Bruxelles, 28/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - During an interview with EUROPE in Vilnius on 27 November, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said he would not veto the partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) with Russia, and stressed the need for Moscow to keep its commitments set out in the six-point plan, negotiated with the French EU Presidency, to put an end to the Russian-Georgian conflict. Stressing his country's isolation when it comes to energy supply and its dependency on Russian resources, Mr Adamkus also spoke of the emerging infrastructure projects in Lithuania that will integrate it into European energy markets. (E.H./transl.jl)
AGENCE EUROPE: What do you think of the fact that the EU has decided to resume talks with Russia for a partnership and cooperation agreement despite Lithuania's opposition to this unilateral decision?
Valdas Adamkus: I want to make it clear that Lithuania is definitively not opposing a relationship between the EU and Russia. I have always been one of the loudest voices to say that we, especially Lithuania, have to have a good and respectful working relationship with Russia, on an equal footing. But that cooperation and willingness to cooperate should be reflected on both sides equally. When the question came up recently at the EU/Russia summit for reopening negotiation between the two, Lithuania only reminded the European community that, some months ago, it was unanimously accepted that Russia had to fulfil some of the commitments, commitments that deal with security, and the reinsurance of stability in the entire region. Here I'm talking about that unfortunate case in Georgia, when President (of the EU Council) Nicolas Sarkozy and President (of Russia) Dmitri Medvedev agreed in Moscow on the six point plan. Unfortunately even today, and this is already universally accepted, Russia has not fulfilled its commitments, and that is the only reason why Lithuania took a very clear position to say that we are in no way vetoing or stopping this agreement process, but we are just saying that all commitments should be carried out. We shall go along on an equal basis to definitely negotiate that agreement. We are willing for the EU and especially Lithuania to have a good neighbourly and friendly relationship with their big neighbour.
AGENCE EUROPE: Does the fact that Lithuania will need to rely on Russia for energy supplies after closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant influence its approach regarding energy security?
Valdas Adamkus: The energy issue for Lithuania is extremely important. At the present time, after the closure of the Ignalina power plant, we will depend on Russian resources - what I call a Russian monopoly. We are becoming an isolated energy island. Particularly for that reason, we made quite a lot of progress in developing a network - independent from Russia - starting in Scandinavia, from Norway to Finland which has already a connection with Estonia [Ed: Estlink]. I personally negotiated with the prime minister of Sweden. We have a principle agreement on the connection of electricity cables from Sweden to Latvia and Lithuania [Ed: SwedLit]. At the same time, after ten years of negotiations with Poland, last year we signed a formal agreement that commits us to building a connection between our two countries, what we call the PowerBridge (Ed: LitPolLink], that integrates Lithuania to the Western grid [Ed: UCTE system] and to the European energy markets. As far as we are concerned, we have completed all environmental and ecological impact studies and property legal requirements. We are ready to start work tomorrow if we have full cooperation from the other partners I have mentioned. We are going to push forward because I personally feel that if this is operational in maybe 2013/2014, we shall have an independent, competitive network with Russia. That will provide us not only with energy independence but it will also provide political independence, because it provides the opportunity for the growth of the economy and a better quality of life for our citizens.
AGENCE EUROPE: Regarding Ignalina and negotiations for extending its operability, do you think the EU has treated you fairly?
Valdas Adamkus: At the present time, we still do not understand the real reasons why the EU simply insists on closing the Ignalina power plant which is very safe operationally, this having been confirmed by international inspections, and why a neighbour, with all due respect Finland, is building a new nuclear unit while at the same time Lithuania is forced to close something that is not broken. I have to admit that we are committed by the 2002 agreement which was a prerequisite for Lithuania to enter the EU, and today we are looking at a situation which is completely different when it comes to energy prices and energy demands. But Lithuania at that period did not want to weaken the case for saving the Ignalina plant, even if it meant sacrificing membership to the EU. So, to answer your question, I do not believe we have been treated fairly because Ignalina is much safer than any other plant operating in the EU.
AGENCE EUROPE: Are talks on the new nuclear plant in Visaginas moving forward?
Valdas Adamkus: We have an agreement of principle already - a commitment by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland with a very specific request to produce certain amounts of electricity that will be allocated to Poland. The technical details have still not been worked out but the signature is set on the paper.
AGENCE EUROPE: According to you, is the Nord Stream project a closed chapter?
Valdas Adamkus: Knowing the ecological conditions in the Baltic Sea, the Nord Stream pipeline is an over-glorified project. And from the economic point of view, this project is very expensive and will have no impact on energy prices. I think that there is a much cheaper project on the surface line, a more practical one to ensure gas deliveries. So if you are asking me whether this project is dead or not, then, yes, currently it is dead.
AGENCE EUROPE: During the last European Council in October, you sent a clear message to your counterparts on Lithuania's energy security needs. Do you think you were heard?
Valdas Adamkus: No. And I don't see why we were not heard. Competition? Politics? I really cannot explain it. But the last day European Commission commitment through its recovery plan for jobs and growth to increase investment to modernise Europe's energy infrastructure showed one thing - that finally someone has woken up and recognised that the situation is real and worrying. The demand for energy in Europe is going to grow and, unless we are definitely going to respond to that demand, one of these days in a very near future, not tomorrow but maybe in five years' time, we shall be crying out for more energy, without knowing where to get it, because that is going to impact upon the entire European continent.