Baltic Countries

The small Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) will never feel safe alongside the arrogant giant Russia, until these countries become part of NATO. The article, "Russian Warnings Worry Neighbors" (April 21), clearly demonstrates the seriousness of the situation. When Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev states "use of armed forces should not be ruled out," an invasion by Russia is not only possible but quite probable. The Baltic countries need the backbone of NATO to discourage any adventurism by Russia.

Leaders of the European Union and Russia on Tuesday said they were making progress toward closer ties, but an angry outburst from Russian President Vladimir V. Putin against demands from Baltic nations highlighted continued strains in the relationship. The EU-Russia summit held here adopted an agreement to boost cooperation in four broad fields: economy and trade; freedom and justice; external security; and scientific research, education and culture.

Re "Baltics' NATO Dream May Be Too Elusive," Dec. 7: For hundreds of years the Baltic countries were at the boundary between the Western culture of Europe and the Russian counterpart. They have been independent countries and they have been occupied and they have shown armed rebellion against their tormentors. They have also made a decision and it is for the Western democracies and not the Eastern despotism. Now they are earnestly knocking at the door of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for admit- tance.

Four men with alleged links to organized crime were arrested Friday on suspicion of stealing several thousand dollars from an elderly Ventura couple, police said. Officers arrested the men about 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot at Telegraph Road and Victoria Avenue, Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez said. Because the men gave officers false identification, their identities were unknown. The men, described as being from the Baltic countries, had been traveling in a Florida rental car, Velez said.

Four men with alleged links to organized crime were arrested Friday on suspicion of stealing several thousand dollars from an elderly Ventura couple, police said. Officers arrested the men about 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot at Telegraph Road and Victoria Avenue, Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez said. Because the men gave officers false identification, their identities were unknown. The men, described as being from the Baltic countries, had been traveling in a Florida rental car, Velez said.

In a whirlwind visit Monday to this Baltic coast capital, Vice President Al Gore sought to allay fears among Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians that they are being left out in the cold in their appeals to join NATO. In a speech on the central cobblestone square in Tallinn's medieval Old Town, Gore insisted that the United States will not turn its back on the fledgling Baltic countries that have long been overrun by foreign invaders.

Leaders of the European Union and Russia on Tuesday said they were making progress toward closer ties, but an angry outburst from Russian President Vladimir V. Putin against demands from Baltic nations highlighted continued strains in the relationship. The EU-Russia summit held here adopted an agreement to boost cooperation in four broad fields: economy and trade; freedom and justice; external security; and scientific research, education and culture.

As they did when they were free nations in the 1920s and 1930s, the once-again independent Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are reaching out to the West in a bid for foreign investment and trade.

The United States and Estonia on Wednesday formally restored the diplomatic relations between the two countries that had been interrupted since 1940, when the Soviet army, occupying this tiny Baltic country, forced the American diplomats here to leave. "This is not a new country," Curtis Kamman, deputy assistant secretary of state, said after signing a document resuming relations.

American travelers to the newly independent Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia must now have visas for travel to each of those countries, rather than the Soviet visa that provided access before the countries became independent late this summer. Visas are free when obtained at the border of all three countries. But Latvia and Lithuania visas are also available for a fee at embassies in the United States. At the Latvian Embassy (4325 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.

Re "Baltics' NATO Dream May Be Too Elusive," Dec. 7: For hundreds of years the Baltic countries were at the boundary between the Western culture of Europe and the Russian counterpart. They have been independent countries and they have been occupied and they have shown armed rebellion against their tormentors. They have also made a decision and it is for the Western democracies and not the Eastern despotism. Now they are earnestly knocking at the door of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for admit- tance.

The small Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) will never feel safe alongside the arrogant giant Russia, until these countries become part of NATO. The article, "Russian Warnings Worry Neighbors" (April 21), clearly demonstrates the seriousness of the situation. When Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev states "use of armed forces should not be ruled out," an invasion by Russia is not only possible but quite probable. The Baltic countries need the backbone of NATO to discourage any adventurism by Russia.

In a whirlwind visit Monday to this Baltic coast capital, Vice President Al Gore sought to allay fears among Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians that they are being left out in the cold in their appeals to join NATO. In a speech on the central cobblestone square in Tallinn's medieval Old Town, Gore insisted that the United States will not turn its back on the fledgling Baltic countries that have long been overrun by foreign invaders.

American travelers to the newly independent Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia must now have visas for travel to each of those countries, rather than the Soviet visa that provided access before the countries became independent late this summer. Visas are free when obtained at the border of all three countries. But Latvia and Lithuania visas are also available for a fee at embassies in the United States. At the Latvian Embassy (4325 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.

The United States and Estonia on Wednesday formally restored the diplomatic relations between the two countries that had been interrupted since 1940, when the Soviet army, occupying this tiny Baltic country, forced the American diplomats here to leave. "This is not a new country," Curtis Kamman, deputy assistant secretary of state, said after signing a document resuming relations.

As they did when they were free nations in the 1920s and 1930s, the once-again independent Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are reaching out to the West in a bid for foreign investment and trade.

MiniMed Inc. has acquired its long-term Swedish distributor for $2.5 million. Dartec AB will become MiniMed's distributor in Scandinavia and Baltic countries. MiniMed, based in Sylmar, is a leading developer of infusion pumps used to treat diabetes. The company has been expanding its product line in Europe.