Singing Revolution in Washington, DC starting April 18
Opens April 18th - April 24th
at the E Street Cinema, Washington, DC
THIS IS OUR REMINDER THAT THE FILM OPENS THIS FRIDAY AND PLAYS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK!
If the film does well, the theater will extend the run.
A good turnout over the weekend is critical for this, so coming the first few days is helpful – if you can.
Please help spread the word about the film opening.
And feel free to bring additional friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, etc.
to see the film!
Filmmaker James Tusty will be there for Q&A after the 7:20pm show on Friday, April 18th.
Daily show times Friday 4/18 – Sunday 4/20 are: 11:30am 2:00pm, 4:30pm, 7:00pm, 9:40pm
March 24, 2008 - Where Europe Draws the Line
By Jackson Diehl, The Washington Post
Mikheil Saakashvili kicked off the second wave of freedom movements in formerly Communist Europe in 2003 when he strode into the Georgian Parliament, rose in hand. Now he's president, and his country and his revolution are in danger of being stranded between a weakening West and a surging Russia. Last week he came to Washington in the somewhat desperate hope that President Bush would spend some of his last diplomatic capital to defend the two European democracies born on his watch. More...
March 26, 2008 - Building strategic relationships
By Helle Dale/ washingtontimes.com
Building strong alliances is often a matter of listening to what your international partners have to say, and on your side, making efforts to explain your own position. It does not mean turning your own policy inside out where bedrock principles or national security are at stake. But where there is room for the resolution of differences and the accommodation of concerns, the effort will create a fountain of goodwill. Sticking the finger in the eye of people we are otherwise planning to ask for cooperation is clearly not the way to go.
These concepts are usually pretty obvious when viewed from the vantage-point of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., where dealing with foreign leaders is the order of the day. Particularly in the second half of the Bush administration, the need to reach out to allies has been clear, and efforts have been made to mend relationships. At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, this need is not nearly as apparent, as domestic concerns take precedent. The tension can sometimes make for baffling and contradictory policy. More...
March 19, 2008- Lithuania, U.S. sign memorandum on visa-free travel By TBT staff/ www.baltictimes.com
VILNIUS - Lithuania and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on Lithuania joining the visa waiver program in a major breakthrough to realizing the dream of visa-free travel to America.
The preliminary deal, signed by Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. Audrius Bruzga and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in Washington on March 17 is one of the main steps required for lifting visa requirements necessary for Lithuanian travelers. More...
March 17, 2008- DHS Signs Visa Waiver Program Agreements with Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania
“I applaud Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania for their leadership on these enhanced security measures, and I look forward to the day when their citizens can travel to the United States without a visa,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “In today’s interconnected world, facilitating travel between partner nations with a common focus on security is not only beneficial, it’s imperative. We’re fortunate to have strong ties with each of these countries, and with the European Union. As we move forward with other aspiring allies toward visa free travel, we will also continue to collaborate with the European Union, especially in areas where it has unique legal authority.” More...
March 14, 2008- Baltic-U.S. trips to be eased
By Svitlana Korenovska/ The Washington Times
Latvia and Estonia signed bilateral deals with the United States that will eventually allow tourists from the Baltic States to visit America without a visa.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed the necessary documents Wednesday with the Latvian foreign minister in Riga and with the Estonian internal affairs minister in Tallin.
The European Union is negotiating with the United States to expand the so-called visa waiver program with all 27 EU member states. More...
March 14, 2008- THE CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION MEETS WITH SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN’S FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS
Washington, DC --- On Thursday, March 13, 2008, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), comprised of 19 national organizations representing more than 22 million Americans, discussed a range of policy issues with presidential candidate Senator John McCain’s advisors, Randy Scheunemann, Director of Foreign Policy and National Security, and Stephen Biegun. Senator McCain's National Coalitions Director Aaron Manaigo also participated at the meeting. More...
March 11, 2008- Estonia, Latvia to sign US travel deals amid EU concerns
Estonia and Latvia will sign deals on Wednesday aimed at securing citizens visa-free travel to the United States, officials said, just ahead of an EU-US meeting on the controversial issue.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will visit the Estonian capital to sign the deal with Interior Minister Juri Pihl, ministry spokeswoman Kristina Leer said Tuesday.
