25/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Lithuanian Chief negotiator in accession negotiations with the EU, Petras Asterevicius, told AFP, in Vilnius, that it would be too difficult for his country to pay all its contribution to the EU budget from the outset, "even with the compensation offered by the European Commission". "We want to begin by paying between 15 and 20% of the amount required and gradually increase our payments to reach 100% in seven years", he stipulated.