Tuesday—September 28, 2004
10 Years from M/S Estonia Disaster
Estonia commemorates tenth anniversary of M/S Estonia ferry catastrophe. 852 people, mostly Estonians, Swedes and Finns, died when the Estonia ferry sank in stormy seas in the early hours of September 1994 on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm in the largest peacetime maritime catastrophe in the Baltic Sea. Just 137 people were saved.
On Tuesday at noon a memorial service takes place at the Rannavärava hill in Tallinn by the monument dedicated to the tragic event. Estonian prime minister Juhan Parts will attend the ceremony.
The Tallinn Cinema House will show documentaries about the catastrophe Tuesday evening as well as the feature firm Baltic Storm.
Estonia’s national television ETV has prepared for Tuesday evening a new documentary “Disturbed Years”, which will focus on the attitudes of Estonia’s neighboring states to the catastrophe.
Other articles on City Paper’s web-site about Estonia disaster: The chronology of the disaster here, haunting memory here and one of the survivor’s, Risto Ojassaar’s story here.

Imprisoned French rock star to fly home on Tuesday
French rock star Bertrand Cantat, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in Lithuania for murdering his girlfriend, will fly back home to France tomorrow morning to serve his sentence at home, the Lithuanian Police Department confirmed on Monday.
Cantat, 40, former lead singer of Noir Desir, seriously injured Marie Trintignant, an actress, during a quarrel in a Vilnius hotel in July last year. Trintignant, 41, fell into a coma and died a week later.
More of the tragedy here.

Monday—September 27, 2004
Arsenals Film Festival Ended Yesterday
The annual film festival in Riga ended with the top award going to Canadian director Guy Maddin for his movie “The Saddest Music In The World”. He took home a USD 10,000 prize and a bag full of freshly-shorn wool. Two prizes went to Latvian director Laila Pakalnina’s “Bus” for best documentary and best Baltic film. The best feature film of the Baltics is Sulev Keedus’ film “Somnambulism” from Estonia.

Meeting of Baltic Presidents Postponed
The trilateral meeting will not be held because President Vaira Vike-Freiberga could not coincide the dates offered by the Lithuanian president. In October, Vike-Freiberga will be in Kazakhstan and Spain. Several high-ranking officials will visit Latvia next month, and the Latvian leader will also travel to Rome to sign the European Union Constitution.

Carmen Kass to Lead World Chess Federation
Estonian Federation of Chess hopes that their current president, world-wide known super-model Carmen Kass, will in two years time lead the World Chess Federation. Right now her task is to bring the Chess Olympics of 2008 to Estonia. Carmen Kass spends her free time playing chess and solving tasks over the Internet.

Friday—September 24, 2004
The Strike of Locomotive Drivers continues
Estonian locomotive drivers’ strike started yesterday morning and the number involved in the strike is rising every day. The locomotive drivers and the employer Eesti Raudtee have not yet come to an agreement. Locomotive drivers demanded bigger hourly wages. The rail transport so far has not been affected by the strike, substitute drivers and bus traffic are used instead.

Wednesday—September 22, 2004
Looking for a 160 Good Men
Estonian defense forces have begun the year’s biggest recruiting campaign ever. They are looking to fill 160 cadet positions in the scout battalion. Some advertisements feature the adult toys the cadets will come into close contact with: Mercedes G Wagons, assault rifles, and camo fatigues.

Earthquake in Baltics
A 4:39 p.m. yesterday, two earthquake tremors originated from the epicenter of Kaliningrad which were felt in every Baltic state. The tremors registered 5.3 on the Richter scale in Kaliningrad and closer to 3 in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Tuesday—September 21, 2004
Mr. Kalashnikov Extends his Brand
Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47 and resident of Lithuania, introduced his namesake vodka in London, Monday.

Received Like a Rockstar
69-year old Luciano Benetton visited his Tallinn store today. He was met by a small army of reporters and photographers. He’s slated to visit Latvia and Lithuania, as well.

Monday—September 20, 2004
Vike-Freiberga to address UN
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will address the United Nations General Assembly today in New York. The Latvian President is also scheduled to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, German Foreign Affairs Minister Joschka Fischer, and U.S. President George W. Bush.

