Baltic States – CIS, Lithuania, Russia, Tourism

Audronius Azubalis.

At the meeting, Azubalis stressed that in view of the approaching beginning of the new school year, it is important to ensure smooth start of work for Lithuanian language teachers arriving from Lithuania to Kaliningrad Region, and resolve frequent border crossing and other practical issues. Tsukanov promised to take care that the arriving Lithuanian language teachers could work without hindrance.

When discussing the issues of cultural cooperation, it was stated that both parties will cooperate and coordinate actions in preparation for commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Kristijonas Donelaitis birth and the 450th anniversary of Martynas Mazvydas death.

Azubalis invited the guest to attend the European Men's Basketball Championship, which will start soon in Lithuania and stressed that all basketball fans from the Kaliningrad region are welcome to Lithuania. The Governor expressed his gratitude for the invitation and promised to avail himself of it.

The participants of the meeting also paid attention to the issues of cooperation in the area of tourism. The Minister stressed that prompt resolution of questions of navigation in the Curonian Lagoon and the construction of border crossing post in Rasytë (Rybachy) would contribute to faster development of tourism. Tsukanov stated that the issue of the border crossing post will be solved before the end of next year.

According to Azubalis, it is also necessary to address the border control posts capacity issue, which will become even more relevant after the signing and the implementation of the agreement on local border traffic regime.

"Lithuania speaks in favour of the agreement that could benefit all residents of the Kaliningrad region," the Minister stressed.

The governor undertook to cooperate in resolving the border control posts capacity issue.

In discussion on the planned construction of the nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad Region, Azubalis stressed that Lithuanian people are extremely concerned about ensuring environment protection and nuclear safety of the project.

"Public hearings should be held in Lithuania as required by the Espoo Convention. The issue of Kaliningrad nuclear power plant's nuclear safety has become even more important after the recent incident at a similar nuclear power plant which is being constructed in St. Petersburg," the Lithuanian foreign minister noted.

The participants of the meeting coincide in opinion that the Declaration on Lithuanian-Russian Modernization Partnership and successful implementation of Cross-Border Cooperation Programme will give an additional impetus for cooperation between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Region, LETA/ ELTA reports.