Lithuania, which must close its only nuclear power plant this year, will be able to purchase electricity in Ukraine and transport it through Belarus, the foreign ministers of the three countries announced on Saturday.
"We have politically encouraged our experts to reach an agreement by May," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas at a press conference alongside his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Martinov and Ukrainian Volodymyr Ogryzko."We have moved beyond the stage of nice words and inaction. This meeting proves that we are directly facing energy difficulties," emphasized the Ukrainian minister.
Lithuania, a member of the EU since 2004, committed upon its accession to the organization to completely close the nuclear power plant in Ignalina by the end of 2009, which is identical to the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine. Ignalina provided 70 percent of Lithuania’s electricity needs. Official Vilnius fears that after the closure of Ignalina, the country will lack energy. Lithuania is currently negotiating an agreement with Poland and two other Baltic countries, Latvia and Estonia, for the joint construction of a new power plant on its territory. (Hina)