Chertoff will also sign a similar deal in Riga the same day, Latvian President Valdis Zatlers told reporters.
The visa exemptions are expected to take effect before the end of the year after technical details are worked out, Zatlers said. More...
March 4, 2008 - CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION PHONE CONFERENCE WITH DR. RON ASMUS
Washington, DC – On March 3 representatives of the 19 member organizations of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) spoke via conference call with Dr. Ron Asmus, foreign policy adviser to Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The discussion, which was a follow-up to a meeting with Secretary Madeline Albright and Senator Clinton’s Campaign National Security Director, Lee Feinstein held last week in Washington, DC, touched upon numerous issues of concern to the member organizations of the CEEC.
The questions posed to Asmus touched on issues such as energy security in Europe and the United States, stability in the Baltics and the Caucasus, fostering of U.S. ties with the Central and East European region, as well as the assessment of Russia’s presidential elections and the situation in Belarus. More...
February 29, 2008 -CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN COALITION MEETS WITH OBAMA CAMPAIGN ADVISORS
Washington, DC–Today, representatives of the 19 member organizations of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) met with Anthony Lake, Ph.D., senior foreign policy advisor for Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Joining Dr. Lake, and facilitating the meeting, was Mark Brzezinski, also a well-known foreign policy expert. In his opening remarks, Anthony Lake touched on many important issues of concern to the member organizations of the CEEC.
Among the topics of discussion were NATO enlargement (especially in light of the upcoming Bucharest Summit in April 2008); the backsliding of democratic trends in the Russian Federation; and the Visa Waiver issue. In regards to NATO, Lake clearly stated that the enlargement process “reinforces democracy in all nations of Europe,” and brings all European nations together. Anthony Lake described the process itself as “not just of strategic importance [to the United States], but of morality, as well.” More...
February 27., 2008 - The Central and East European Coalition
(CEEC) met with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
advisor to the Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign on foreign policy issues.
Participating from JBANC were Marju Rink-Abel (President of the
Estonian American National Council, third from left), Ramunas
Kondratas (JBANC chairman and Lithuanian American Council,
sixth from left), and Karl Altau (JBANC, second from right).
Fair Treatment on Visas Announced
Washington, DC—On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), comprised of 19 national organizations representing more than 22 million Americans, discussed a range of policy issues with presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton’s advisor, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Also present at the meeting was Lee Feinstein, Senator Clinton’s Campaign National Security Director.
The meeting focused on key areas of concern for the CEEC, including Russia’s actions in the region, energy security and diversification, NATO enlargement, immigration and the visa waiver program, re-affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as other human rights issues. Lee Feinstein, speaking on behalf of Senator Clinton, reinforced the Senator's longstanding support for and co-sponsorship of the genocide resolution. More...
February 20, 2008 - UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
(HELSINKI COMMISSION) HOLDS BRIEFING WITH EDWARD LUCAS OF "THE ECONOMIST"
"..Well, thank you very much indeed, Cliff, for that introduction and the invitation. As a reporter in Washington, I very often sat in these seats. I didn't think I'd ever in my wildest dreams actually be sitting on this side of the table, and so I put on my NFC tie to show that this is a really serious and important occasion.
Thank you very much for inviting me.
It's a provocative title -- "The New Cold War" -- and it's particularly provocative for those of us -- and I guess there are many here -- who remember the last one. Cliff and I were both in our different ways involved in the struggle for freedom in Eastern Europe and to try and undermine communist rule there. And when we remember how bad it was then, it's not a comparison to draw lightly.
We had a complication that was military -- military and existential threat. We had missile-to-missile crises and other misunderstandings, which could have very easily meant the end of civilization on the planet. And it was global. It stretched to every corner -- planets don't have corners -- every corner of the map. There was this issue of complication. more..."
February 6, 2008 - Cabinet of Ministers honors PBLA’s Kukainis
Andris Straumanis, Latvians Online.
Jānis Kukainis, former chairperson of the World Federation of Free Latvians (Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība, or PBLA), has been awarded a Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Certificate of Recognition, a cabinet spokesperson announced Feb. 5 in Rīga.
