Stay in tune for 2003

Maris Biezaitis

Dear readers,

Maris Biezaitis, Deputy editor-in-chief Photo: The BC archives

We're starting the New Year with a new issue of The Baltic Course and a new look as part of our ongoing attempts at improving the magazine. Christmas and New Year's greetings go out to you from the authors and editors of the BC, together with greetings from the magazine's editorial board we published in the Russian language version just before the holidays. Yes, it's a case of better late than never, but don't be too late yourselves in catching the latest stories we have to offer you, as the year 2003 again promises to be a very important one for the three Baltic states. Invitations for EU and NATO membership late last year are set to take a more specific form this year with EU referendums also expected throughout the Baltics this year. Be sure to keep in touch with the next issues of the BC, as we will be covering these and all the major events in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this year, giving you a more in-depth view of the processes taking place in this part of the world, covering how the Balts manage their position as a bridge between east and west, and analyzing most aspects of what the future has to bring for us. 

For now take time to sit back and thumb through this issue, which promises to give you a view of how and why the Baltic state economies have seemed so stable for the past years, what Russia's coal mining business might have to offer the Baltics and Europe, a view on the global fuel for war - petroleum, and some practical advice on how to set out buying real-estate in Latvia. Besides this we also have stories on the European textiles market with Baltic context included, an interview with Lithuania's ambassador to Latvia, and how he sees Baltic business relations.  

For insight on relations with our eastern neighbors Russia and Belarus, The Baltic Course also covered the Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's visit to Riga, which led to quite a few business developments, and we also went to Minsk for one of the rare press conferences held by Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko, who says his country is now awaiting big-time investors.

All the best, 

Maris Biezaitis

Deputy editor-in-chief