coming May, including the Baltics, Cyrpus and Slovenia have per capita GDPs closest to the EU average—of 76 and 69 percent, respectively. 
       (Also see CITY PAPER's EU page, here.)

Thursday—December 18, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Formal impeachment proceedings against Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas began Thursday, as expected. The process, initiated amid charges Paksas has links to organized crime, is almost certain to lead to his dismissal from office in a matter of several months. At least two-thirds of the 141-seat parliament are thought to back the impeachment of Paksas, more than enough to dismiss him.
       (See reports below for more details.)     

Wednesday—December 17, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Moscow for the first time has handed details to Estonia on the whereabouts of Soviet sea mines laid during World War II, information that will be used to clear the weapons from the Baltic Sea coast as a safety precaution, Estonian officials said Wednesday. A total of 100,000 such mines were believed to have been deployed by Nazi and Soviet forces in the Baltic Sea during the war, with 50,000 laid near Estonia and the other Baltic states. Shipping lanes have long since been demined and most of the leftover explosives, numbering over 10,000, have rusted and become duds; they are not thought to pose a major threat. "The existing danger is maybe one in a million," said Estonian Defense Ministry spokesman Madis Mikko. He added, however, that Estonians have carried out intensive demining operations since it regained independence "just to be safe." 
       Repeated Estonian requests over the years for details on the sea mines had always been turned down by the Kremlin and Russia's delivery of the long-sought papers Tuesday came out of the blue. "Their initiative was a nice surprise," he said. "Germany opened all its documents a long time ago. Now Russians are a part of that process. We welcome that." The documents include precise coordinates of hundreds of sea mines placed along 3,794 kilometers of Estonia's winding coastline. It would take time for the Estonians to determine whether the Russian information is accurate and complete, Mikko said. 
       After World War II ended, Western powers carried out massive operations to clear their waters of mines and most on the western side of the Baltic Sea were disposed of by the mid-1950s. But in the Soviet-occupied Baltic states, post-war mine clearing was haphazard and eventually abandoned altogether. In the 1990s, the Swedish Navy’s 21st and 41st Mine Clearance Flotilla was responsible for finding the vast majority of sea mines. Their operations, working with local Baltic navies, focused on major Baltic ports, like Riga, Tallinn, Klaipeda, Ventspils and Liepaja. 

Friday—December 12, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Some key figures in the Baltic states are calling on Washington to reverse a decision to halt Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasts to their countries—insisting the station, initially set up during the Cold War, still provided a valuable service. American officials said last month that the U.S.-financed corporation will stop broadcasting to the three Baltics, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia on Dec. 31, arguing the United States now needed to focus resources on troubled regions, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
       But some in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said Friday that, even though they long since cast off communism and established stable democracies, RFE/RL still had a vital role, including by providing high-quality foreign news that most local media can't afford to compile.
       Baltic governments themselves, however, appeared to have accepted the U.S. decision—even though many officials had hoped it could have been put off for one or two years; their appears to be no push by any Baltic government leaders for Washington to change its mind. "Sure, we'll miss the international news of RFE," said Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Estonian parliament's foreign affairs committee. "But it had to happen sooner or later. It's understood RFE's meant for countries that have problems with freedom of speech. Ours doesn't."
       But Mari-Ann Kelam, a recent Estonian parliamentarian, said she was lobbying for RFE's Estonian-service to stay on the air; the annual cost of operating that service was under 1 million dollars, she said. "U.S. international broadcasting as a public diplomacy tool is cost-effective and cheap, by U.S. budgetary standards," she said. "There is growing anti-Americanism throughout Europe which is expanding, unfortunately, to the Baltic States as well." 
       The six of the post-communist nations set to be struck off the station's list of broadcast targets, except Croatia, are slated to join the U.S.-lead NATO alliance in 2004. It will continue to broadcast in Europe to Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia-Montenegro and Ukraine.
       For decades, thousands of Balts saw RFE as their most important source of information about what was happening, not only in the rest of the world, but also inside the Soviet Union itself. Soviet jamming stations frequently tried to disrupt the broadcasts. Since the Baltics regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse, RFE has focused on providing world news in Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian. It has been broadcast on shortwave but also via local radio stations. Many local newspapers have also used RFE staffers as their official foreign correspondents, and those publications will now be forced to look for alternatives.

Wednesday—December 10, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Four Latvians died after apparently plummeting several hundred meters down the side of a mountain in New Zealand early this week, police in the island nation said. It wasn't clear whether the well-known Latvian climbers, including Teodors Kirsis, were heading up the nearly 4,000-meter Mount Cook or whether they had just started down from its summit. Their bodies were found Wednesday. Kirsis was one of the best known and most experienced mountain climbers in Latvia; his daughter was one of the four who died. 

Tuesday—December 9, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Most Baltic observers appeared to take the success of a pro-Vladimir Putin party and several nationalist groups in stride, saying the results weren't unexpected and shouldn't dramatically affect Baltic-Russian relations, as lukewarm as they are. 
       United Russia, a coalition of parties that strongly backs Putin, won nearly 40 percent of Sunday's vote and will now control nearly two-thirds of the Russian Duma; the Communist Party was in second place with 13 percent and the far-right Liberal Democratic Party, led by virulent nationalist Vladimir Zhironovsky, came in third with 12 percent. 
       All the pro-West parties, many of which have urged an improvement of relations with the Baltic states, failed to cross the five-percent threshold required to win seats. 
       Baltic-Russian relations haven't been cozy or close since the Soviet collapse. But Baltic leaders have expressed hoped that there could be a normalization of bilateral relations in the coming yeas, especially after the Baltics enter the European Union and NATO. "Once we are in NATO and the EU, Russia will have to see that their Baltic policy, always accusing the Baltics of being troublemakers, has been a failure," said Marko Mihkleson, chairman of the Estonian parliament's foreign affairs committee. 
       Mihkelson agreed the election results would not have a dramatic impact on the Baltics, since relations were already what he described as "pre-normal.") But he added that a more nationalist Duma could delay the process of fully normalizing bilateral relations. "This (improving of relations with Russia) will take a long time anyway," he said. "But with these nationalists in there it might take a little longer... But the Duma has always been more decorative. It has always coming down to the will in the Kremlin."
       Winners in the Russian election also included nationalist journalist Alexander Nevzorov, notorious for his reports about the 1991 Soviet crackdown in Vilnius; he alleged at the time that the 13 Lithuanian demonstrators killed by Soviet troops had actually died in traffic accidents and of heart attacks. 
       (Also see Zhironovskyisms for past comments by the Russian nationalist about the Baltic states.)

Thursday—December 4, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas on Thursday canceled a planned meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in the White House next week—in another sign that his presidency may be fatally damaged over allegations he has organized crime links. He had earlier rejected calls for him to cancel the Dec. 8 meeting, but some media reports said Washington itself sent signals that it did not want Paksas to show up—forcing the Lithuanian president's hand. 
       (See reports from earlier this week for more details.)

Wednesday—December 3, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) A Latvian man has been charged with killing 30 elderly women over the past couple years, posing as a gas-meter worker, then strangling and robbing his victims. Prosecutors announced the indictments Wednesday, saying it was the single largest murder case ever in the country. They declined to release the name of the 25-year-old, but he is thought to be a long-time resident of Latvia. Few other details were immediately available. 

Tuesday—December 2, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Parliament began live televised debate Tuesday that could lead to impeachment proceedings against President Rolandas Paksas. Discussions about his alleged mob links were expected to continue for several days, after which a vote on starting the impeachment process is expected to pass.
      (See details in Monday report below.)  


Thursday—November 27, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonia's coalition government Thursday stepped back from the brink of collapse by settling bitter differences over tax-reduction plans, Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts said. One of the three ruling parties, the left-leaning People's Union, triggered the crisis 10 days ago when it suddenly declared opposition to government proposals to lower the personal income tax rate next year to 24 from 26 percent—already one of the lowest rates in Europe. Parts said then he viewed the dissent as ending the People's Union's participation in the coalition, which includes his center-right Res Publica and the Reform Party. The eight-month-old government came close to falling, but never did. 
       The ruling parties agreed after three hours of talks Thursday to a coalition-saving compromise, which included staggering tax reductions over the next four years. There will be no tax cut in 2004, but the rate will be slashed to just 20 percent in 2007. "Peace has been restored within the government," Parts declared to journalists after the negotiations concluded, parties leaders smiling and backslapping each other as they emerged from a conference room in Tallinn, Estonia's capital. 
       The ruling parties control 60 seats in 101-seat Riigikogu parliament—with 28 for Res Publica, 19 for the Reform Party and 13 for the People's Union. The government has already fulfilled its No. 1 goal during its short reign—passing a referendum on European Union entry in September with a 67 percent yes vote. The country, which regained independence from Moscow in 1991, formally joins the EU in May.
       Until disagreements over taxes, there were few signs of overt division in the coalition, but debate about the 2004 draft budget brought underlying philosophical differences to the fore. Res Publica, or Republican Party, and the Reform Party have drawn support by calling for lower taxes, while the People's Union has stressed the need for more state aid to the poor. Gross domestic product growth for 2003 is expected to approach a respectable 5 percent—though the government remains strapped for funds.

