Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Energy, EU – CIS, Gas, Lithuania

Alexander Lukashenko and Andrius Kubilius. Minsk, 28.06.2010.

During the meeting, Kubilius and Lukashenko discussed a need to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in economic, energy and trade issues which had developed smoothly so far. "Belarus and Lithuania are similarly interested in alternative gas supplies. Our neighbours are very interested in the participation in the project of the liquefied natural gas terminal. It seems that the issues related to energy security become ones of the key issues in Lithuanian-Belarusian relations and cooperation. It is also very important to us that Belarus would move towards EU standards both in terms of economics and politics," Kubilius pointed out the main topics of the conversation.

President Lukashenko confirmed his previous intentions to diversify oil supplies and that Belarus started importing oil from Venezuela. The leader of Belarus called on Lithuania to join the diversification process of Belarus' oil import routes in the long-term perspective, reports LETA/ELTA.

Lukashenko and Kubilius noted that they were dissatisfied with the present monopoly in gas supplies and the problems it caused.

The Lithuanian prime minister expressed his hope that Belarus would carry out the democratisation of the country's political and public life. In addition, Kubilius expressed his joy that Belarus restored castles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania rapidly and published historical studies, which was a "wonderful commemoration of the common historic past."

Kubilius informed Lukasheno that he would take part in a cycling tour in Belarus with Economy Minister Dainius Kreivys and other colleagues at the end of July and invited the president of Belarus to join the tour.