Kukainis is receiving the recognition for his many years of service defending Latvia’s interests and for helping to preserve Latvian culture.
Kukainis served as head of the PBLA from 2002-2007. He also has been involved with other organizations, twice serving as chairperson of the American Latvian Association and twice as head of the Joint Baltic American National Committee. Born in Latvia in 1943, he now lives in Michigan.
Kukainis is one of several individuals who will receive certificates of recognition, the Cabinet of Ministers announced. For their work in the nation’s forestry industry, certificates have been awarded to Andrejs Nikuļcevs, Aija Fišere, Juris Matīss and Jānis Elmārs Rubens, all of Latvia. Also honored is Oskars Gerts, editor-in-chief of the official daily newspaper of the Latvian government, Latvijas Vēstnesis. More...
February 4, 2008 - Clinton Campaign Responds to JBANC Questionnaire
Washington, DC (JBANC) --- U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has responded today to a questionnaire sent by the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC). Her answers are given below.
JBANC sent questionnaires to the leading Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, asking each for their positions on key issues and concerns of the Baltic-American community. JBANC will disseminate responses from the other candidates as soon as they are received.
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JBANC Election 2008 Questionnaire:
1. What policy would you follow in U.S. relations with Russia given Russia’s increasing Soviet-style isolationism, anti-Western propaganda, and anti-democratic actions such as restrictions on a free media and return to a “one-party system”? How will you act to stem Russia's intimidation of neighboring countries, such as the Baltics, through boycotts, oil supply manipulation, cyber attacks, disinformation, and other means?
The list of issues that divides the United States and Russia is growing longer. In the heart of Europe, where we have worked hard since the end of the Cold War to bury old rivalries and hostilities, we are witnessing renewed disputes between Russia and many of its European neighbors, especially – but, sadly, not only -- the Baltic States.
Many of us had hoped that Baltic-Russian relations would improve after Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia joined NATO and the EU. Instead, Russia has stirred nationalist feelings against Estonia, used oil and natural gas as a political weapon in the Baltic Sea region (and more generally across Europe), attempted to block Western diplomatic efforts to keep peace in the Balkans, criticized nations that seek to join the NATO alliance, and made clear that it regards democratic breakthroughs and progress in other countries on its borders as a threat to itself.
More...
January 29, 2008 - JBANC Sends Questionnaire to U.S. Presidential Candidates
The questions posed to the candidates:
What policy would you follow in U.S. relations with Russia given Russia’s increasing Soviet-style isolationism, anti-Western propaganda, and anti-democratic actions such as restrictions on a free media and return to a “one-party system”? How will you act to stem Russia's intimidation of neighboring countries, such as the Baltics, through boycotts, oil supply manipulation, cyber attacks, disinformation, and other means?
Given the increasingly bold use of energy supply manipulation by Russia as a coercive measure to divide Europe and weaken NATO, what do you think U.S. policy should be to address this problem?
Do you support NATO enlargement?
Do you support expanding trade with and increasing investment in the Baltics? If so, what measures would you propose?
How would you improve U.S. public diplomacy in the Baltic countries? Would you favor more exchanges and people-to-people contacts? If so, how would you deal with the problems of obtaining visas and the implementation of visa-free travel from the Baltic countries to the United States?
President Bush's Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the US-Baltic Charter
January 16, 2008
I send greetings to those celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Charter of Partnership Among the United States and the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
A decade ago, the U.S.-Baltic Charter helped launch the Baltic states toward their goal of becoming full members of Europe and the transatlantic community. By partnering together, our countries demonstrated our commitment to achieve an integrated Europe in which the security and sovereignty of each nation would be realized.
In 2004, the NATO Alliance proudly welcomed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the transatlantic community, based on a commitment to freedom, security, justice, human rights, and free markets. Europe is now closer to being whole and free, and the success of these nations gives hope and support to all those who seek to lift themselves from fear and oppression.
On this occasion, we appreciate the peoples of the Baltic states who endured tyranny and struggled for independence. They earned their freedom through courage and perseverance, and today they stand with us as partners in this great alliance, contributing to our common security.