TALLINN (CITY PAPER) The Baltic states said Thursday they intend to draft a joint condemnation of communism, saying they want to go on the historical record denouncing the ideology before they enter the European Union in May next year. "This is a point of principle," said Ave Mellik, spokeswoman for the Estonian Justice Ministry, which has taken the lead on the declaration. "We want to send a clear message about communist crimes that occurred here. EU countries need to understand what happened as well."  Mellik said the declaration was also meant to signal backing for the idea of paying compensation to surviving victims; all three Baltics have said Moscow should help foot that bill, which could run into billions of dollars, though Russians have balked at the suggestion. 
       Communist systems were imposed on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania after the Red Army invaded in 1940. Tens of thousands of purported opponents of the new regime were executed or deported in the years that followed.
       Baltic justice ministers meeting in Tallinn were to begin drafting the communiqué, though it wasn't expected to be completed for several weeks, Mellik said.
       Leaders here have long complained that Western Europeans never fully appreciated the scale of oppression in the ex-Soviet Union and Eastern Europe—and have expressed dismay at Communist Parties in Italy and France that sometimes appear to romanticize Soviet rule. "But this declaration is not directed at them and they shouldn't be offended," said the justice ministry official. "How can they object to us condemning crimes against human beings?"
 
Wednesday—November 26, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) The HIV virus that causes AIDS is spreading fast in the Baltic states, as it is throughout Eastern Europe and across the former Soviet Union, a UN report released this week said. The study singled out Estonia and Latvia as among the worst affected nations in Eastern Europe, where, according to its figures, a high 1 percent of the populations injected drugs—putting the countries at especially high risk. Infection rates were more than tripling in the Baltics each year, the report said. The UN said increased heroin and other intravenous drug use, coupled with unprotected sex, were primarily responsible for the rapid spread of the deadly disease. 
       Overall in countries that once made up the Soviet-bloc states, some 230,000 people were newly infected this year alone—bringing the total tally of people with the HIV virus or AIDS itself to 1.5 million; nearly 30,000 people have died. It said the fact that HIV is being spread by younger people did not bode well, saying that made it all the more likely that it would spread more quickly into the general population. 
       (You can read the entire report here.)

Monday—November 24, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) A short excerpt from an editorial in Monday's Wall Street Journal by Latvian Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete. The article, which expressed Latvian support for U.S. policy in Iraq, was entitled Freedom Cannot Be Taken For Granted: 
Latvia lost its independence in 1940 because its proclaimed neutrality was not effective and Western countries were not able to take a common line against two evil empires.... This is why Latvia decided to support coalition forces in Iraq. We were driven by conviction that it is our responsibility and moral obligation to share our experience and knowledge of successful transformation and transition process from a totalitarian regime to a democratic society with other countries, especially those that have suffered from a plight similar to ours.
       During my recent visit to Iraq, I had the opportunity to look into the faces of the Iraqi people and get a glimpse of the situation on the ground. In the eyes of Iraqis I saw freedom, as well as intelligence, pride and courage. I also saw a mix of hope, doubt and uncertainty. These were the same feelings the people of Latvia experienced when we regained independence. Speaking with Iraqi ministers and senior staff, I thought I was going back in time. We faced the same challenges of monetary and economic reform, building state institutions—including raising administrative capacity....
       Every totalitarian regime leaves deep wounds in the memory of the people. Such a society cannot develop in a normal and robust way, because it is divided between victims and those who committed crimes. We certainly know the value of reconciliation, because it is essential for dealing with all the sorrow and resentment of the past and moving on to building a cohesive and harmonious society in the future. Submitting to fair justice, those accused of committing crimes will help to heal the wounds....
       (Also see a recent CITY PAPER interview with Kalniete... here.)

VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Up to 5,000 demonstrators in Lithuania called on President Rolandas Paksas to resign over charges that his office has links to organized crime in Russia. The Saturday protest was one of the largest such political gatherings since the country regained independence. Many Lithuanians say they are concerned about the influence that underworld figures may have in the corridors of presidential power and that the scandal that has been swirling around Paksas since early this month threatens to damage the country's reputation. The president has denied any wrongdoing.
       (See previous weeks reports for more details about the scandal.)  

TALLINN (CITY PAPER) The Estonian government crisis has not been resolved, even though government parties sent signals over the weekend that they are willing to consider compromises over divisive tax policy. Prime Minister Juhan Parts will be abroad until Thursday, so a final resolution is unlikely until at least then.
       (See reports from last week for more details.)

Friday—November 21, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Latvian soccer coach Aleksandrs Starkovs put European soccer giants on notice Friday that his team won't be a pushover in the championship finals next year in Portugal. He was speaking two days after his squad sent shock waves across Europe Wednesday by dramatically knocking out perennial powerhouse Turkey in a championship playoff. "This was a tremendous achievement for Latvian soccer. It was a sensation not only in Europe. In particular, it was a celebratory moment for our country," he was quoted as telling the AFP news agency. "We aspire for new achievements. We have nothing to lose. All teams in Portugal will be favorites. But we recently faced this situation in matches against Sweden and Turkey, and we were able to (beat) them. The Euro championships will offer another chance to make little known Latvia's name heard around the world." Rob Hughes, a sports writer for the Straights  Times, added in a column the same day that "with the Dutch and Spaniards in Portugal, and the fairy story from Latvia, it will be a better tournament."
       (For details on the stunning Latvian victory over Turkey and their unlikely qualification together with the likes of England, Holland and Germany, see Thursday report below.)

TALLINN (CITY PAPER) The Estonian government Friday was still trying to stem coalition infighting over tax policy and prevent what, a few days earlier, seemed to be the impending collapse of the eight-month administration. Party meetings over this weekend were expected to come to some resolution—with the three ruling parties either agreeing to split, or finding a compromise and staying together. 
       (See reports below from earlier this week for details.)

Thursday—November 20, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER)  Latvia entered the annals of European sports history by tying Turkey 2-2 in the second and final leg of a European Championship playoff Wednesday night—thereby going through to the finals. The Latvian underdogs shocked the soccer-crazed continent Saturday by defeating the highly touted Turks 1-0 in the first-leg match in Riga, and then did it again by coming back from 2-0 down to dramatically tie Turkey late in the game in Istanbul Wednesday. Latvia won the series 3-2 on aggregate, prompting Britain's Evening Times to write the headline—Turkey Roasted by Fighting Latvia.
       Many European media portrayed the apparent mismatch as a battle between a David and Goliath; most assumed the affair would be a cake walk for Turkey. Latvia is rated 56th in the world by the international football governing body, FIFA; Turkey is No. 8. According to the two-match calculations, Turkey had to beat Latvia by at least two points to win the playoff, and they attacked hard and fast, scoring the first two goals Wednesday. 
       Turkey rolled out its big gun, the country's all-time leading scorer Hakan Sukur, who didn't play Saturday; and it looked like he might well pull the rabbit out of the hat and secure a Turkish place in the championship finals in Portugal next year. Both he and Nihat Kahveci scored to give Turkey a 2-0 lead before the 64th minute, appearing to present Latvia an insurmountable challenge. But Latvian Jurijs Laizans scored minutes later and rising star striker Maris Verpakovskis added one for good measure in the 77th minute. 
       Soccer Age magazine wrote before the game that Verpakovskis "is already the most popular man in Latvia after having scored three match winners in a row. But another goal in Turkey will elevate him to the status of living legend."  The same magazine had earlier described the Latvians as "Baltic nobodies" and said a Turkish loss "with what is essentially the same squad that finished third in the World Cup, would be an unmitigated disaster and probably would result in rioting in the streets in Istanbul." But the Latvians have now earned the respect of observers across Europe, with many newspapers praising the way they played against the Turks.
       In the end, there were no reports of rioting in Turkey. But in Riga, thousands of people streamed out from homes and bars after watching the victory, cheering and waving flags. Drivers around the city honked their car horns in celebration. The surprise Latvian win was one of the biggest sports stories of the week in Europe. "Sad Turks Stuffed by Latvia," read a headline in Britain's Daily Mirror; "Latvia Enjoys Finest Hour at Expense of Turkey" said The Times of London. The front pages of dailies across Latvia  published photos of the national team and hailed the players as heroes.   
       The triumph was a decisive declaration that Latvia, whose national team was created a mere decade ago, is now a force to be reckoned with in European football; it was doubly meaningful coming the week of the Baltic state's Independence Day holiday. 
       (See a picture of Verpakovskis from Wednesday night here.)

Wednesday—November 19, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) The Estonian coalition government was widely expected to fall Wednesday or Thursday—though talks were still continuing among the various legislative players well into Wednesday night. 
       (See previous days' reports for additional details about the crisis.). 

Tuesday—November 18, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Hitchhiking, as Maris Bergholds will tell you, can be a risky business. The Latvian student is currently being held in a U.S. jail in Iraq after an ill-fated attempt to hitchhike through the war-torn country last month, according to Latvian media reports. Officials said they were hopeful he would be released soon after he was cleared of suspicion of being a foreign fighter. Bergholds was on a school project to the Middle East when he decided to head to Iraq, against what his mother agreed was his better judgment. After being arrested and languishing in prison for several weeks, a letter sent to his mother finally got through and she alerted authorities. 

