Lithuania responds to Gazprom proposals
VILNIUS. Sept 25 (Interfax/BNS) - The Lithuanian government has now respond to proposals on gas supplies by Russia's Gazprom , prime ministerial press secretary Evelina Butkute-Lazdauskiene told the Baltic News Service.
Prime Minister Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said on Monday that the government's own proposals at talks with Gazprom were acceptable to the country and its citizens.
However Lithuanian Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovic has said Lithuania and Gazprom had not yet been able to reach a compromise.
Neverovic and President Daslia Grybauskaite agreed on September 18 that Lithuania's response to Gazprom would be discussed and approved in the coming week.
Grybauskaite has said, however, that Gazprom's proposals cannot be met. "The material that has been received from Gazprom is a list of requirements to the Lithuanian government, requirements that cannot be met and are even outside the government's competence. Therefore, I am calling on the government, in this situation, to accelerate the construction of the LNG terminal and to try to reduce energy dependence on Gazprom as swiftly as possible. This is my assessment," she told reporters on September 19.
Neverovic has said Lithuania was keen to secure a reduction in gas prices and would continue to contemplate alternative gas supplies, primarily an LNG terminal in Klaipeda.
The Lithuanian government received proposals on gas supplies from Gazprom on September 13, just a week after the Lithuanian prime minister and the Russian gas giant's CEO met in Vilnius.
The parties have not said on what terms Gazprom might lower gas prices for Lithuania, but did say discussions were being held regarding litigation that Lithuania has filed with the Stockholm arbitration court against Gazprom and regarding a long-term gas supply agreement. It was claimed the implementation of the EU's Third Energy Package would not be discussed.
Gazprom's Miller said talks would cover Gazprom's investment in Lithuania, gas transit to the Kaliningrad region and "commercial" issues.
