Lithuanian Prime Minister on relations with Russia

Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas of Lithuania is to arrive on a working visit in Moscow October 20.

Russia will always be Lithuania's important economic partner, Brazauskas said October 20, before leaving for Moscow.

Lithuania gets 20 percent of its imports from Russia, Brazauskas went on to say. That huge country, which boasts a capacious market and abundant resources, supplies oil, gas and nuclear fuel to Lithuania, Brazauskas added.

Our ties with the Kaliningrad region, as well as Kaliningrad-Russia transits via Lithuanian territory, are an important aspect of our political relations, Brazauskas stressed. In his words, this issue has been almost settled. Brazauskas admitted that the citizens of both countries didn't perceive this transit procedure as very convenient. However, Lithuania must heed EU demands, after joining the European Union next year, Brazauskas noted.

Brazauskas would like to discuss bilateral cooperation issues, such as the protection of the Baltic Sea (where Russia intends to set up oil rigs), railroad transport, as well as the ratification of economic cooperation documents with the Russian leadership.