TALLINN (CITY PAPER) A junior coalition partner, the center-left People's Union, is expected to decide Wednesday whether to stay in Estonia's three-party ruling government. If if chooses to leave, that would collapse the eight-month-old administration. The two larger parties, the center-right Res Publica and Reform Party, are expected to form a new government if the People's Union goes—most likely with a new coalition partner, the center-right Pro Patria (Isamaa.)
       (See full report below for more about the government crisis.) 

Monday—November 17, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonia's government slipped unexpectedly into crisis Monday and seemed on the verge of collapse after one ruling coalition party declared it opposed plans to lower the Baltic state's personal income tax rate. The left-leaning People's Union, the smallest party in the three-party bloc, took observers by surprise by announcing that it wanted to delay any such policy changes for Estonia, which already boasts some of the lowest tax rates in Europe.
       But Prime Minister Juhan Parts, who heads the largest party in the coalition, the center-right Res Publica, said in a statement after meeting coalition leaders that he viewed the dissent as effectively ending the participation of the People's Union in the government. His spokeswoman, Hanna Hinrikus, quoted Parts as calling the declaration by the People's Union "irresponsible" and "unstatesmanlike," adding that he had already begun the search for a new coalition partner to take the party's place. As of late Monday, she said the coalition hadn't formally fallen apart, but it seemed doomed
       Until Monday, there were few signs of overt division in the coalition, which took power just eight months ago following parliamentary elections. But discussions about a 2004 draft budget appeared to bring underlying philosophical differences to the fore. The staunchly pro-business Res Publica and like-minded Reform Party—the third party in the coalition—made lower taxes cornerstones of their election campaigns. They want to cut Estonia's flat income tax rate from 26 to 24 percent, saying the People's Union earlier agreed. The People's Union, which drew support by calling for more state aid to the poor and countryside, also said Monday that it wanted to ensure there was more money allotted in the budget to raise teachers' salaries and to increase pensions for the elderly.
       The prime minister's spokeswoman said there was no question of Parts resigning and that he would find another partner in the 101-seat Riigikogu parliament. The current coalition controls 60 seats—with 28 for Res Publica, 19 for the Reform Party and 13 for the People's Union. With their combined 47 seats, Res Publica and Reform should have little trouble finding a replacement. A likely option would be the small center-right Pro Patria, which has seven seats. Hinrikus said Parts met with Pro Patria leader Tunne Kelam Monday afternoon, though she stopped short of saying the meeting amounted to coalition talks. 
       Any new government with the same two center-right parties at its core would be expected to stay Estonia's policy course, including strong backing for U.S. policy in Iraq. The Parts administration has dispatched some 40 Estonian peacekeepers to Iraq. The current government already fulfilled one of its top goals—passing a referendum on European Union membership in September with a 67 percent yes vote.

RIGA (CITY PAPER) Latvia stunned overwhelming favorites Turkey, a world soccer powerhouse, by winning 1-0 in a European Championship playoff over the weekend—proving that their surprising success over the past year has been no fluke.  Saturday's match was just the first leg of the two-game playoff, though the Latvians now appeared to be in the driver’s seat. Turkey must now win by at least two goals over Latvia Wednesday in Istanbul to knock the Latvians out and reserve their place in the European Championship finals in Portugal next summer.
       Latvians have now earned the respect of observers across Europe, with many newspapers praising the way they played against the Turks. Maris Verpakovskis, pegged as a rising star and sought by several teams in England, scored the winning goal in the 29th minute in Riga, deftly stepping by one defender and tapping the ball into the net. He came close to scoring several minutes earlier. "This was a historic win for the Latvian team," coach Aleksander Starkovs was quoted as saying after the game by Reuters.
       Turkish coach Senoi Gunes put part of the blame on the wintry conditions in Latvia Saturday, saying his normally sun-drenched players had a hard time coping. Reuters quoted him as saying that "the weather clearly affected the way we played. We're not used to this kind of weather."
       Good or bad weather, no one—this time—is likely to discount Latvia's chances in Istanbul Wednesday night. If they win or hold Turkey to a draw, they will advance to the finals. Latvia's coach said his team would go for the win, attacking as they did frequently on Saturday.
       (Latvia, until recently,  has been better known for its basketball and hockey teams. On this site, see Hockey Mad, about Latvia's world-class squad.) 

Friday—November 14, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) The Lithuanian presidency of Rolandas Paksas was in dire straights by the end of the week after a spate of his top aides resigned following charges that officials at his headquarters, and possibly even Paksas himself, had connections with organized crime. Among those who stepped down—none of whom had themselves been accused of wrongdoing—were his foreign and economic advisers, as well as his press secretary. 
       A parliamentary commission is investigating the affair and was slated to interrogate President Paksas next week; if they find that the charges that first appeared in an official security department report are true, Paksas could be impeached. New elections would have to be held, less than a year after Paksas defeated incumbent Valdas Adamkus. 
       While attention is still focused on the current investigations and on the crippled presidency, some speculation has already arisen about who could take over. Some have suggested that Adamkus, a former American citizen who still rates among the country's most popular figures, could be the front-runner if a new election is held.
       (For further details on the scandal, see reports from the previous weeks below. Also, from the City Paper archives, see the article about Valdas Adamkus—Mr. President.)

Thursday—November 13, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonia's Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland has said that neighboring Russia remained a potential future threat—but that Estonia's entry into the NATO military alliance next year would lessen dangers from any quarter. Speaking in an interview in the Postimees daily, she harkened back to the history of the Baltic states, occupied by Red Army troops in 1940. "We cannot forget or undervalue what has happened in history, and it is absolutely irresponsible to say the Russian danger is now over for all time—that it can never recur," she said. But she was quick to add that the threat posed by Russia shouldn't be exaggerated, that "the actual risks now come from elsewhere," from international terrorism.
       Once it is in the alliance, anyone who tried to attack Estonia "will be attacking a NATO country and countermeasures by the alliance will follow," she said. "This is what NATO's security umbrella is all about." But Estonians must get used to the notion that, as members, they will be obliged to come to the aid of NATO states thousands of kilometers away, she added. "If someone were to attack (current NATO-member) Turkey," she said, "it would immediately be our war too." 
       (See related new article on this site, The Gift—about the new Occupation Museum in Tallinn.)

Wednesday—November 12, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) The powerful American basketball team and the mighty Lithuanians, the reigning European champions, will be in the same Group B qualifying round robin at the Athens Olympics next year, according to a draw held over the weekend. That'll lessen the chances the Lithuanians can win their group of six teams, which also includes Australia, Angola, Puerto Rico and the home side, Greece. Group A includes Spain, China, New Zealand, Argentina, Serbia-Montenegro and Italy. The top four teams from each of the two groups advance to the final tournament round, with their seeding determined by how well they do in the qualifier. 
       Lithuania picked up a bronze medal in basketball at the last three Olympics; it also came within seconds of a shock upset of the Americans in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. 

RIGA (CITY PAPER)  Laila Freivalds, the new Riga-born Swedish Foreign Minister, arrived in her Latvian homeland Wednesday at the start of a two-day tour of the Baltic states. She was expected to focus on issues of European Union expansion, which Sweden has strongly backed—lobbying with particular passion on behalf of the Baltics. Freivalds, appointed after her predecessor Anna Lindh was murdered in Stockholm recently, fled Latvia as a small girl with her family when Soviet troops invaded at the end of World War II. Thousands of people from the Baltic states, mainly from Estonia and Latvia, escaped to Sweden in the 1940s.

Tuesday—November 11, 2003
HELSINKI (CITY PAPER) The seal population in and around the Baltic Sea has rebounded over the past three decades, the AFP news agency quoted researchers in Finland as saying. They said protection measures, including a 1970s hunting ban, as well as the cleanup of the Baltic Sea in recent years accounted for the increase of seal stocks to about 20,000—up from 15,000 in the late '70s. Hunting advocacy groups are now calling for permission to hunt more seals, with some officials apparently inclined to heed those calls.
       Estonia's coastline is a favorite habitat for gray seals, and many go to tiny Estonian islets to give birth. Finland has the Baltic Sea region's largest seal population. 
       (You can see a picture of a Baltic gray seal...here.)

Friday—November 7, 2003 
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Giant choral festivals held regularly in the Baltic states for more than a century were among the cultural practices singled out by UNESCO as "masterpieces of humanity," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Paris-based body chose 28 out of 56 proposed traditions from around the world for the prestigious designation, meant to raise public awareness of the unique cultural phenomena and help ensure they don't die out, said UNESCO official Yoshihiro Higuchi. The tradition of public storytelling in Turkey, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and Mexico's colorful Day of the Dead celebration were among the others picked for the UNESCO title of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." An 18-member jury announced its selections Friday in Paris, only the second time UNESCO has added new entries since the UN organization created the designation in 1998; it brings the total number to 47. The next time entries will be added will be in 2005, according to Higuchi. 
       The Baltic song festivals, held every couple of years in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since the late 1800s, feature as many as 20,000 singers in folk dress singing on stage at the same time. They draw several hundred thousand of spectators. "All the jury members were very impressed with the magnitude of these song festivals. They're extraordinary," said Higuchi, who worked with the UNESCO jurors as they assessed the various proposals—including by watching video films of performances. The main criteria were that the traditions "had to have outstanding value and that there was some risk of them disappearing or degrading," he added. 
       The Baltic festivals, as the others named last week, will now be eligible for limited UNESCO funds, though Higuchi said it wasn't yet clear how much they would receive. He said between 100,000-200,000 dollars was given to individual cultural protection programs in past years. He said the onus was also the home countries that nominated the practices. "UNESCO will help each state implement their action plans," he said. "But UNESCO is not a rich agency. Our support is meant to supplement the efforts of the proper governments."
        UNESCO also has an older program to protect what it calls "tangible" objects of global importance. It has named over 700 physical objects, towns and buildings as so called World Heritage Sites, including the Egyptian pyramids and India's Taj Mahal. 
       (To see the full list of UNESCO selections see here.) 

