BALTIC BRIEF
Insight and information for friends of The U.S.-Baltic Foundation

February 5, 2009, Volume 2, Issue 2
www.usbaltic.org
Compiled by Trevor Dane

The Baltics in the News

• Zemkalnis is Being Awarded with “Lithuanian Millennium Star” today

• Can Gas Crisis Fix Europe’s Electricity Troubles?

• Estonian Officers serving in Iraq awarded NATO medals

• Main Investment Transactions in the Baltics, 2008

• Estonian, Lithuanian leaders try to bridge Baltic “energy islands”

• Econo-cataclysm in the Baltics

• Economic Crisis Fuels Unrest in E. Europe

USBF at Work

• USBF Continues to Support new Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas:  Over the last three months, USBF has played an instrumental role in supporting the new Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas.  USBF has helped the Chamber reach out to potential members and partners in the private and public sectors.  For additional information on the chamber, please click here.

• Prime Minister of Estonia to speak at 2009 U.S.- Baltic Business Program:  Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will speak at the 2009 U.S.-Baltic Business program in May.  The business program will focus on promoting cooperation and business ties in the transportation and logistics sector.

• Facts for 2009 U.S.- Baltic Confluence:  Forum, Exchange and Gala

Guest of Honor:
H.E. Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia               

Date:
May 14-17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009:  Silent Auction and Dinner

Venue:
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC

Honorary Chairman
Charles W. Larson, United States Ambassador to Latvia

Co-Host:
The Embassy of Poland in the United States

Dinner:
The menu and gala dinner will be prepared by world renowned
chef Martins Ritins, Director of Vincents Restaurant in Riga, Latvia.

Master of Ceremonies 
Anita Brikman, Latvian- American television news anchor in
Washington, DC

Events

• February 12:  USBF Sponsored panel discussion “President Obama and The Baltics”.  The panel, featuring Ambassador Reinart of Estonia, Ambassador Pildegovics of Latvia and Ambassador Bruzga of Lithuania will be moderated by Dr. Michael Haltzel of Johns Hopkins University; 3:00- 4:00 pm at the North Congressional Meeting Room in the new Congressional Visitors Center.  Please RSVP to Trevor Dane

• Estonian National Symphony Orchestra tour to USA (March 2009)

Baltic Embassy News

• SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS’ LITHUANIAN (BALTIC) STUDIES IN 2009-2010
• “Welcome to the Baltics:  Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania” at 2009 NY Times Travel Show
• Unveiling of Ambassador’s Portrait Gallery at the Embassy

Baltic Documentaries

• The Singing Revolution
• The Soviet Story
• Red Terror on the Amber Coast (please email Father David O’Rourke at [email protected])

For the latest English-language Baltic news on the web, visit The Baltic Times

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Email your news and information to Trevor Dane, or call 202-785-5056

The U.S.- Baltic Foundation in Washington, DC, is a non-political, nongovernmental organization with 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status.  Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.