Lithuanian political experts: transit of Russian military cargoes does not threaten Lithuanian sovereignty

Lithuanian political experts do not believe transit of Russian military cargoes via Lithuania's territory to Kaliningrad, Russia's enclave on the Baltic, poses a threat to their country's sovereignty. The opinion was voiced by Raimundas Lopata, director of the Vilnius university's international relations institute, at a press conference in RIA Novosti on Friday.

Russian military transit via Lithuania will face no such problem, he said, despite introducing in 2003 the visa regime for transit passengers going from Russia to Kaliningrad via Lithuania, he said. Military men will need visas on common terms, Lopata explained.

The issue is especially topical now, as Lithuania is actively preparing to join the NATO and the EU, he added. These organizations are also interested in the problem, though the transit is conducted by the Russian-Lithuanian bilateral agreement, the expert pointed out.

Transportation of other states' military cargoes in Lithuania is regulated by rules adopted by the country's government in 1994, he said.