New Horizons

8

Country on the Outskirts. Andres Kingisepp
We continue to publish articles about one of Europe’s most original countries — Iceland. Specifics of Iceland’s economical development and its relationship with the European Union are this issue’s subjects. The country is standing on the historical crossroad and a choice has to be made which will affect its future development.

16

Higher, Better, Faster. Andrius Mankus
Lithuanian economic successes have come as a surprise not only to the outside world, but to the country itself. Does this mean a serious turn in the countries development for the better in general? Or only for the elite few? And what should be expected from the now seemingly realistic optimistic prognoses?

20

Latvia’s role in boosting «Lithuania’s Economic Miracle». Modris Auzins
Lithuania’s road into the European Union is slightly different than that of the other Baltic States. It has been preparing for the future competition on the new market by experimenting on the neighboring Latvia. What does Riga have to say about this? What should the other European countries expect from the «Lithuanian Economic miracle»?

26

Farewell to the Field of Wonders. Oleg Serebriakov
Attractive prices led many Finns to invest their money in Estonian real estate. Are these investments justified? And how safe are they?

30

Europe–Russia–Dumping. Arthur West
The irrational structure of exports is Russia’s burdening heritage from the Soviet era with crude oil, gas, timber and metal making up the bulk of it. It is clear why Russia is not among world leaders in automobile and computer exports, but why can’t it export non high-tech consumer items that are quite up to international standards?

36

The Challenge of Temptation. Konstantin Ranks
The future of atomic power stations is raising heated debates in Northern Europe. Many politicians gained or lost their political dividends over this important issue. Should atomic energy be abolished in Europe? Or is it an efficient option to satisfy the growing demand for energy in countries lacking sufficient alternative resources?

44

Freedom as an Unrealized Excess. Nikolai Meinert
Right between the Northern European countries and the potentially promising Asia lies terra incognito — Siberia, Kazakhstan and the numerous Muslim countries, little known and even less understood by Europeans. The Eurasian Union might soon become a reality and the initiative is not coming from the Kremlin, but form the capital of Kazakhstan.

52

«Otkat» As a Method of Moving Further. Sergei Eduardov
What is ‘otkat’? Is this some new Russian invention or something old and familiar to all? Find out more about this phenomenon from our overview of its history and modern uses.

64

Fog Over Dombai. Nikolai Borovikov
Why are voyages to Russian resorts unpopular among western tourists? Does the famous soviet-era ski getaway have a future? Dombai — with 265 sunny days a year, a virgin natural environment and virtually no tourist infrastructure — is searching for investors.

70

Leading Hotels of the World. Anatoliy Kovalev
Switzerland is a perfect vacation destination for any time of year. It offers something for everyone with picturesque landscapes, unique museums, exquisite cuisine and luxurious hotels. Switzerland has many perfect spots and Geneva is one of them. The city is located around Lake Geneva with its world famous Jet d’Eau which each second shoots 500 liters of water into the sky. Overlooking the fountain is the President Wilson Hotel.

74

The Call of the Ancestors. Gennadiy Muravin
It turns out thatit is not easy to integrate ancestral traditions with European norms of morale. Why is it so difficult for refugees and immigrants to adapt to the European way of life? What can be done to prevent another Upsula tragedy?

78

An Insured Cat, a Goat in the Bath-House and a Chicken with Residential Rights. Svetlana Pankratova
According to the wide-spread modern standard of prosperity (greatly influenced by the American way of life), a well-off person should possess a certain «set» of values, including a house, a car and a dog. How expensive is it to own a pet in Sweden? This is an article on equal rights, social status, love and owner liabilities.

86

The Baltic Odyssey. Paolo Torretta
Italian scientist Felice Vinci believes that in his Iliad Homer describes events that took place not in the Mediterranean but in the Baltic Sea. In his book which was already published in Italian and is currently being translated into English, the scientist speaks about the many inconsistencies of the Mediterranean theory and puts the Iliad into a totally different setting.