Laura and I send our best wishes on this important anniversary. May God bless you.
George W. Bush
January 16, 2008- Joint statement of the Presidents of the Baltic States
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.-BALTIC CHARTER
In a White House ceremony on January 16, 1998, the Presidents of the United States, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia signed the U.S.-Baltic Charter of Partnership. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, we recall the document as a historic political landmark in the relations between our countries.
With this Charter we set up a framework for cooperation that has ultimately helped us achieve the strategic goal of stability and security through NATO membership. It significantly enhanced U.S.-Baltic cooperation in political, security, and economic areas.
The partnership [based on common values and] continuously maintained between the United States of America and the Baltic States since 1922 is an intrinsic part of Baltic independence. The Charter was a consistent continuation of the U.S. policy of non-recognition of the forceful incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union as well as of political and practical support to the restoration of our independence. More...
January 16, 2008- The Baltic Model
By MARIS RIEKSTINS and RONALD ASMUS/ COMMENTARY/ The Wall Street Journal
RIGA, Latvia -- It is difficult to recall today the West's hostility in the early 1990s toward Baltic membership in NATO and the European Union. At a time when even embracing Poland was controversial, the aspirations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were considered nutty if not outright dangerous. Moscow's reaction was even worse.
Luckily, though, the West's sense of moral commitment and strategic needs prevailed. Just imagine what the region would look like today if Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn had not been allowed to join NATO and the EU in 2004? No doubt, there would be far less stability, security and prosperity.
One key steppingstone in that process was the U.S.-Baltic Charter signed 10 years ago today. As two of the negotiators of this document, we know how critical it was in securing NATO membership, which in turn was instrumental for EU accession. More...
December 20, 2007 - Belarusian opposition leader sentenced to prison
The Associated Press
MINSK, Belarus: A Belarusian opposition leader was convicted Thursday of violating the terms of his forced labor sentence and sentenced to 18 months in prison, a human rights activist in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic said.
The one-day trial of Artur Finkevich, a leader of the Young Front organization, was held in the eastern city of Mogilyov, where he is serving a two-year sentence of labor and internal exile for graffiti construed as criticism of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The court found Finkevich, 21, guilty of violating the terms of his sentence and of bad behavior, rights activist Inna Kulei told The Associated Press. He had faced a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Prison is more punitive than labor and internal exile, which requires convicts to live under supervision in a specific city and report to an assigned job, often manual factory labor, but usually allows some freedom of movement. More...
December 14, 2007 - Belarusian Activist Says Beating Linked To U.S. Trip
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
A Belarusian activist has told RFE/RL that his beating by police during a demonstration in Minsk is linked to his recent trip to Washington, where he met with the U.S. president and testified before a Congressional commission.
Following the incident, the United States has warned Belarus that it may extend sanctions against Belarus due to lack of progress in allowing democratic freedoms.
Zmitser Fedaruk, fresh from the U.S. trip last week, was beaten by police on December 12 while participating in a peaceful protest ahead of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witnesses have said the acting head of the Malady (Youth) Front was knocked unconscious by police and taken away from the rally in an ambulance. More...
Zmitser Fedaruk
(RFE/RL)
December 12, 2007 - Hastings Outraged By Merciless Attack On Belarus’ Young Front Leader
Zmitser Fedaruk
(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki
Commission) issued the following statement in response to news reports that
one of the Young Front leaders, 19-year-old Zmitser Fedaruk was beaten by
riot police during an otherwise peaceful demonstration in Belarus.
According to witnesses, Fedaruk was beaten and knocked unconscious by riot
policemen, then rushed by ambulance to the hospital. More...
December 7, 2007 - Leaders of Belarusian opposition meet with JBANC; BelSat-TV launched on December 10
Washington, DC (JBANC) --- A delegation of leading Belarusian opposition leaders
traveled to the United States last week to meet with President Bush, Members of
Congress, NGO's, and the Belarusian community in the U.S.
JBANC President Saulius Kuprys (President of the Lithuanian American Council)
was on hand to meet with the delegation during a December 7 gathering, along with
JBANC Chairman Ramunas Kondratas and Managing Director Karl Altau.