Lithuania PM says Lithuania-based Chechen web-site must go
Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas stated that the Lithuania-based Chechen web-site kavkazcenter.com should be shut down.
Brazauskas believes the Chechen internet site causes religious and national tension and draws negative public reaction. Lithuania’s State Defense Council decided to take legal action to shut down the website. The site is hosted on a server located in an apartment in the Lithuanian countryside.
The website featured an address by Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev and claimed responsibility for the hostage-taking that led to more than 330 deaths in Beslan, Russia. The website also said that Chechens put a $20-million-dollar price on the head of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, Rimantas Sidlauskas, Lithuania’s ambassador to Russia, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs where Russia urged that Lithuania close down the web-site.

Radioactive hundred-dollar bill at Vilnius Airport
A Bank of Lithuania shipment of money containing a radioactive $100 bill was seized at Vilnius International Airport Thursday. US government-financed stationary measuring equipment detected the banknote. The Radioactivity Safety Center was told to dispose of the confiscated banknote as radioactive waste.

Friday—September 17, 2004
Latvia’s Emsis Prevails
The National Harmony Party (TSP) motion to express no confidence in the Indulis Emsis-led minority government failed. Only TSP and New Era (JL) voted against the government.

But How is George Soros Involved?
The NGO,”Different Politics” [Cita politika], will be re-named “New Politics” [Jauna politika]. Riga Deputy Mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs, head of the party, hopes to expand Latvia-wide.

Ryanair Adds Riga-Stockholm Route
The Irish airline announced plans to add service to Stockholm in 2005. Ryanair round-trip plus ground transportation to downtown Stockholm will cost 46 lats. Latvia’s airBaltic also services Stockholm, a ticket currently priced at 49 lats.

Lithuania Education Reformer Presented UNESCO Medal
Dr. Meile Luksiene, a reform architect of the Lithuanian education system, was awarded the Jan Amos Comenius UNESCO medal. The medal has been awarded to 60 people in the world. Dr. Luksiene was awarded the medal in Geneva, Switzerland.

Thursday—September 16, 2004
No-Confidence Drama in Latvia
The Latvian Saeima will hold a no-confidence vote against Indulis Emsis’ government today, but it is likely the government will remain in power due to disunited opponents. National Harmony Party (TSP) and New Era, which combined hold 35 of 100 seats in the Latvian parliament, have said they will vote against the government. The ruling coalition with its 47 seats will vote in favor of the current government.

Dual Citizens Not Eligible for High Latvian Office?
The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee passed a bill banning dual nationals from holding 23 top posts in Latvian public office. The bill was passed in committee on its first reading. The Saeima must now approve the committee decision.

Budget Travelers Take Note!
Tallink sold over 2,500 tickets to Finland at 15 kroons each during its one-day celebration of the company’s tenth anniversary. Normal ticket price is 50 kroons. This news comes too late for most CITY PAPER readers to benefit-so please note the next item.

airBaltic begins Vilnius-Tallinn Flights
The Latvian airline airBaltic has launched a direct connection between Vilnius and Tallinn. One-way tickets begin at 110 litas (approx. 32 EUR).
AirBaltic president Bertolt Flick noted, “airBaltic has become the first and only airline that offers regular trips between all Baltic capitals.”

But what about Coca-Cola and Snickers?
The European Union free school milk program does not support the distribution of yogurt and kefir in schools, and so Estonian children may soon go without. The EU program, to be launched October 1, allows schools to provide only milk, unflavored yogurt and sour milk to students.

