Big come backs

Mart Laar - Having already served as prime minister from 1992 to 1994
at age 32, the well-known Estonian historian took over as head of
government once again after the March 7 elections.

Kristina Smigun - The 22-year-old skier from Otepaa fell twice during
the 10K leg of the World Cup Series in Sappada, but still went on to
win that stage and lead the series. Although overall victory eluded
her, she holds honor as the first Estonian ever to lead the series.
Last winter she took the bronze in the series, the highest medal won
by an Estonian in an international skiing competition.

Banks - Bank of Estonia's issuance of an operating license to
Preatoni Pank in September - the first new bank in Estonia in six
years - displayed the central bank's confidence in the current
financial environment here. Since 1993, the number of banks in
Estonia has dropped from 21 to six. Decreasing the number of banking
institutions was part of the central bank's plan to force bigger
volumes to individual banks to raise Estonia's banking standards to
those of the EU. Estonians are also more confident in banks - savings
have increased 20 percent in the past 10 months alone.

Tallinn Airport - On Dec. 10, the Tallinn Airport reopened after 351
million kroons ($23.4 million) worth of renovations. The modern
facility, expected to see 1.4 million passengers each year - is a
result of 18 months of renovating the airport built for the 1980
Olympics.

Statues - Lenin, Dzerzhinsky and other red comrades stood in many
squares throughout Lithuania during the Soviet occupation. After the
Soviets left Lithuania, these statues were removed and left lying in
basements or secured yards.

In 1999 more than 50 of them made a sensational and controversial
comeback, reunited by businessman Viliumas Malinauskas in his private
Grutas forest in southern Lithuania. Lenin, Stalin and others stand
again in private Memorial Soviet Sculpture Park.

Malinauskas says it is an anti-Soviet park. Some elderly guys,
calling themselves the real patriots, disagree with him and urge him
to destroy the statues as symbols of the occupation, but Malinauskas
does not listen to them.

The social research firm Vilmorus says that the absolute majority of
Lithuanians support Malinauskas' idea.

Rolandas Paksas - In October Prime Minister announced he would not
sign a deal with American oil and gas company, Williams
International, to sell the local oil industry, saying it might be a
financial catastrophe for Lithuania. He resigned his post and left
the Conservative Party. However, Paksas rose soon from his political
grave.

In November, Paksas became the envoy for the special assignments of
President Valdas Adamkus. Paksas and some 40 of his followers from
his former government and Vilnius municipality made an alliance with
the Liberal Union. Paksas became its leader and the Liberal Union
immediately became the most popular party in Lithuania, according to
social opinion polls.

Now Paksas is the most popular politician in Lithuania.

Compiled by Brooke Donald and Rokas Tracevskis.