STRASBOURG (CITY PAPER) The European Court for Human Rights has agreed to consider a petition from two former KGB staffers in Lithuania who said their rights were violated when they were fired from state jobs because of their past links to the Soviet secret police. Kestutis Dziautas was dismissed from his job as a Lithuanian prosecutor and Juozas Sidabras as a tax official after a law banning ex-KGB staffers from such high positions was adopted in 1999. 
       The case at the Strasbourg-based court, which could begin early next year, could produce a landmark decision—one that is likely to impact all three Baltic states, all of which have laws placing restrictions on ex-KGB. If judges rule against Lithuania, the Baltics could be forced to amend their anti-KGB legislation.
       After Lithuania regained independence, it severely restricted the activities of former KGB staffers—arguing they couldn't be trusted, weren't loyal to Lithuania and posed a potential threat to national security. They were barred from holding elected office, and all top government leaders and parliamentarians were required to take an oath swearing they never worked for or cooperated with the KGB.
       In 1999, the new law banned ex-KGB officials from holding virtually all state jobs, and even barred them from working in private security firms, as well as in banks and insurance companies. (These more recent restrictions do not apply to lower-level KGB workers, like support staff or paid informers.) The ban applied to hundreds of former KGB staffers in Lithuania. 
       The legacy of the once-feared KGB secret police has been hotly debated in Lithuania. Most Lithuanians seem to back the restrictions, but some say they're too stringent, are unfair and impractical. Part of the problem has been identifying ex-agents. The KGB shredded and burned many documents as Soviet rule in Lithuania unraveled, and other sensitive files were shipped hastily back to Moscow for safekeeping.
       (See related story, Stalin's Agents.) 

Wednesday—November 5, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) A powerful new Latvian radar is able to look far into Russian airspace, raising the ire of Moscow; the multi-million-dollar Lockheed-Martin radar was switched on last week in the Latvian town of Audrini, near the Russian border. It has a range of some 400 kilometers and becomes part of the existing pan-Baltic radar network, called BaltNet, which was constructed to meet requirements for NATO membership. When the Baltics join the alliance next year, BaltNet will be hooked into NATO's European-wide radar system. 
       In the years immediately proceeding Baltic independence, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had virtually no radar surveillance—and any planes could enter the region undetected simply by turning off their on-board transponders. But Moscow has said the modern new network, partly funded by NATO-member states, will inevitably spy on Russia's military—and so pose a threat. Latvians, as the other Baltics, have adamantly denied the radars are directly against Russia; they point out that parts of the system will also be used to monitor commercial air traffic. 
       (For a related story on the BaltNet system from the CITY PAPER archives, see Alliance Bound.)

Monday—November 3, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Lithuania has been gripped by scandal after a leaked report accused high officials in the president's office of having close ties to Russian-based organized crime. While President Rolandas Paksas has said he did nothing wrong, he is expected to face growing calls for his resignation as long as a cloud of suspicion hangs over him. 
       The allegations focusing on Presidential Security Adviser Remigijus Acas and several Russian businessmen remain murky, but suggest that Paksas may have received campaign donations earlier this year in exchange for promises to hand out political favors and appointments. The official report, written by the country's nominally independent national security department, includes transcripts of conversations between presidential staff and figures said to belong to Russian organized crime. 
       But it wasn't clear just how the groups might have used their connections to the president's office to boost their criminal activities; a special session of parliament Monday did not immediately confirm some media reports that the underworld organizations were able to facilitate illicit trade, including of arms, through Lithuania. Several investigations, including one by parliament, are now underway and more titillating revelations are expected in the days and weeks to come. 
       Paksas, 48, defeated the heavily favored incumbent Valdas Adamkas in a presidential runoff earlier this year, surprising most analysts who saw Adamkus as a shoe-in for victory. Paksas, according to the report, received at least 400,000 dollars in donations from several businessmen believed to have ties to the so called Russian mafia. 
       Observers in Lithuania expressed concern about the country's international reputation and standing should the allegations prove true. 

Friday—Friday 31, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) The European Union has pegged the Baltic states for strong economic growth for the next several years, with Lithuania assuming the star role in the pack. Lithuania should see GDP growth of 6.6 percent this year, followed by 5.7 and 6 percent in the proceeding two years, according to a report released this week by the European Commission. It said growth numbers for Latvia and Estonia would be only slightly less impressive: Latvia was expected to hit 6 percent in 2003, followed by 5.2 and 5.7 percent in 2004 and 2005; for the same three-year period, Estonia was looking at 4.4, 5.6 and 5.1 percent growth. EU analysts said conservative budgetary policies in all three Baltics underpinned the strong performances; Lithuania benefited from new tax breaks for reinvested profits as well as from a push to privatize the last large Soviet-era companies. 
       (You can read the entire EU report in PDF format... here.) 

Tuesday—October 28, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonian Neeme Järvi has been named the new music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The appointment adds to his long list of musical duties, including director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and first principal guest conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. With over 350 records and CDs to his name, the 66-year-old Järvi is widely considered the most recorded conductor in history. 
       (Also on this site, see Bravo Paavo, a recent interview with Neeme Järvi's conductor-son.) 

Friday—October 24, 2003
MOSCOW (CITY PAPER) Russia's giant Lukoil conglomerate will begin drilling for oil near Lithuania's pristine Curonian Spit by the end of this year, despite objections from environmentalists that doing so could endanger this strip of land that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The St. Petersburg Times reported Friday. 
       The so called D-6 field is on the Baltic Sea shelf in Russian territorial waters, but just 20 kilometers from the Lithuanian side of the Curonian Spit—part of which is in Russia. Lukoil estimates that it could produce as much as 700,000 tons of crude from the site each year. 
       Lithuanian environmental groups have called on their government to protest the drilling plans, though Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas was quoted as saying in Moscow this week that Lithuania had no grounds to object—since the drilling is to be done in Russian waters, according to The St. Petersburg Times. He said he had been assured that the project would follow EU environmental-protection norms. 
       The sword-shaped Curonian peninsula, 350 kilometers from Vilnius, runs for some 100 kilometers parallel to the coast. Sometimes called the Baltic Sahara, it was a favorite summer retreat of Nobel Laureate Thomas Mann, who wrote about "the fantastic world of traveling dunes, pine forests filled with moose and birch between the bay and the Baltic Sea." 
       (For an account of the popular tourist area on this site, see The Magic Spit.) 

Thursday—October 23, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) The European Union says it expects Russia to drop what are seen as punitively high trade tariffs on Estonian goods as soon as this Baltic state joins the EU on May 1, 2004—though Moscow has so far given no indication it intends to heed that call. "We very much hope they will eliminate (the tariffs)," Arancha Gonzalez, spokeswoman for EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy. "It would be discriminatory treatment against Estonia if they aren't."
       The tariffs, which double the standard trade duties on all Estonian products, have severely hampered Estonian access to the next-door Russian market and have been a major bilateral irritant since the Kremlin imposed them in 1995. Many Estonians said the tariffs were politically motivated, with Moscow at the time expressing displeasure with Estonia's pro-West, pro-NATO bent and with what it alleged were citizenship policies that discriminated against Estonia's large Russian minority. This Baltic Sea nation is one of just a handful of countries globally that must pay the double tariffs. Russia has granted all other ex-Soviet states, including Estonia's two Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Lithuania, most-favored-trading status.
       Before Estonia's successful EU referendum last month, leaders here said Russia would have no choice but to drop the barriers when Estonia joins the bloc. The tariffs will violate a 1994 EU-Russian accord obliging Moscow to grant all EU states favored-trade status, they argued. Gonzalez said that was also the EU's position. "We have drawn (Russia's) attention to the fact that Estonia will have to be treated like any other EU member state when it joins," she said, speaking by telephone from Brussels. "We have discussed this with Russia. If it doesn't happen, we will take it from there." 
       Many Estonian business leaders say they aren't convinced Russia will abolish the tariffs, saying they expect Moscow to dig in its heels and demand negotiations on the issue. "Nothing will change," Raivo Vare, who heads Estonia's Pakterminal oil-transit company, was quoted as saying in Estonia's Paevaleht daily Thursday. "They (Russian authorities) will find 110 ways how to avoid doing it." "Our members are very interested in Russian trade, but nobody thinks the barriers will be dropped in May (when Estonia becomes an EU member)," agreed Kairi Kurm, a spokeswoman for the non-governmental Estonian Trade Council. 
       Russia hasn't declared its official stand. "It's a rather difficult question," Dmitri Ivanov, press spokesman for the Russian embassy in Estonia. "It is still under discussion." He declined to elaborate. 
       Before the Soviet Union unraveled in 1991, a majority of Estonian exports went to Russia. Today, less than 10 percent do, with the EU by far the largest trading partner now. Tariffs weren't the only reason many Estonian producers gave up on Russia. Many concluded in the 1990s that Russian markets were too unstable and chose instead to forge trade links with much richer countries, like nearby Sweden and Finland; Estonian politicians after independence also wanted to reduce economic dependence on Russia, saying the close links put economic stability at the mercy of Russian reforms and also gave the Kremlin leverage should it ever hope to exert economic pressure to achieve political ends. But Estonian business associations say that even doubling Estonia's now modest trade with their giant neighbor could prove a boon to this small but already economically dynamic nation. 

