Looking ahead, people to watch in 2000

In Estonia:

Juri Mois: The former interior minister and now mayor of Tallinn has
been described as a wandering soul by some government leaders and
someone who walks a different path. Mois is a newcomer to the
political scene. He was one of the founders of Hansapank and served
on the board until 1998. He is committed to cutting red tape in
government, which decreases his popularity among the people cut out
of government with the tape. Mois' first target was the police; he
now aims at his own government which he says is employing enough
people to run the entire country. The Pro Patria MP was named "Most
press friendly public figure" this year by the newspaper association
for his openness, and may end up being the driving force behind Mart
Laar's goal of creating a more transparent government.

Edgar Savisaar: He may have flopped this year, but the Center Party
chairman remains determined. Not a day goes by during which Savisaar
doesn't predict the demise of the triple alliance. Who knows? Maybe
in 2000, the force will be with him.

Women: They say there is a woman behind every successful man. Judging
by our list of newsmakers this year, there are a lot of women in the
background. In June, these women will take center stage as the hosts
of "Tallinn 2000," a conference that will bring women from all over
the world to Tallinn to discuss women's issues in business and
society. Organizers expect hundreds of women to attend. Women are
also making headway in government. In the March 1999 election, they
captured 18 of the 101 Parliament seats.

In Lithuania:

The Olympic games will be held in Sydney in 2000. Lithuania can
expect golden medals in women's bicycle competitions.

The Lithuanian men's basketball team will also gain some medals. The
question is: Which color? In Atlanta and Barcelona Olympics, they got
bronze. In Sydney, the Lithuanian team is expected to include Arvydas
Sabonis from the Portland Trail Blazers and Zydrunas Ilgauskas from
the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Virgilijus Alekna is expected to gain an Olympic medal in disk throwing.

Arvydas Sabonis, elected by European journalists to be European
basketball player #1 of 1999, plays for Portland Trail Blazers and
has a good chance to become an NBA champion. Portland is among NBA
leaders this season.

Lithuania is famous for its theaters, especially drama theaters and
their directors. In December, The Guardian (U.K.) called the Little
Theater Vilnius Mazasis Teatras of director Rimas Tuminas "one of the
best world's theaters." Another legendary director, Eimuntas
Nekrosius, has already won all possible European theater awards.

It is also worth watching the intellectual Lithuanian politician,
Nijole Ozelyte in 2000. Ozelyte was selected "Most sexy Lithu-anian
Woman of 1999" in a Lithu-anian media event.

Ozelyte is the wayward sheep of the Conservative Party. This former
Lithuanian movie star manages to attract more publicity in one week
in Lithuania's outlets than most of other MPs get in a lifetime. She
urged legalization of prostitution and the banning of lessons on
religion in state schools.

Ozelyte asked Vytautas Landsbergis to resign from his post of
parliamentary chairman, arguing that he is too arrogant in
communicating with his compatriots. No wonder that her membership in
the Conservative Party was suspended. Ozelyte says she has a strong
faith in God and this year plans to start her own regular program
about the Bible on Baltijos TV.

Compiled by Brooke Donald and Rokas Tracevskis.