Poland to resume energy projects
with Lithuania that had stalled under previous government
Nov 30, 2007 - The Associated Press
VILNIUS, Lithuania - Poland's new government hopes
to forge ahead with two energy projects with Lithuania
that stalled under the previous government, its prime
minister said Friday.
Donald Tusk, visiting Lithuania on his first trip
abroad since taking office, assured Poland's neighbor
to the north that his priorities include the two regional
projects. One is a plan to connect Lithuania's electricity
network with Poland's and the other is the construction
of a nuclear power plant in Lithuania with the involvement
of the other two Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia.
"There is no disagreement or unanswered questions
left. Both projects ... are very important to our
countries," Tusk told a news conference.
Lithuania's electricity grid is not linked to the
rest of the European Union's network, even though
it joined the EU in 2004. The Baltic state is due
to shut down its existing nuclear power plant in 2009.
That could leave it more dependent on electricity
imports from Russia - a situation it hopes to avoid
out of concern that Russia is increasingly prepared
to use energy supplies to pressure neighboring countries.
"I have no doubts that we will reach results soon
if negotiations continue in this constructive manner,"
Tusk said.
During his one day visit, Tusk met his counterpart,
Gediminas Kirkilas, and President Valdas Adamkus.
Under Tusk's predecessor, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, negotiations
on building a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania,
together with Estonia and Latvia, had faltered due
to differences over how to share the electricity output.
Poland and Lithuania formed a common kingdom in the
Middle Ages and have been strategic partners since
the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
The two countries have been critical of Russia's
influence in the region, and Tusk said they would
work toward improving ties with Moscow.
"We are aiming at better relations with Russia and
are planning to work in this field together," Tusk
said.
While in Vilnius, Tusk also planned to visit a cemetery
where the heart of the 20th century Polish statesman
and military leader Jozef Pilsudski is buried.
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