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Išbandyti
2013 04 08

Lithuanian Prime Minister: I have pragmatic look on relations with Russia

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says he has a pragmatic look on the prospects of Lithuania's relations with Russia and hopes that it will be easier for representatives of science, culture and business to solve problems after the recent high-level meeting of Lithuanian and Russian officials.
Dmitrijus Medvedevas
Lithuanian prime minister met with Russia's Dmitry Medvedev / AFP/„Scanpix“ nuotr.

Butkevičius talked to BNS about the outlook of Lithuanian-Russian relations after Friday's meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

"I see it in a pragmatic way. Time will show. I wouldn't call it a "reset" but good-natured cooperation when I represent my country and they represent theirs." Butkevičius told BNS when asked whether there's a basis for a reset in Lithuanian-Russian relations, one of the current government's foreign policy goals.

In his words, it was agreed during the meeting with Medvedev to resume meetings of an intergovernmental group, the last of which took place in 2011. On April 11, a meeting of bilateral working groups on economic and trade issues will take place in Moscow, Butkevičius has said.

"I believe that it will probably be easier for business, and science and culture people to solve their problems after such meetings," the Lithuanian prime minister said.

"I think that perhaps a positive step was made that there's a wish to cooperate between the two states, and when I spoke about certain exports and tourism figures, I said that it's very important for our country, especially, for the development of the areas of business and services. He said in short that it's also important for Russia," Butkevičius commented.

The program of Lithuania's new center-left government, which assumed office last year, states that Lithuanian-Russian relations need a "reset" and focus on the future and not the past in bilateral cooperation.

Energy reforms - Lithuania's own business

On Friday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the gas sector reform in Lithuania, fervently resisted by Russian gas giant Gazprom, Lithuania's own matter which is not an object for discussions, according to Butkevičius.

In an interview to BNS right after Friday's meeting, the head of the Lithuanian government also said he raised the issue of lower gas prices for Lithuania, and the Russian side expressed wish to discuss gas transit to Russia's Kaliningrad Region via Lithuania.

Medvedev agreed that the implementation of the EU's Third Energy Package "is Lithuania's right to self-determination and (Russia) no longer questions this matter, and it no longer is an object of discussions," Butkevičius told BNS.

"I was very surprised that Mr. Medvedev started talking about energy. It was him who started talking about the Third Energy Package, he is aware of the fact that Lithuania chose the most radical solution, and recognized that it's Lithuania's right to self-determination and they do not question this matter and it no longer remains an object of discussions," Butkevičius said by phone from Saint Petersburg.

According to the Lithuanian prime minister, Russia also raised the issue of gas transit to Kaliningrad Region via Lithuania but details were not discussed at the meeting. The issue was discussed during Butkevičius' meeting with Gazprom board chairman Aleksey Miller.

"I understood from the mood of some other people from earlier meetings, especially during the conversion with Gazprom head Mr. Miller, there was certain information in the air that perhaps even gas transit to Kaliningrad Region via Lithuania might be stopped," Butkevičius said.

"We did not get into details as it no longer is a discussion of our level and this issue should be included into a discussion at the expert level and while making decisions," the Lithuanian prime minister said.

In Butkevičius' words, he called for cutting gas prices for Lithuania. Currently, Gazprom is the sole gas supplier to Lithuania.

"Yes, as they raised the gas transit issue, we raised this issue at the meeting with Mr. Miller that we are interested in cutting gas prices for people," the prime minister said.

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