On 17 January, Stockholm will host the Balticness touring project organised by the Latvian presidency at the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) featuring a photo exhibition, jazz concert, and a discussion regarding regional co-operation.

The event will be opened by Maris Riekstins, the Foreign Minister of Latvia, at the Stockholm School of Economics at 09.45 introducing a round-table discussion seminar entitled Baltic Sea Region in Europe. It will focus on economic aspects of the region's competitiveness and future forms of co-operation between the Baltic Sea Region and the EU. 

At 13.30, Maris Riekstins will open a photo exhibition Where the Baltic Sea and People Meet at the Stockholm Public Library (at Odengatan 59). 40 works by young photographers from CBSS member states will be on display. The young artists, viewing the Baltic Sea through the eye of their camera, have created their own multi-faceted Baltic Sea image, revealing a sense of humour, creativity, appreciation of the environment and energy. The exhibition will be on view until 1 February 2008. 

At 20.00, a joint concert by Latvian and Swedish jazz performers will be hosted by the jazz club Fasching (at Kungsgatan 63). Deniss Paskevics and the Riga Groove Electro association of jazz musicians will represent Latvia, whilst Sweden will be represented by Karl Martin Almqvist and Ulf Adaker. The concert will be visually enhanced with a video performance on the theme of the Baltic Sea, its people, and co-operation.

The project Balticness is a year-long series of events taking place in the capitals of all CBSS member states (Tallinn, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Oslo, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, Vilnius, and Riga). The aim of the project is to advance the establishment of the region's identity and affiliation and to facilitate closer co-operation and enhanced integration among the states of the Baltic Sea Region, accentuating the Baltic Sea as the major artery for whole region and its community.

The project is being implemented by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with Latvian embassies in CBSS member states, town councils of the host cities, the CBSS Secretariat in Stockholm, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Ze Pirates association of musicians and the Baltic Development Forum.

Balticness in Stockholm is being co-organised by the Latvian Embassy in Sweden, the Stockholm Public Library, and jazz club Fasching.

Everyone is invited to participate!

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