Wednesday—September 15, 2004
The Love Boat in Tallinn: 286,000 Cruise Passengers Next Year
Next summer, 309 cruise ships are slated to deposit 286,000 wealthy visitors in Tallinn.
This year, Tallinn received 231 cruise ships with 210,827 passengers. The Port of Tallinn’s annual capacity is around 350 cruise ships.
In St Petersburg, 260 cruise ships docked. Copenhagen accepted 258, Stockholm 208, and Helsinki took 200.
Currently, cruise ships spend half days in Tallinn and passengers spend a few hours in town. Tourism officials believe the planned opening of the Danish Tivoli amusement park in Tallinn will lead to cruise ships overnighting in Tallinn

Tuesday—September 14, 2004
NATO will Continue to Patrol Baltic Airspace
General Harald Kujat, Head of the NATO Military Committee, said NATO will continue to patrol Baltic airspace despite the fact that Great Britain refused to send fighters and staff to Lithuania.
Currently, the Danish are patrolling Baltic airspace. Five Danish F-16s, 6 pilots, and 60 technicians who have been serving at Zokniai Airfield near Siauliai since July will complete their tour at the end of September.
The British were to replace the Danes, but the British claim the runway at Zokniai Airfield is too short for the country’s F3 Tornado fighters.
General Kujat could not yet say who would replace the Danish troops.

Estonians Visa-free to New Zealand
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Philip Goff informed Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts that beginning in April, Estonians visiting New Zealand will not need visas.

Is it Because it Tastes Better in Plastic?
Beer in plastic (PET) packages has been increasing its Lithuanian market share. According to the Lithuanian Association of Brewers, sales of PET-packaged beer during the first eight months of this year accounted for 32.79 percent of total beer, versus 29 percent for the same period one year ago.

Monday—September 13, 2004
Ansip Replaces Atonen
Estonia’s new Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications is Andrus Ansip, Mayor of Tartu. Ansip replaces Meelis Atonen, who stepped down from his post after controversy over the government’s contract with Saaremaa Laevakompanii, the company operating ferryboats between the Estonian mainland and the larger Estonian islands.
Ansip will continue to live in Tartu where his family and friends reside. He will maintain a “bachelor’s” apartment in Tallinn.

Adamkus says EU Entry for Turkey should not be easier than for Lithuania
“Lithuania stands firm to the principle that future members of the EU must be facing the same requirements as the new ones,” President Adamkus said during his meeting with Turkey’s Vice-premier and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gulis on Sunday night.
Adamkus said Turkey should conform to the political and economic criteria of the EU membership approved during the Copenhagen summit.
Adamkus and Gulis also emphasized development of economic, cultural, and political links between Lithuania and Turkey.

Five new holocaust monuments to be erected in Estonia
On October 1, the first of five monuments dedicated to Estonian victims of fascism will be unveiled in Klooga where tens of thousands were killed during WWII. Four matching monuments will be erected, the first at the Metsakalmistu cemetery in Tallinn with the labor camps of Vaivara, Ereda, Kivioli, and Ida Virumaa following.
After the recent Lihula monument controversy, Estonian Jewish community leader, Cilja Laud, says she isn’t concerned that the five new monuments will increase tensions, but she doubts whether the prime minister would dare to hold a speech at the monument’s opening, Postimees writes. “We will ask the president to speak, but it would be good if Juhan Parts [Prime Minister] also said something,” said Laud. Laud criticized the fact that the Lihula WWII monument was erected and then removed in darkness “like thieves.”
An Estonian government spokesman said yesterday that a government representative will participate at the opening of the first monument in Klooga.

Friday—September 10, 2004
Bailey Nominated as new US Ambassador to Latvia
Kentucky Republican Catherine Todd Bailey has been nominated as the next United States ambassador to Latvia. Bailey is a philanthropist and major contributor to George W. Bush. She is to replace outgoing Ambassador Brian Carlson.

Lithuania Opens Beslan Survivor Relief Account
The Lithuanian Red Cross has opened an account at Vilniaus Bankas to support people affected by the hostage crisis in Beslan, Northern Ossetia.
Contribution information: Donations in the form of bank transfers should be marked “For Survivors of Beslan” LT 277044060000908211 at Vilniaus Bankas. The account will be open until October 6th of this year and then turned over to the Red Cross in Russia.

Latvia & Lithuania: Highest Suicide Rate in Europe
According to EU statistics, Lithuania and Latvia and first and second, respectively, in suicides in Europe. Today is marked the worldwide “Day Against Suicide.”

Euro Feminine in Latvia
The Latvian Academy of Sciences’ Terminology Commission has decided that in all official documents, the the Euro must be expressed in the Latvian language’s feminine case, “Eira.”

