Russia and Lithuania preparing to introduce new border regime

Vice-Premier of the Russian government Viktor Khristenko and chairman of the Seimas of Lithuania Arturas Palauskas discussed in Moscow technical questions related to the forthcoming introduction of a new border regime between Russia and Lithuania from July 1, 2003.

In a conversation with journalists, the Vice-Premier explained that in the course of the talks the sides discussed both passenger and freight traffic between the Kaliningrad Region - Russia's western exclave on the Baltic Sea - and mainland Russia.

As Khristenko said, all the questions of trade-economic and political relations of the two countries were also touched upon during the talks. The matter concerned, in particular, the Russian investments in Lithuania, he said. As the Vice-Premier noted, Russian capital already works in the oil-refining sector of Lithuania.

According to him, other Russian companies are now also voicing their interest in operating on the Lithuanian market. Khristenko cited Gazprom among such interested companies. Furthermore, Russian investments in the electric power industry of Lithuania can also be at issue, he said.

The broadening of the two countries' investment cooperation will stimulate bilateral goods turnover, Khristenko believes. By his information, the amount of Lithuanian goods supplied to Russia has doubled this year.

According to the forecasts, this year the goods turnover between Russia and Lithuania will run into about 2 billion dollars.