TEN Index

March 1-15, 1996, Vol. 2, No. 5 

Transboundary News

TALLINN-MOSCOW -- CONTINUING BORDER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ESTONIA AND RUSSIA ended once again without agreement in Moscow. Debate focused on Lake Teplyi on which neither Estonian nor Russian ships can operate because navigation is impossible without crossing into foreign territorial waters. Territorial division of 115 islands on the Narva River also raised problems, as a study will be required of each island before final agreement is reached. The parties decided to meet with experts of the Republic of Latvia to define a border for the three countries. The next round of negotiation will take place March 27-28 in Tallinn. (Estoniia, 3 Mar., and Vesti, 5 Mar.)

RIGA-MOSCOW -- A LEGISLATIVE BILL REQUIRING THE PUBLICATION OF NAMES OF KGB AGENTS operating in Riga during the Soviet period has not been passed. The argument was made that the archival material available in Riga today is incomplete, as part of the archives were sent to Moscow, and therefore conclusions drawn from that material in Riga alone would be biased. At the same time, former KGB agents are now forbidden from occupying government posts in Latvia. (Chas Pik, 2 Mar.) VILNIUS-MOSCOW -- THE RUSSIAN BROADCAST NEWS PROGRAM "VREMIIA" will no longer be shown in its evening time slot in Lithuania, according to the private Lithuanian television company LNK. The company can "no longer justify showing a program during prime time which brings no profit to the company," according to a LNK spokesperson. (Chas Pik, 7 Mar.)

MOSCOW-TALLINN -- THE ESTONIAN AMBASSADOR MET WITH RUSSIAN ECONOMICS MINISTER on the initiative of the Estonian side. Mart Helm of Estonia and Eugene Jassin of Russia discussed the current state of Estonian-Russian economic relations and the possibility for their improvement. The Estonian side proposed to improve the legislative basis of economic relations between the two countries and to create different inter-agency expert groups to conduct analyses of future draft agreements. The Russian minister supported the proposal. (Estoniia, 2 Mar.)

HELSINKI-MOSCOW -- THE EXPRESS TRAIN "PENDOLINA" has begun testing on Russian territory. Its speed is to reach 200 kilometers per hour and is expected to be functioning in three or four years. (Nevskoe Vremiia, 7 Mar.) VILNIUS-MOSCOW -- LITHUANIAN DESERTERS OF THE SOVIET ARMY will be given compensation of US $750 for having left their jobs in the Soviet Army in conjunction with Lithuania's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. The former soldiers and officers will receive the compensation only once. (Chas Pik, 2 Mar.)

TALLINN - A DELEGATION OF ST PETERSBURG CITY OFFICIALS arrived in Tallinn to discuss opportunities for expanding collaboration with Estonia, including collaboration in the border region of Russia and Estonia. The delegation is chaired by First Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg Vladimir Putin and includes representatives of the Oktiabriaskaia Railway, the city police force, and Gazprom. (BNS, 15 Mar.)

Environmental News

LENINGRAD OBLAST -- A MOBILE POLLUTION MEASURING STATION to be financed by the oblast government will ensure that air pollution can be measured at any location in the oblast on short notice. The non-government environmental organization "Zelenyi Krest" was instrumental in promoting the funding of the measuring station. The organization has helped in drawing attention to about ten other similar projects in the region. (Smena, 5 Mar.)

KALININGRAD OBLAST -- MORE THAN 80,000 RESIDENTS live in areas of the oblast which will be subject to severe flooding this spring. The melting of record amounts of snow and ice are expected to result in this flooding. Residents living near the Pregoliia, Deima, Matrosskvka, and Neman Rivers are likely to experience the flooding. (Chas Pik, 1 Mar.)

ST PETERSBURG -- THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION ECAT AND THE GERMAN INSTITUTE ECOMEDIA will be showing environmental films in the city. The films will describe the environmental problems of large cities and the influence of city transportation on residents' health. Discussion will follow the film screenings. (Vecher. Peterburg, 6 Mar.)

ST PETERSBURG -- A SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT has been concluded between the city water supplier Vodokanal and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. Investment in the Northern and Parnasska Pumping Stations is planned, as well as general efforts to increase the quality of city water. (Vecher. Peterburg, 4 Mar.)

LAPPENRANTA -- AN ALUMINUM CAN RECYCLING PROGRAM begun on March 1 in Finland has surpassed all expectations for its success. Cans bought in duty-free shops on the border near Vyborg and at other points have been the largest source for returned cans (SPb Vedomosti, 5 Mar.)

ST PETERSBURG -- THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION ECAT AND CITY OFFICIALS have organized for the transfer of oil spill equipment for cleaning local waters from oil spills. It is estimated that more than 20 ships sink in the city area each year with a resulting pollution of local waters with oil and fuel. The European Union program LIFE has given similar equipment to the city in the past. (Vesti, 5 Mar.)

Conferences, Events, and Meetings

ST PETERSBURG -- REPRESENTATIVES OF REGIONAL ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND JOURNALISTS specializing in environmental issues met on March 1 to discuss the ecological problems of the transboundary region of Northwest Russia, the Baltic states, and Finland. The seminar was held at the American-Russian Press Center, organized by the Transboundary Environmental Information Agency, and financed by ISAR (former Institute for Soviet-American Relations). (TEIA, 1 Mar.)

HELSINKI -- "THE BALTIC SEA" EXHIBIT opened in the city on March 1. A number of the display objects in the exhibit are from the Naval Museum in Petersburg. It is the first exhibit to be held abroad with works from the Naval Museum. Among those works are maps of the Baltic Sea from 1739-46. (SPb Vedomosti, 5 Mar.)

TARTU -- A MEMORIAL ROOM FOR CHECHEN LEADER ICHKERII DUDAEV has been established at the Tartu hotel U Barklaia. The former general of aviation served for more than ten years in Tartu, and actively supported the independence of Estonia from the Soviet Union. A criminal sentence has been leveled against Dudaev in Russia although security forces have been unable to capture him in the 15 months. (Chas Pik, 1 Mar.)

VILNIUS -- FORGERY-PROOF ENTRY VISAS TO LITHUANIA WILL BE INTRODUCED on April 1 and are expected to raise the price of the entry visa. It has estimated that one-third of all entry visas of visitors from the former Soviet Union are falsified. The new visas are printed in France. (Vecher. Peterburg, 6 Mar.)

HELSINKI -- TERRITORIAL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ESTONIA, FINLAND, AND RUSSIA concerning mutual borders on the Gulf of Finland will take place in April. (Vesti, 5 Mar.)

KALININGRAD-VYBORG -- FERRY SERVICE BETWEEN KALININGRAD AND VYBORG will not be renewed this year, according to ferry officials. The route proved to be unprofitable last year, according to company officials. Ferry service between Kaliningrad and Germany and Riga will remain in place. (Vesti, 5 Mar.)

ST PETERSBURG -- A CONSULTATION SERVICE FOR CITY RESIDENTS about environmental and health recommendations has opened in the city and is called "Ekologiia-Zdorov'e". Employees at the center are qualified to recommend water filters among a selection of about 50 filters available in their showroom. (Nevskoe Vremiia, 3 Mar.)

TALLINN -- TRILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS between the state enterprise Estonian Energy, the state enterprise Joint Energy System of Russia, and the oil company Lehihgradslanets were held recently. The parties discussed the price of fuel which Lehihgradslanets will sell the Baltic thermal power plant and the price of energy which Estonia now sells Russia in return. (ETA, 8 Mar.)

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