Wednesday—October 22, 2003
HELSINKI The following is a brief excerpt from an editorial in Finland's Helsingin Sanomat, by columnist Erkki Pennanen. The Tuesday article looked at Nordic-Baltic relations in the context of Baltic European Union membership next year: 

...In all Nordic Countries there is extensive consensus on the sustainability of the key principles of the Nordic welfare state. As Estonia and the other Baltic States were being pulled into Nordic cooperation, the thinking was that they would feel a natural attraction toward the Nordic Countries, and that they would want to build their societies on the basis of the Nordic model. As EU members their citizens seeking work abroad would gravitate primarily toward the Nordic Countries. This belief has proven at least partly misplaced. 
       A recent opinion survey by the Center for Finnish Business and Policy Studies confirms previous studies, according to which the Nordic Countries are in an important position for the Estonians only in the development of cultural ties.... In Estonia the governments of the time of the country's independence have followed models from Britain and the United States, and not those of the Nordic Countries. 
       The Nordic welfare states are considered too expensive and utopian as goals. The tendency is to promote economic growth by focusing on enterprise through increased competitiveness, and by creating conditions similar to those of tax havens for foreign capital. The aim is also to keep income taxes at a very low level. 
       At a discussion of three prime ministers held in Helsinki's Finlandia Hall last Friday, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson openly warned Estonia that over time it would lead to an impossible situation in the EU: "We net payers in the EU do not want to finance the low taxes of other countries." 
       In Persson's view Estonia should start raising taxes instead of reducing them. It certainly is not acceptable in the EU that while the Nordic Countries levy income taxes of between 40 and 50 percent, the Estonian neighbors are only charging between 22 and 24 percent, and then want support from EU funds to fix their fiscal problems.... 

Monday—October 20, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Donn Nelson, the American who helped coach the Lithuanian basketball team that recently won the European Championships, will reportedly be granted Lithuanian citizenship, a Texas newspaper reported. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Nelson, the Dallas Mavericks' president of basketball operations, was told about the government's surprise decision by the Lithuanian ambassador to the United States. The 41-year-old Nelson, who is said to speak passable Lithuanian, was also Lithuania's assistant coach when it won bronze medals at the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Lithuania won the European Championships for the first time since 1939 in September, beating favored Spain 93-84. 

Friday—October 17, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) A major movie based on the sinking of the MS Estonia and staring Donald Sutherland opened across Germany this week; it is expected to be distributed worldwide in coming months. The film plays fast and loose with the known facts, depicting the Estonia as having been sunk by an explosion set by Russian agents who wanted to foil a weapons-smuggling operation. 
       The Estonia sank in stormy seas en route from Tallinn to Stockholm in September, 1994. Over 800 of 1000 passengers perished in the accident, considered Europe's worst maritime disaster after World War II. Investigators blamed the tragedy on poorly built bow door locks that gave way under the strain of powerful waves. 
       Some conspiracy theorists have long suggested that someone, possibly organized crime gangs, may have purposely sunk the Estonia in order to conceal contraband smuggling across the Baltic Sea. 
       Other theories include one that the Estonia hit a Russian submarine or that secret Swedish military weapons exploded on board. Some have suggested a massive conspiracy by the U.S. and Swedish governments to cover up the true cause of the shipwreck.
       Investigators, however, have scoffed at the alternative accident theories; they say no single survivor, for instance, has ever reported hearing an explosion on board the Estonia the night it sank. "The only theory left is that it was sunk by a UFO," said Uno Laur, an Estonian investigator. 
       (For a detailed, dramatic account of the sinking of the MS Estonia, see here.)

Tuesday—October 14, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) A highly decorated Soviet war veteran has been named as a suspect in the deportation of Estonians to Siberia in the 1940s—one of the highest profile figures ever targeted in Estonia's decade-long quest to bring Stalinist-era agents to trial. Arnold Meri, 84, is suspected of helping to deport over 260 purported opponents of the Soviet regime from Estonia's Hiiumaa Island in 1949. He is thought to have played a role in organizing and overseeing the deportations on Hiiumaa, seen at the time as a bastion of anti-communist sentiment. Meri has strongly denied the accusations.
       Estonia has convicted over half a dozen ex-officials, though most were low-level agents, carrying out the orders of those farther up the chain. Meri, however, was a well-known figure in Soviet Estonia, having once received the Order of Lenin—the Soviet Union's highest national award—for fighting in the Red Army during World War II. He also held several top posts in government, including as chief adviser to the Soviet Estonian Minister of Education.
       He is the cousin of recent Estonian President Lennart Meri, who was deported himself when he was just 12—with his mother and father. The ex-president is an outspoken supporter of the proceedings against ex-agents, saying the main aim is to shed light on the dark Stalinist era.
       If he is eventually charged and convicted of crimes against humanity, Arnold Meri would face a maximum sentence of life in prison—though most convicted officials have received suspended sentences.
       Several Kremlin officials have already sharply criticized the legal moves against Meri.
       (See related story, Train No. 293.)


Friday—October 10, 2003 
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Judges convicted two former Stalinist agents in Estonia Friday, handing them eight-year suspended sentences for taking part in the deportation of hundreds of men, women and children to Siberia over five decades ago. Judges said August Kolk, 78, and Pyotr Kislyi, 82, helped round up the purported opponents of the new communist regime on Estonia's island of Saaremaa in March 1949, several years after the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic Sea nation. The victims were loaded onto ferries and then cattle trains for the 2,000-kilometer journey to northern Russia. In total, some 20,000 Estonians were forcibly exiled that same month to Siberia, where many perished in the harsh conditions. 
       The trial at the island's Saar County Court in Kuressaare was watched closely by the island's close-knit, 40,000 residents, many of whom had relatives who were deported or were deported themselves. The proceedings started last year as one of the biggest trials of its kind, with eight suspects facing the court together. But the number of accused dwindled after six of the men, all in their 70s and 80s, were deemed too ill to stand trial.
       Kolk and Kislyi, who maintain their innocence, said they would appeal Friday's verdict. Both argued that, while they may have been involved in carrying out deportations, they did not break any laws in effect in the Soviet Union at the time.
      Over half a dozen former Soviet agents have been convicted in Estonia, where officials say the main aim is to shed light on the Stalinist period—not to mete out stiff punishments. Only one convicted agent, Karl-Leonhard Paulov, was ever jailed; the 77-year-old died in 2002 after serving a year of an eight-year term. 
       Moscow, however, has consistently denounced the trials as revenge against ailing old men, some of whom, Russia alleges, are Soviet war heroes.

Wednesday—October 8, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Estonia and Lithuania fared comparatively well in an annual index released this week that ranks countries from the least to most corrupt, though Latvia came through with less than flying colors. The Transparency International index put Estonia 33rd and Lithuania 41st out of 133 nations ranked—while Latvia showed up in relatively embarrassing 57th place, behind the likes of even Belarus and Bulgaria. 
      The respected anti-corruption watch-dog talked to business people, analysts and members of the general public in the nations surveyed to come up with their rankings. In its points system, a score of 10 is considered "highly clean" and 0 is considered "highly corrupt." 
       Estonia received 5.5 points, Lithuania 4.7 and Latvia 3.8. 
       "All the Baltic countries—Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, although Latvia is still facing severe problems—are getting somewhat better," Miklos Marschall, Transparency International's executive director for eastern Europe, told Radio Free Europe. "Very slowly, but there is definitely an improvement." 
       Finland, Estonia's neighbor to the north, topped the list as the least corrupt country in the world; all the Nordic nations were ranked in the top ten. Bangladesh appeared at the bottom of the list. 
       The focus was on perceptions of how corrupt countries are, not on actual incidents of corruption. Spokesmen for the company have said that any score under 6.0 should be cause for concern in a country. 
       (For information about the survey and to see the full corruption index, see Transparency International's website at www.transparency.org.) 

Monday—October 6, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) French rock star Bertrand Cantat, who allegedly beat his actress-girlfriend Marie Trintignant to death this summer in Vilnius, is seeking to have the distribution of a new book that calls him a murderer withdrawn from circulation. The book, by Trintignant's mother Nadine, does not refer directly to Cantat anywhere—it simply refers to "the murderer" throughout, according to France's AFP news agency. The death of Trintignant was headline news in France for weeks and the drama has since remained the focus of public attention; Cantant's home was even burned down in France, apparently as an act of retribution by fans of the actress.  Cantat, who claims her death was an accident, is in a Lithuanian prison awaiting trial. His lawyers were expected to file suit against the new book, called My Daughter Marie, within the next several days.
       (For a full account of Trintignant's death, see Tragedy in Vilnius on this site.) 