Thursday—September 9, 2004
Baltic Athletes’ Summary Results, Athens 2004
Below the table, click on the athlete for detailed information.
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States 35 39 29 103
2 China 32 17 14 63
3 Russia 27 27 38 92
4 Australia 17 16 16 49
5 Japan 16 9 12 37
6 Germany 14 16 18 48
7 France 11 9 13 33
8 Italy 10 11 11 32
9 South Korea 9 12 9 30
10 Great Britain 9 9 12 30
11 Cuba 9 7 11 27
12 Ukraine 9 5 9 23
13 Hungary 8 6 3 17
14 Romania 8 5 6 19
15 Greece 6 6 4 16
16 Norway 5 0 1 6
17 Netherlands 4 9 9 22
18 Brazil 4 3 3 10
19 Sweden 4 1 2 7
20 Spain 3 11 5 19
21 Canada 3 6 3 12
22 Turkey 3 3 4 10
23 Poland 3 2 5 10
24 New Zealand 3 2 0 5
25 Thailand 3 1 4 8
26 Belarus 2 6 7 15
27 Austria 2 4 1 7
28 Ethiopia 2 3 2 7
29 Iran 2 2 2 6
29 Slovakia 2 2 2 6
31 Taiwan 2 2 1 5
32 Georgia 2 2 0 4
33 Bulgaria 2 1 9 12
34 Jamaica 2 1 2 5
34 Uzbekistan 2 1 2 5
36 Morocco 2 1 0 3
37 Denmark 2 0 6 8
38 Argentina 2 0 4 6
39 Chile 2 0 1 3
40 Kazakhstan 1 4 3 8
41 Kenya 1 4 2 7
42 Czech Republic 1 3 4 8
43 South Africa 1 3 2 6
44 Croatia 1 2 2 5
45 Lithuania 1 2 0 3
46 Egypt 1 1 3 5
46 Switzerland 1 1 3 5
48 Indonesia 1 1 2 4
49 Zimbabwe 1 1 1 3
50 Azerbaijan 1 0 4 5
51 Belgium 1 0 2 3
52 Bahamas 1 0 1 2
52 Israel 1 0 1 2
54 Cameroon 1 0 0 1
54 Dominican Republic 1 0 0 1
54 Ireland 1 0 0 1
54 United Arab Emirates 1 0 0 1
58 North Korea 0 4 1 5
59 Latvia 0 4 0 4
60 Mexico 0 3 1 4
61 Portugal 0 2 1 3
62 Finland 0 2 0 2
62 Serbia and Montenegro 0 2 0 2
64 Slovenia 0 1 3 4
65 Estonia 0 1 2 3
66 Hong Kong 0 1 0 1
66 India 0 1 0 1
66 Paraguay 0 1 0 1
69 Nigeria 0 0 2 2
69 Venezuela 0 0 2 2
71 Colombia 0 0 1 1
71 Eritrea 0 0 1 1
71 Mongolia 0 0 1 1
71 Syrian Arab Republic 0 0 1 1
71 Trinidad and Tobago 0 0 1 1

Lithuania
Gold
Athletics - Men’s Discus Throw ALEKNA Virgilijus
Silver
Athletics - Women’s Heptathlon SKUJYTE Austra
Modern Pentathlon - Men ZADNEPROVSKIS Andrejus

Latvia
Silver
Athletics - Men’s Javelin Throw VASILEVSKIS Vadims
Gymnastics Artistic - Men’s Vault SAPRONENKO Evgeni
Modern Pentathlon - Women RUBLEVSKA Jelena
Weightlifling - Men’s +105kg SCERBATIHS Viktors

Estonia
Silver
Rowing - Men’s Single Sculls JAANSON Jüri
Bronze
Athletics - Men’s Discus Throw TAMMERT Aleksander
Judo - Men’s +100 kg PERTELSON Indrek

www.athens2004.com

Wednesday—September 8, 2004
With Sympathy

Over the last few days, Estonians have extended condolences to their Eastern neighbor by placing flowers at the Russian Embassy. The same has taken place at Russian embassies in Latvia and Lithuania.

