Brussels, 04/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - Meeting on Wednesday 3 October at Dikli Castle in Latvia, within the framework of the Baltic Council of Ministers, the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian heads of government - Andrus Ansip, Aigars Kalvitis and Gediminas Kirkilas respectively - expressed their support for Russia's membership to the WTO. They recalled how important it was to address “all relevant outstanding issues in a timely manner such as the elimination of all discriminatory railway tariffs” and fulfilment of Moscow's commitments regarding export duties on roundwood timber (see EUROPE 9511). Messrs Ansip, Kalvitis and Kirkilas looked at a series of questions relating to the EU's external policy, and stressed their attachment to setting up a real EU/Russia energy partnership based on the principles of transparency, fair competition, reciprocity and non-discrimination. “A rapid solution of Druzhba pipeline problems and renewing of oil supplies to Lithuania and Latvia is important for enhancing the trust in EU-Russia energy partnership”, they stress in their joint declaration. The Baltic heads of state agreed to maintain strengthened cooperation between their three countries to ensure energy supply security. In this context, they stressed the importance of integrating the Baltic electricity and gas supply systems with the EU energy systems. It was also agreed that the power interconnection projects with the neighbouring EU countries should be further developed thus paving the way for further integration into the UCTE and NORDEL systems. Messrs Ansip, Kalvitis and Kirkilas also recognised the efforts of the three Baltic Energy companies, in cooperation with Poland, in promoting implementation of the Ignalina Nuclear Power plant, and expressed hope for more successful cooperation within the project development stage. They agreed to adopt a “common Baltic Energy Strategy” in the near future. (eh)