Friday—October 3, 2003
STOCKHOLM (CITY PAPER) Laila Freivalds, appointed as the new Swedish Foreign Minister Friday, is a Swedish-Latvian who fled her homeland along with her family as Soviet troops invaded the country at the end of World War II. She replaces Anna Lindh, who was killed while shopping in Stockholm a month ago. Freivalds was a justice minister in previous Social Democratic governments. Thousands of people from the Baltic states, mainly from Estonia and Latvia, escaped to Sweden in the 1940s.
 
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) European Commission President Romano Prodi has reportedly backed a plan to build a major railway service running from Tallinn, through Riga and Vilnius to Berlin—in a bid to provide an efficient land-link from the Baltics to the EU. The Baltic states, which are slated to join the EU in May, currently have no single train connection from Europe—or, for that matter, one that runs regularly between the three Baltic capitals. "The construction of this railway branch will become an accomplishment for the entire Baltic Sea region and will help reduce the gap in the region's economic development," Lithuania's President Rolandas Paksas was quoted as saying after speaking with Prodi by phone this week. 
       Earlier, the long-dreamed-about line, dubbed Rail Baltica, was not on the EU list of priority transportation projects, and Prodi reportedly said he will now lobby for its inclusion. The EU is expected to make a final decision around the end of this year. 
       The plan, which Baltic leaders have widely signed on to, involves replacing Soviet-era tracks, then installing modern electric trains that can travel 200 kilometers per hour from Estonia's capital to Berlin in just seven hours.
       While these sea-coast nations have all now approved referendums on joining the EU, traveling from what will be the outer northeastern edge of the European bloc to the center of business and cultural life on the continent remains cumbersome, time consuming and costly—leading many people here feeling isolated. Advocates say the new line could foster EU goals of bringing Europe together—economically and culturally. 
       There is no regular passenger or freight train traffic from the Baltic countries to Western Europe, and car or bus travel from Tallinn to Berlin via the mostly single-lane, poorly lit Baltic highways can take 20 hours or more. Many locals also consider flights prohibitively expensive. A plane from Tallinn to Berlin can cost over 500 dollars—more than average monthly wages here. Officials said tickets on the new train would cost half that.
       Rail Baltica would run some 1,500 kilometers from Tallinn to Berlin. The project—five years in the planning by Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians—has also been introduced to officials in Poland, through which the train would also have to run. Poland reportedly reacted favorably. (Finland, which could also put the new route to good use, has also been involved in talks.)
       Officials say they hope the project could be completed in 12 years. It would take a decade to lay the EU-standard, 1435-millimeter-wide track—which would replace the wider, 1520-millimeter track favored by Soviet engineers. 
       Proponents say the potential economic benefits are clear, arguing that it would increase cargo traffic and tourism. Tourism officials, especially in Latvia and Lithuania, have complained for years that there were not enough cost-effective ways for tourists to get here; the vast majority of visitors to Estonia arrive by ferry from Finland.
       Most Baltic trade with Western Europe—including of Russian oil en route through the Baltic states to Western markets—is done through seaports. Because of a lack of lines, there is little trade with the West by rail. (A large amount of Baltic trade with Russia is conducted by rail, thanks to the Soviet-built networks that run east.)
       The price tag, a whopping 1 million dollars per kilometer of track, would be beyond the means of Baltic governments. Without the EU's help in constructing the 1-billion-euro plus line, it will almost certainly not be completed. 

Thursday—October 2, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Lithuania has registered the highest half-year GDP growth figure in the Baltics states, of nearly 8 percent. It seems on track for annual growth of around 8 percent, or possibly higher, which would give it one of the highest GDP rates of any country in Europe. Latvia and Estonia, which have grown faster in previous years, are looking at growth figures of closer to 5 percent.

Tuesday—September 30, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Patriarch Alexy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, ended his first visit to Estonia in ten years Tuesday—a five-day trip that appeared to signal a thaw in sometimes frosty relations between Russia and Estonia. The visit of the 74-year-old Russian spiritual leader, however, did not appear to resolve all the outstanding issues surrounding the status of Orthodox faithful in Estonia, a dispute that once threatened to split Orthodox Christians worldwide. Just hours before leaving Estonia, however, Alexy did meet with a representative from the Turkey-based Patriarchate in Istanbul—which has sparred with the Moscow Patriarchate over who has rightful jurisdiction here—an unscheduled encounter that was a rare conciliatory gesture. 
       While Estonians viewed him as an emissary of the Russian government, Alexy mostly avoided overt politics—billing his visit as a homecoming. He was born and raised in Estonia during its first period of independence, when religion in Russia was suppressed by dictator Josef Stalin. "I feel Estonia's my homeland and these days here were very happy ones," Alexy, in flowing black robes and gripping a gold-handled staff, told journalists after meeting Estonian President Arnold Ruutel Monday. He spoke in Estonian, a vowel-rich language he learned as a child; Estonians also hailed both his appeal for Russians living in Estonia to all learn the national language and his call for them to be loyal to Estonia. Earlier, he said prayers over the graves of his mother and father in a cemetery in Tallinn and also held services at the hilltop, onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral—where 1,000 devotees squeezed into the 100-year-old church to hear the Patriarch say liturgy.
       Estonia's government rolled out the red carpet for Alexy, eager to signal to the Kremlin that any desire for better relations was mutual. By all accounts, Russian President Vladimir Putin also gave his blessing to the trip, even calling the Patriarch while he was still in Estonia to wish him well, Estonia's Postimees reported. Estonia in the past has accused Moscow of trying to bully it, while Russia has alleged that Estonia discriminates against its Russian minority. Ruutel held a lavish state dinner in the Patriarch's honor and even presented him with Estonia's Maarjamaa Cross, a high national award granted to just a handful of foreigners since the country regained independence during the 1991 Soviet collapse.
       The visit wasn't tension-free, however. 
       Some Estonians politicians blasted the decision to bestow the Maarjamaa Cross on Alexy, citing allegations that he once had close links to the Soviet secret police, the KGB; others expressed deep suspicion about his motivations, implying that he was acting in the interest of Russians bent on restoring control over the Baltics. Conspicuously absent from his own itinerary were services with thousands of Orthodox here, mostly ethnic Estonians, who a decade ago switched allegiance to the Turkey-based Patriarchate in Istanbul, formerly the Byzantine capital Constantinople—headed by Patriarch Bartholomew. Ethnic Russians stayed loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate—headed by Alexy. In a strongly worded statement in 1996, Alexy decried what he said was the "tragic division of Orthodoxy" caused Bartholomew accepting the Estonians under his wing. Many Estonians believers had argued that Alexy was too close to the Kremlin and that they didn't trust him. That year, Alexy went so far as to prohibit Russian clergy from holding services anywhere in the world with clergy subordinate to Bartholomew _ though within several weeks he rescinded what at the time came close to prompting a full-blown Orthodox schism. 
       As he arrived in Estonia last week, Alexy reportedly rejected suggestions that he preside over a joint service for all Orthodox—as a way to help heal lingering bitterness between the two Orthodox branches here—and between the Moscow- and Turkey-based Patriarchate's. But in a surprise move, Alexy did accept in invitation to sit down with the head of the Estonian-dominated Orthodox Church in Estonia, Metropolitan Stephanos. "I invited him and there was no answer at first, but at least, at least at the last moment, he came to see me," Stephanos said. "It was very positive that we had contact _ and for a full hour. We could explain our difficulties." "I said to the Patriarch that, in the future, I hope we find a solution to our problems," he added.
        Tempers had already eased—even before Alexy's visit to Estonia. The two branches of the Orthodox church in Estonia last year took steps to address disputes over rights to scores of churches and hundreds of acres of land—though Alexy said more needed to be done to resolve the complex, historically based disagreements over property. 

TALLINN (CITY PAPER) An International Monetary Fund official is the prime suspect in the theft of a 200-year-old Chinese porcelain exhibit from a museum in Estonia over the weekend. The woman, whose name was not released, was arrested just hours after the reported theft of the intricately painted, red- and blue-colored dish—valued at around 1000 dollars—as her plane from Tallinn, landed in Denmark Saturday, according to Estonian police spokeswoman Kadri Palta. The IMF confirmed the woman worked for the organization, though it declined to comment on whether she had been in Estonia on official IMF business.
      Surveillance photos published in Estonian newspapers Wednesday showed a neatly dressed woman with short black hair walking into an exhibit room at Tallinn's Mikkel Museum, reaching up, unhooking the frisbee-sized plate from a wall and slipping it under her coat. Museum workers noticed the item was missing only 30 minutes later, after the suspect called and then left in a taxi. Security located the taxi company she used and traced her to a local hotel—though she'd already checked out and boarded a Copenhagen-bound plane.
       The Estonians quickly alerted Danish customs, who searched the IMF employee's bags upon her arrival and found the museum piece. She reportedly denied knowing it was stolen, claiming she purchased it at an outdoor flee market in Tallinn, according to Estonia's Postimees daily.
       Estonian police said they would soon request the suspect's extradition from Denmark to stand trial here. If convicted of theft, she faces a maximum three-year jail sentence, Palta said. The plate was expected to be returned to Estonia within several days, the spokeswoman said. 

