BNS: Lithuanian foreign minister rejects counter arguments to Lithuania's veto on EU-Russia talks
Updated 2008-05-07
Vilnius, May 07, BNS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas rejects counter positions spoken out against Lithuania and its demands to include energy security, juridical and frozen conflict issues into the negotiations mandate on the European Union (EU) - Russia Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Following a meeting with President Vadas Adamkus, Vaitiekunas told the press of having familiarized the Lithuanian Head of State with Lithuania's position in coordinating a common stance regarding Russia talks with the 27 EU member states as well as of having presented to Adamkus the counter arguments to Lithuania's position spoken out by other representatives of the community. Vaitiekunas insinuated that with regards to issues of energy security or problems of cut-off oil supply via the Druzhba pipeline, the EU is prone to attribute them to Lithuania-Russia bipartite relations. However the minister noted that the issue of Druzhba is not bipartite and is therefore being
brought up.
"Druzhba was cut off without an explanation. (...) We are worried that Russia is creating a precedent. Energy security and creating a precedent are issues of interest to the EU. This is not a bipartite issue. And we believe that the question of a precedent, and of how far one can go in not cooperating with one EU state is important to the entire EU as well. We have an alternative for Druzhba, but not one for gas", Vaitiekunas said.
Another featured counter argument, the minister said, is that EU nations acknowledge that the issues raised by Lithuania are legitimate and vested, however believe that they should not block talks with Russia.
Head of the Foreign Ministry assured that Lithuania is the first country when it comes to interest of engaging in negotiations with Russia and thus include it in committing agreements and conditions, however emphasized that in this stage of coordinating the negotiations mandate, Lithuania is bringing up the issues not for Russia's sake, but for starting a dialogue with EU nations.
"This is an inner question of the EU family. And I can only express pity that EU presidency holder Slovenia made public the issues in question and the stances are already somewhat evident. The essence is that in going into talks with Russia, we must very clearly understand what the EU will want to discuss and what list of issues will be covered. We are going to talk on just on general, but specific issues. And those specific issues are expounded by each of the 27 EU nations", Vaitiekunas said.
The minister also assured that Lithuania doesn't stand alone against the EU and the European Commission (EC), noting that most EU countries acknowledged demands made by Vilnius as legitimate and vested.
"I believe that our situation in the midst of our neighbors is bound to change, as is the attitude towards demands raised by Lithuania. Members of parliament could play an important role here, as well as parties and MEPs by explaining Lithuania's stance in European institutions and nations", the minister spoke.
Lithuania was the sole of 27 EU member states, represented in the European Union's (EU) General Affairs and External Relations Council's (GAERC) session in Luxembourg Tuesday, to dissent to the proposal to begin talks with Russia over the new partnership agreement. The countries decided that EU-presidency holder Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel will arrive to Vilnius to further harmonize stances on the issue.
