Poland's president to visit Lithuania

Poland's President Lech Kaczynski travels to neighboring Lithuania on Monday for talks on European energy security and on the situation in nearby Belarus and Ukraine. Kaczynski is to meet Lithuania's President Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and parliamentary speaker Arturas Paulauskas during the two-day trip. He is also to address the parliament in Vilnius on "Poland and Lithuania in the united Europe." Both ex-communist nations joined the EU in 2004.

Photo: Poland's president to visit Lithuania

Kaczynski's foreign policy aide, Andrzej Krawczyk, said talks would include Polish proposals to limit Europe's dependence on natural gas supplies from Russia. The issue gained importance earlier this year, when Moscow temporarily cut gas supplies to Ukraine during a price dispute. They were also to discuss the situation in Ukraine and Belarus, both of which have elections this month. Poland supports pro-Western and pro-democracy drives in its eastern neighbors. Poland and Lithuania planned to sign an agreement on fighting organized crime during Kaczynski's visit, reports the AP.

N.U.