Tuesday—September 23, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonian opposition leader Edgar Savisaar has reportedly suffered a heart attack, though his condition at a Tallinn hospital wasn't clear. The 53-year-old, Tallinn's mayor and leader of the center-left Center Party, fell ill Monday night after returning from a trip to Germany, Estonian media said.

Monday—September 22, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Latvia on September 20 followed Estonia by decisively approving a referendum on European Union membership.  But a major government crisis followed on the tail of that triumph, with three of four ruling parties set to bolt Prime Minister Einars Repse's center-right administration.
       The margin of victory for the yes-camp in the referendum was virtually identical to that in Estonia six days earlier—with 67 percent of Latvian voters saying yes. Latvia, like Estonia, was seen as having at least an outside chance of spoiling the EU's expansion party by snubbing the powerful bloc. But in the end, the battle with EU skeptics was barely a contest at all. Some 70 percent of eligible Latvian voters turned out to cast ballots, one of the  highest figures for an election or referendum since the early 1990s. 
      Most of the arguments for and against the EU in Latvia were also similar to those made in Estonia, with supporters saying membership would boost living standards and security, and opponents contending that price rises and a loss of national sovereignty would be a consequence of entry.
       The pre-referendum campaign in Latvia was much lower key than in either Estonia or Lithuania (which approved its referendum by  91 percent margin in May), with few EU ads visible on the streets around the country. Leaders, however, did conduct a TV blitz in the days and weeks before the vote, warning that Latvia risked economic and political isolation in Europe if it did not join the bloc. Estonians were also anxious about the possibility of Latvia saying out of the EU, something that would have effectively  made the northern Baltic state an EU island next year—surrounded by non-EU states and, blocked by Latvia, with no direct access by land to borderless EU markets.
      On the home front in Latvia, however, politics interfered to somewhat sour the EU victory celebrations. Three of four of the coalition partners in Repse's government called on him to resign Monday, two days after the referendum, angrily criticizing him for what they said was his odd, uncommunicative, sometimes pushy management style. There have been signs of strain in the year-old coalition for months, though the partners decided to stick together until the referendum, so as not to jeopardize a yes vote.  
      The formation of any new government, following what now seems almost certain to be Repse's impending resignation, will be extremely difficult. There are eight parties in the 100-seat parliament and none has even close to a majority. Deep personal animosity between party leaders, even among those on the same side of the political fence, will also make a new coalition deal painful to hammer out.

Wednesday—September 17, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Lithuanian basketball is back on top of the world, well, at least of Europe—after winning the European Championships for the first time since the then-dominant Lithuanians won in 1939 and 1937. The Sunday victory over favored Spain by a comfortable 93-84 margin prompted displays of euphoria in the streets of basketball-crazed Lithuania, which has long been to European basketball what Indiana is to the United States. Along the way, Lithuania beat the likes of France and also Latvia—by just one point.
       By making it to the finals, Lithuania automatically qualified for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where they will be favorites for a medal. They had only one NBA player at the European championships in Sweden, but could have as many a three in Athens—should twin towers Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who plays for Cleveland, and Robertas Javtokas, who plays for San Antonio, be fully fit to play by then. 
       One ESPN analysts waxed poetically about what he described as the Lithuanians' "Princeton-style basketball," who are "loaded with sharp-shooters who need just a little bit of daylight to knock down a 3-pointer" and "who rarely make mistakes." And Lithuanian fans, he went on, "are the rowdiest fans in the world. They blow ear piercing whistles that sound like a massive swarm of killer bees from the jump ball to the final buzzer—but only when the opponents are on offense."
       Since independence, Lithuania has won a clutch of bronze medals at the Olympics. During Communist rule, Lithuanians made up the bulk of the gold-medal-winning Soviet teams, and they also comprised the core of the Soviet teams that won the European Championships eight straight times starting in 1957. Many considered Lithuania one of the chief pioneers of European basketball before the war—at a time when few of the large countries on the continent paid the sport much heed. 

Monday—September 15, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonia today is more firmly rooted in the West than ever after decisively approving a referendum on European Union membership Sunday—fulfilling what, barely a decade ago, seemed like an impossible dream. One word, "Yes!", filled the entire front page of Monday's Postimees newspaper. In an editorial, the Estonian daily said the result would be particularly gratifying for the many Estonians who knew the "the atrocities of war and the hell of totalitarianism" in the 20th century. The Paevaleht daily published a drawing of a sun, dotted with stars from the EU's flag: "The EU sun, shining on us now," read the caption beneath.
       Delighted Estonian leaders said the 67 percent yes vote marked the dawn of a new age for the country, which, for most of the past 800 years, has been sucked by force into one power bloc after another. "Estonia has returned, for good, to Europe," Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts told a news conference Sunday night—after cheering in the result at a party at the Scotland Yard pub in Tallinn. "Spring has arrived in Estonia." "This decision will guarantee the future of Estonia," a smiling Kristiina Ojuland, the country's Foreign Minister, concurred as the victory for EU proponents became clear. "In the dark days of its history, Estonia experienced first-hand what the Iron Curtain did to Europe," said the head of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, in a statement congratulating the Baltic Sea nation. "Now it can harvest the fruits of a united Europe."
      Some commentators sounded a sober note Monday, saying EU-bound Estonia still faced a host of social and economic problems, including a growing gap between rich and poor. One cartoon showed a man staring bewilderedly into his wallet a day after voting yes to the EU. "That's funny," he says, "it's just as empty today as it was yesterday."
       Estonia is now slated to enter the EU as a full member next year—along with 9 other candidates; it is also scheduled to join the U.S.-led NATO alliance around the same time. Parts added that Estonia must now learn how to make a positive contribution to mighty power blocs, that, for the first time in its history, it has chosen to join voluntarily. "Estonia will have to become an active, small nation—one that also knows how to stand up for its own interests," he said. Parts also said Estonia should not shrink from making its mark in the bloc—despite being one of the smallest new members. "Estonia can come out with initiatives to reduce red tape and to liberalize the economy and so on," he was quoted as telling Postimees. Others said Estonia, in the EU, would be more ideally positioned than ever to serve as a trade-transit zone between the West and Russia.
       Some 33 percent voted no to the EU Sunday, the Central Election Commission reported with 100 percent of the vote counted. Some 63 percent of 865,000 eligible voters cast ballots, though there was no minimum turnout requirement.
       Twelve years ago, it looked like it would take decades for Estonia to meet EU requirements. The economy was in free-fall—with annual inflation topping 1000 percent, and Russian troops, remnants of a 50-year Soviet occupation force, still at hundreds of bases here. But radical open-market reforms were implemented immediately after communism unraveled, and Estonia quickly gained the reputation as the most successful of the 15 former Soviet republics. Growth boomed and inflation was slashed, standing now at just under 5 percent.
       At times in recent months, Estonian opinion polls suggested lukewarm support for membership—raising at least the possibility that Estonians could snub the powerful European club. The government and businesses, spooked by the prospect of missing out on seamless access to lucrative EU markets, pulled out the stops—and campaign cash—to ensure victory. Pro-EU forces argued passionately that EU entry would boost living standards for most and, in the case of the elderly, at least for their children and grandchildren.
       Both sides sometimes resorted to scare tactics.
       Many pro-EU ads raised the specter that Estonia's erstwhile ruler Russia could re-exert its influence if the nation stayed out of mainstream Europe. One refrain from EU backers was that "a no to the EU is a yes to Russia." Opponents warned the EU will force Estonia to abandon it low-tariff, low-tax system that has helped it achieve years of impressive economic growth, at or above 5 percent. At an anti-membership rally before the vote, one protester said Estonians were about to lose their identity within the bloc; he held aloft a placard decrying the birth of the "Euro-Stonian."
       One key figure in the no camp, Igor Grazin, said he was convinced that any celebrations would eventually give way to deep regret. "EU membership may not be an immediate disaster, but the realization will come later—when people begin to realize that they've bought a ticket on the Titanic," he said. "Even the Titanic set sail, at first, with lots of dancing and merry making."

