International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Saturday, 04.02.2012, 06:57
For a small Estonia on the periphery with Russia, being a member of the European core is very valuable
03.02.2012A little more than a year ago, Estonia adopted the euro – at a time when the Greek crisis, and the Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian crises, were exposing the common currency’s weaknesses. Today, Estonia's economy is the fastest-growing in the currency bloc, consumers and businesses are paying lower interest rates, and business ties with Finland – a euro member state and Estonia's main trading partner – are tighter than ever, the Bloomberg Businessweek reports.
Keyword tags: Analytics, Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Investments, Markets and Companies
Russian academic wins Estonian citizenship 72 years late
03.02.2012A 92-year-old Russian professor has been granted Estonian citizenship, more than seven decades after a Soviet invasion voided his application, the Estonian government said Thursday.
Azubalis to take part in Munich Security Conference
03.02.2012Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis is paying a visit to Germany to attend the 48th Munich Security Conference on 3-4 February and the 17th extraordinary session of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) to mark the 20th anniversary in Plon Castle, Germany on the following day, reported BC the MFA.
Pavluts: Latvia waited 20 years for Russia to join WTO
02.02.2012We waited nearly 20 years for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization to ensure that its foreign trade regulations are in compliance with the principles and conditions of the global trade system, Latvian Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts announced during today's conference "Russia's accession to the WTO – business opportunities".
40% increase in number of Russian tourists in 2011
02.02.2012The number of Russian tourists using Latvian tourism services, including rural tourism, increased by 40% in 2011, Latvian Travel Agents and Operators' Association representative Kitija Gitendorfa told the business information portal Nozare.lv.
Latvia sets new record in number of visas issued to foreigners in 2011
In 2011, there was an 18 percent increase for visa requests at Latvian embassies and consulates abroad compared to 2010, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andris Teikmanis told members of the press yesterday during a special press conference.
MFA: Estonia must put pressure on Belarus authorities to prevent restricting of human rights
While meeting with Belarus opposition leader Ales Michalevic in Tallinn on February 1, 2012, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet noted that the European Union must continue its double-sided policy towards Belarus, which places restrictive sanctions in order to influence the regime while also supporting the democratic forces in Belarus, the Estonian Foreign Ministry reports.
Vopak plans to launch a locomotives assembly plant near Tallinn
Oil transit company Vopak E.O.S., which is testing a new GE locomotive that is assembled in Kazakhstan, plans to start producing the locomotives itself, LETA/Eesti Päevaleht writes.
Rail Garant starts construction of new Muuga container terminal
Russian railway company Rail Garant officially launched construction activities in the new Muuga container terminal on Monday that should double the container transport volume in Estonia when the whole terminal is completed by 2015, LETA/National Broadcasting reports.
Baltic NPP's in Kaliningrad operation postponed to 2017
The beginning of the operation of first reactor at Baltic nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kaliningrad region has been postponed from 2016 to 2017 as an operation licence was obtained behind time.
Lithuania and Ukraine discuss better freight transportation conditions
Lithuanian Minister of Transport Eligijus Masiulis conferred with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure Boris Kolesnikov, regarding the issues of bilateral cooperation in transport sector. The main topic of the meeting was the development and higher competitiveness of the railway project Viking, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport reports.
Azerbaijani envoy meets Lithuanian environment minister
Azerbaijani ambassador to Lithuania Hasan Mammadzade presented his credential to the foreign minister of this country, news.az reports.
Lithuania to seek Gazprom to revise its prices, but to reorganize the gas system
Lithuania is going to seek the energy company Gazprom to revise its prices, but is not going to comply with their demand not to reorganize the gas system according to the European standards.
Azubalis: strengthening the partnership between the Nordic and Baltic countries is a long-term task
On 25 January during the round table discussion on the draft strategy "Lithuania 2030" at the Seimas, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis emphasized that the strengthening of the partnership between the Nordic and Baltic countries was a long-term task, which comprised joint solution of energy and transport problems, and the creation of the region's information space, reported BC the MFA.
Latvian Foreign Ministry: NATO's missile defense system is just that – a defense system
The Latvian Foreign Ministry, commenting recent news that Russian intends to deploy ''Iskander'' missiles in its Kaliningrad territory, which borders the Baltics, reminds that NATO's missile defense system is just that – a defense system.
The europact: outcomes for the Baltic States 