The Belarusian delegation was led by 2006 United Forces presidential candidate
Aliaksandr Milinkevich, who last year received the European Parliament's Sakharov
Prize for Freedom of Thought.
One of the topics discussed by the visiting delegation was the advent of BelSat-TV. The BelSat
project, began broadcasting indedpendent TV to Belarus on December 10, 2007.
JBANC joined BelSat Director Agnieszka Romaszewska during meetings with Members
of Congress in October to explain the importance and necessity of the project. BelSat, based
in Warsaw, is funded by Poland, with some support from Lithuania. A resulting letter from seven
House Members (Albio Sires, Mario Diaz-Balart, Robert Wexler, Alcee Hastings, John Shimkus,
Thaddeus McCotter, and Lincoln Diaz-Balart) was sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
on November 7, asking for $2.5 million in U.S. funding for the project.
November 30, 2007- Estonian PM makes donation to Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
WASHINGTON, Nov 30, BNS - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on Thursday made a donation of 5,000 US dollars on behalf of Estonia to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington.
"I'm pleased to deliver our donation as contribution on the part of Estonia to help solve the crimes of communism in the whole world and I hope that there will be many countries contributing to this undertaking," Ansip said during a ceremony at the Estonian embassy in Washington.
"The Estonian government was the first to decide to support financially the Global Virtual Museum of Victims of Communism and surely this has been conducive to other countries' joining this important project," Lee Edwards, chairman of the foundation, was quoted as saying in remarks published in Estonian. More...
November 28, 2007- Advancing Freedom in Russia
by Steven Groves, The Heritage Foundation
The current Moscow power establishment is leading Russia back in time. Instead of moving forward toward a nation that cherishes and protects freedom and democracy, the establishment is creating a state and body politic dominated by a new breed of oligarchic groups composed of security officers and their business allies.
The Russian media are no longer free and unrestricted. With the exception of a few minor showcase outlets and the Internet, the media are dominated by the Kremlin and its allies. The majority of political parties are under state control, and the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with foreign ties are under severe scrutiny. Russia is no longer a free nation. More...
November 21, 2007- Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Begins Work on Global Virtual
Museum; Estonian-Canadians To Play Key Role In Project
Washington, D.C. - The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has
retained Marcus Kolga of Liefa Communications, Toronto, Canada, to play a
key role in the building of its Global Virtual Museum on Communism.
Kolga, an Estonian-Canadian, is the director of the award-winning
documentary film, "Gulag 113." Designer Tarmo Saks and programmer Paul
Saumets, both Estonian-Canadians, join Kolga on the development team.
Chairman Lee Edwards made the announcement at the Foundation's 9th annual
Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom Awards ceremony at the Hungarian Embassy on
November 15.
"We are delighted," said Edwards, "that we will be able to utilize the
outstanding talent and imagination of Marcus Kolga and his firm as we build
the Global Virtual Museum on Communism. We interviewed seven companies in
the U.S., Canada and Sweden, and Liefa was our unanimous choice."
Edwards said the Foundation hoped to launch the Global Virtual Museum
during the summer of 2008. More...
Karl Altau (center) with Estonian Ambassador Väino Reinart and Latvian
Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics at Hungarian Embassy.
Photo by Peter Alunans
November 20, 2007- NOW IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!! The Singing Revolution is opening in theaters for all to see!
The Singing Revolution will be opening in theaters from December 7th–13th in Los Angeles and December 14th–20th in New York City. The film will open in other cities across the U.S. starting in January.
It is critical that we fill the theaters these first two weeks. A successful run in NY and LA will make a big difference in releasing the film in other cities across North America. Come and bring friends if you can, call your friends in those cities and encourage them to go, and help spread the word.
You can also help by asking those who live outside of NY and LA to sign-up on the website so we can bring the film to their area. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Thank you,
Maureen & James Tusty
Directors/Producers of The Singing Revolution
October 31, 2007- Canada lifts visa requirement for Latvian visitors
Andris Straumanis, Latvians Online
Canada has lifted its visa requirement for citizens of Latvia effective immediately, Diane Finley, Canada’s minister of citizenship and immigration, announced Oct. 31.