Tuesday—September 7, 2004
Soros Conspiracy Theorists in Latvia
NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) conspiracy theorists in Riga suggested that billionaire George Soros attempted to overthrow the ruling government coalition via nongovernmental organizations.
On August 19th, Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons announced that the security police would begin to analyze Delna, the local chapter of Transparency International, and that billionaire financer George Soros was possibly behind its actions.
On August 27th, an interview followed with Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers in the Russian-language tabloid Vesti Segodnya. Slesers said Soros “wants to control the power in Latvia.” He also claimed that Delna and Latvian Television were effectively instruments under Soros’ control. “The goal is obvious - to overthrow the Cabinet of Emsis,” he said.
Andris Aukmanis, the head of Soros Foundation Latvia, said this was the first time government officials had openly attacked Soros.
Artis Pabriks, Foreign Minister, recipient of a past Soros grant, called the conspiracy “very original.”

Estonia’s Lihula Monument Removed
The Lihula monument, which was to commemorate Estonia’s WWII freedom fighters, was removed by police Thursday evening by order of the Estonian government.
Police used batons and pepper gas on a crowd of over 100 local residents. The locals threw stones at the removal crew and police vehicles, injuring the operator of the crane that was to put the monument into a truck. Eleven police and rescue department vehicles were damaged.
The monument depicted a soldier wearing German uniform and was, according to the government, illegal and “damaged the image of Estonia regardless of the goals pursued by its initiators.” A government statement stated, “The Estonian government does not consider it appropriate to built monuments that may be interpreted as an attempt to commemorate totalitarian regimes that had occupied Estonia.”
Upon unveiling, the monument had been condemned by Russian and Jewish interest groups.
The government expressed readiness to work with the local government in erecting a more appropriate monument.

New U.S. Ambassador in Estonia
United States Ambassador Aldona Wos presented her credentials to Estonian President Arnold Rüütel on September 2nd. Wos is the fifth U.S. Ambassador since Estonia regained its independence.
“My family’s history gives me insight into the horrors and hard choices of World War II and of Communist oppression,” Ambassador Wos said in her arrival speech at the Tallinn Airport. She was referring to her father, Paul Zenon Wos, who survived the Flossenburg Concentration Camp and is a former member of the Polish Home Army.
Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Wos was a practicing physician and active member of the Republican Party.
Ambassador Wos was born in Warsaw, Poland, but spent her childhood on Long Island, New York. She earned her medical degree at the Warsaw Medical Academy, and completed her internship and residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine in New York.
Ambassador Wos has been very active in fund-raising for the Republican Party in the United States. In 2001, she was appointed North Carolina State Chair of Women for Senator Elizabeth Dole, and organized numerous fundraising and other major events for Senator Dole. In 2003, she was appointed North Carolina Finance Co-Chair for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign.

McCain Lambastes Lukashenko
Excerpt from Senator McCain’s Statement at the press event with Latvian Foreign Minister and Belarusian Opposition Leaders, August 20, 2004:
“It is with sadness that I must contrast the Latvian success story with the tragic events unfolding now in Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko has manipulated the constitution to solidify his control. He has ordered the disappearances of opposition activists and journalists. He runs Belarus as if it were the Soviet Union, instilling a climate of fear, repression, and arbitrary rule. Under Mr. Lukashenko’s leadership, the government has routinely harassed, arrested, and physically attacked democracy advocates - individuals guilty of nothing more than speaking out against the dictatorship into which their government has descended.”

Can we get a piece of that action?
From an August 20th press release by the US Embassy in Vilnius:
President Adamkus and Ambassador Mull Announced a Symbolic Bet
On the morning of August 20, in the spirit of Olympic competition and in anticipation of the U.S.-Lithuanian Olympic preliminary round basketball match, President Valdas Adamkus and the Ambassador of the United States of America Stephen Mull announced a symbolic bet on their part.
Should the Lithuanian National team win, Ambassador Mull will present a case of American wine to President Adamkus. If Team USA is victorious, President Adamkus will give Ambassador Mull a case of Ðvyturys beer.