Wednesday—September 10, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Baltic entry into the European Union, planned for next year, could improve what have often been severely strained diplomatic and trade relations with neighboring Russia, officials in the Baltic states say. Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts said Wednesday, just days before a Sept. 14 referendum on EU membership, that his country's entry into the mighty European bloc could help consign historical anxieties—dating back centuries—to the past. "It'll make us feel more secure, and it'll give us more stature," said Part, speaking at his office in Tallinn, near a large orthodox cathedral that once symbolized Russian power here. "And Russia will see we're not a bad country—just a normal European state."
       Upcoming, EU referendums in Estonia and Latvia—on Sept. 20—should pass, though not by nearly the 90-percent-yes margin of the May referendum in the third Baltic state, Lithuania. The Baltics, along with seven other candidate, are slated to enter the EU in May, 2004. Since the Soviet collapse restored their independence in 1991, all Baltics have complained at times about what they've described as Russian bullying. Moscow, in turn, has often accused Estonia and Latvia of discriminating against their large Russian-speaking minorities.
       Recent Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Ilves said Russia won't want to jeopardize its all-important trade and diplomatic relationship with the EU—and so could be expected to avoid direct confrontations with the Baltic states in the future. "For 12 years, Russia has constantly exerted political and economic pressure on the Baltic states, especially Latvia," he was quoted as telling Estonia's Postimees daily. "I presume that after Estonia joins the  EU, Russia will abandon its harsh, arrogant policies ... it will soften."
       Age-old trepidation about Russia among Balts is also likely to wane. Lingering fears is illustrated by one pro-membership advertisement in Estonia, trying to convey that EU accession will offer protection from Russia: It lists the half-dozen times neighboring Russia has waged war on Estonia, starting with Ivan the Terrible's invasion in 1558. "Before, we were too weak to deal with Russia directly on our own," said Marko Mihkelson, chair of the Estonian parliament's foreign affairs committee. "In EU and NATO, we're not alone anymore. That'll make our politicians less emotional in dealing with Russia. That helps."
       Changing mindsets could also boost trade. Before the Soviet Union unraveled, the vast majority of Baltic exports went to Russia. Today, less than 10 percent do, with EU states now accounting for over 80 percent of Baltic trade. Legislators have complained for years about double tariffs imposed by Moscow on Estonian exports to Russia, saying they've stifled trade. Mihkelson said they'd be dropped automatically when Estonia enters the EU—according to EU-Russian trade pacts. Even doubling the Baltics' now relatively modest trade with their giant neighbor could prove a boon to the small but already economically dynamic Baltic states _ who saw growth near or above 5 percent for several years straight and who have aspirations to become so called Baltic Tigers.
       The Russian bear could also profit. "I recently talked to Russian officials in towns near Estonia," said Mihkelson. "They're definitely eager to see Estonia in the EU, to see the EU border so close. They know this will create great business opportunities for them." Russian investors, already present here, are likely to be further enticed by the prospect that the nearby Baltics can provide seamless, duty-free access to the whole EU.
       Ilves said EU membership for the Baltics, with their long if troubled history with Russia, would also mean displacing a nearby Nordic nation as the acknowledged authority on the East. "Finland," after the Baltic states join the bloc, said Ilves, "will no longer be the Russian expert to which the EU turns."
 
Friday—September 5, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) An Estonian journalist has been blacklisted by the country's media after admitting he fabricated whole interviews with stars of world literature, film and business for three years, including most recently with billionaire businessman George Soros. The bogus interviews by 21-year-old Argo Riistan also included ones with Czech writer Milan Kundera, English playwright Tom Stoppard and Hollywood director Milos Forman, all of which appeared in leading publications here. 
       The affair echoes the scandal that rocked the The New York Times this year following accusations that one of its reporters, Jayson Blair, frequently quoted people he never talked to and wrote stories from places he never visited.
       Suspicions were first raised after the freelance reporter offered the Soros interview to the local Sirp weekly. Its editors checked with Soros' office after wondering how the youth managed to get access to such a prominent person: they were told the interview never took place. Sirp broke the story about the phony Soros interview in its new edition this week, after which Riistan was widely quoted as admitting a string of fabrications—including one-on-one discussions with English novelists Ian McEwan, Alex Garland and Martin Amis that never happened. "When my fear receded, I understood that the only option was to fess up," Thursday's Postimees newspaper, which itself had published some of the interviews, quoted him as saying.
       The editor of the Eesti Ekspress weekly, in which several of Riistan's interviews ran, apologized to readers for unwittingly playing a part in the deception. Tiina Kaalep said her paper had been "naive" and that "the written word had been devalued" by Riistan's actions. Both Postimees and Eesti Ekspress said Riistan had apologized to them. 
       Riistan penned answers to his own questions or copied them from actual interviews he found on the Internet. Introductions to the pieces sometimes included colorful descriptions about pubs or offices where Riistan supposedly spoke with his VIP interviewees. He told Postimees he tried to arrange celebrity interviews, but invariably failed—then struck on the idea of making them all up by drawing on his own knowledge of art and business. 
       Expressions of alarm were also mixed with grudging admiration for Riistan, who, though he never went to college, became well-versed in world literature—reading original works in English, German, Russian and French. He also claimed to be able to read in Italian and Dutch. The Eesti Ekspress editor said flags were never raised because the involved, cogent questions and answers gave the interviews a strong sense of legitimacy. Kaaplep quoted some of her own staff as describing Riistan as "a genius." She said her newspaper had the option of suing Riistan for damages, but she didn't indicate whether Eesti Ekspress would actually take legal action. 

Monday—August 11, 2003
TALLINN (CITY PAPER) Estonia's main opposition party has come out against entry into the European Union—a dramatic decision that is expected to greatly intensify debate here in the run-up to next month's closely contested referendum on EU membership. The other leading parties in Estonia, including the three ruling parties, all argue that entering the European bloc will improve the nation's economic prospects and make the small, historically vulnerable country more secure.
       But the left-leaning Center Party, which controls 28 seats in Estonia's 101-seat parliament, became the first mainstream Estonian party to ever openly oppose the EU after delegates at its annual party congress voted over the weekend to adopt an anti-EU platform. Many delegates at Saturday's gathering, including several Center Party leaders, spoke passionately in favor of EU entry. But others argued Estonia would be dictated to by larger nations within the bloc and that membership would mean sharply higher food prices, hurting the poor. One EU skeptic held a placard outside party's meeting hall in Tartu that read, "EU entry is a project of the business and political elite." Another said, "No to EU price rises and bureaucracy."
       Center Party chairman Edgar Savisaar appeared to waver about whether or not he personally opposed EU membership, saying he would have preferred a party platform that remained neutral. But in a speech before delegates voted, he had harsh words for the EU, saying he saw parallels between it and the centralized Soviet Union. Out 803 Center Party delegates who cast ballots, 341 favored the anti-EU line, 235 wanted the party to support membership and 227 called for the party to take no stand at all. Estonia's referendum is on Sept. 14—followed by Latvia's six days later. The two Baltic states are widely pegged as the most EU skeptical of the 10 nations scheduled to join in 2004. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta have already approved EU referendums—most by wide margins. Cyprus is leaving its decision to lawmakers. Opinion poll figures have bounced up and down for months in Estonia and Latvia, with the percentage of EU backers sometimes edging over 60 percent, then dipping close to 50 percent—depending on the question asked. Most polls show at least 10 percent of voters are undecided.
       "A politician who compares the EU with the Soviet Union simply doesn't know what the EU is," pro-EU Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts was quoted as telling Monday's Eesti Paevaleht daily when asked about Savisaar's comments; he said he was still confident Estonia's referendum would pass. The Postimees newspaper said in a Monday commentary that the Center Party's anti-EU stance "could force the pro-EU camp to consolidate," boosting the EU side's prospects; it also said the move could lead to the Center Party's political isolation—especially if Estonia does enter the EU next year. 

Friday—August 8, 2003
VILNIUS (CITY PAPER) Lithuania seems set to follow Latvia and Estonia in launching an image campaign, or developing a so called country brand, to boost its profile in the rest of the world. The three Baltic states, sensitive about being misunderstood outside the region or not being known at all, have said that PR campaigns could help improve awareness of their countries, increasing investment and tourism. Lithuania's Respublika daily reported Friday that officials want to stress the country's modern, education-based economy rather than, as some suggest, spinning off a simpler, more specific item associated with Lithuania, like amber. 
       Lithuania's economic development agency will take the lead in the image campaign, which is in its earliest stages. The foreign, cultural and defense ministries, as well as the tourism department, will also be involved. 
       Estonia, the first to launch a fully funded image campaign several years ago, decided to focus on two main slogans—"Welcome to Estonia!" and "Estonia: Positively Transforming." Latvia held a major conference last year designed to help it formulate themes for its campaign, thought it hasn't yet launched the project in earnest. 
       Some critics say such marketing campaigns don't work, that they are mainly an indulgence of national governments—and have little impact on the rest of the world. 
       (For related features on this site, see Latvian Identity and Selling Estonia. )

Wednesday—August 7, 2003
RIGA (CITY PAPER) Some people, it seems, will do almost anything for a cheap drink. Latvian police said this week that they discovered a kilometer-long plastic pipe running from Russia to Latvia that was funneling illegally brewed spirits. Such moonshine, which is commonly purchased in the countryside across the Baltic states, is much less expensive than anything sold in stores. It is also far cheaper to make in Russia then in Latvia, so the black-marketeers involved stood to make a hefty profit, according to police. 
     The meticulously laid tubing was first spotted by Russian soldiers, who then tippled off their counterparts across the border; the Latvians then traced the makeshift pipeline to a faucet behind a cottage woodpile near Vilaka, in the northwest corner of Latvia. One Latvian resident was arrested Sunday, though it wasn't clear if Russian officials also detained and charged anyone. Other spirit-carrying pipes have been found around the Baltics in the past, but never one so long. European Union officials fear that similar kinds of smuggling from Russia could increase after the Baltics, as expect