That means Latvian citizens will be able to travel to Canada with just their passport.
The news was immediately welcomed by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been pushing for both Canada and the United States to lift visa requirements. More...
October 29, 2007- Charge D'Affairs Stuart Seldowitz meets Society of Latvian Political Deportees
On Monday, October 29, Charge D'Affairs Stuart Seldowitz met with representatives from the Society of Latvian Political Deportees. During the meeting the society representatives Peteris Simsons, Ilmars Knagis, Janis Lauva, Dagnija Liepina, Ruta Ozolina, Ivars Kalkis presented a note of thanks to the U.S. Congress, the American people, and especially President Bush for the recently unveiled Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington D.C. The Latvian political deportees also shared their stories of how they were deported and spoke about their lives upon returning to Latvia. More...
October 25, 2007- ALA urges support for easier path to visa waivers
Andris Straumanis, Latvians Online
In an effort to earn visa-free travel privileges for Latvian citizens wanting to visit the United States, the American Latvian Association is calling on Latvian-Americans to urge their federal lawmakers to support two bills under consideration in Congress.
The ALA issued a “call to action” on Oct. 19 urging passage of similar Senate and House of Representatives bills—S. 653 and H.R. 1543—that could ease Latvia’s path into the Visa Waiver Program. Both bills would lift the “rate of refusal” threshold that has held back a number of Eastern and Central European countries’ admission to the program, instead allowing the federal government to consider consistent progress in reducing the number of visa refusals.
More...
October 16, 2007- Activist tells about torture and captivity
By David R. Sands, The Washington Post
By David R. Sands - It sounds like a tale from the darkest days of Soviet communism, but Larisa Arap says her forced detention in a Murmansk psychiatric ward ended just two months ago.
The slight Mrs. Arap, a human rights activist and researcher, was detained by Russian military police in the course of a routine medical visit on July 5, less than a month after she collaborated on an article detailing a long list of abuses by local officials using "punitive psychiatry" to deal with political dissidents and local troublemakers, including children.
"In the old Soviet days, we were told if you were unhappy, the theory was there must be something mentally wrong with you," Mrs. Arap noted during a Washington visit late last week. "This time, I was told that psychiatry is a 'closed subject' in our country." More...
October 16, 2007- The Future Calling In Estonia
By Anne Applebaum, The Washington Post
TALLINN, Estonia -- From outside, the offices of Skype-- the company best
known for its free Internet phone service -- don't look very different from
the other Soviet and post-Soviet buildings that make up the nondescript
suburbs of the Estonian capital. But inside, the aesthetic influence of
Northern California is undeniable. The high-tech, open-plan offices; the
"playroom," complete with pool table and sauna; the young, bearded
employees; the Dadaesque plastic crocodile hanging from the ceiling; the
bluejean-clad spokesman who has been "too busy" to contemplate the fact that
eBay, which bought Skype for $2.6 billion in 2005, recently admitted that it
paid too much. More...
October 10-11, 2007 - Vilnius Energy Security Conference 2007: "Responsible Energy for Responsible Partners"
Vilnius Energy Security Conference 2007: Responsible Energy for Responsible Partners is a continuation of the consistent foreign policy of Lithuania and the tradition of organizing Vilnius conferences since 1997.
Vilnius Conference 1997, which gathered leaders from several Central and Easter European states, was dedicated to the fundamental principle of regional stability and cooperation – good neighborhood relations. Following this conference, good neighborhood relations were the basis in resolving regional conflicts. Therefore, Central and Eastern European countries made a progress while integrating into the Euro-Atlantic structures. http://www.vilniusconference2007.lt/en
The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc.
400 Hurley Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850-3121
tel. 301-340-1954
fax: 301-309-1406
e-mail:jbanc@jbanc.org
Jānis Kukainis, former chairperson of the World Federation of Free Latvians (Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība, or PBLA), has been awarded a Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Certificate of Recognition, a cabinet spokesperson announced Feb. 5 in Rīga.
Washington, DC (JBANC) --- U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has responded today to a questionnaire sent by the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC). Her answers are given below.
