ABSTRACT
The Baltic Republics have been dependent upon their more powerful neighbours, in particular Russia, Germany and Poland. The Baltic Republics have been dependent upon their more powerful neighbours, in particular Russia, Germany and Poland. There are also boundary disputes with Russia, although a Lithuanian-Russian border agreement of maritime delimitation was signed in October 1997. They have common political, economic and social concerns, but each guards jealously its own distinctive language and heritage. The other key Russian problem concerns Kaliningrad oblast, which remains a major military centre, and part of the Russian Federation, but is completely detached from it. Issues include the route connecting Kaliningrad to Russia through Lithuania, oil exploitation in the boundary zone and pollution. The Baltic Republics have made far more advancement towards a market economy than any of the other states of the FSU. Accordingly, the question of NATO membership has arisen and this has caused a major problem in relations with Russia.
