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Lithuanian MFA: no secret deals with Belarus on Astravyets NPP

BC, Vilnius, 11.11.2015.Print version
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has categorically denied Russian media reports about the secret deal reached between the Lithuanian government and Belarus on harmonization of the Astravyets nuclear plant with Lithuania, as required by the United Nations (UN) convention on environmental impact, informs LETA/BNS.

"We are used to all types of rumors that are spread, however, I am terribly surprised in this case. They're saying things that are entirely different from the actual situation. (…) Saying that Lithuania could quietly reach some secret agreements is fully absurd," Linkevicius told Lietuvos Zinios daily.

 

The Russian media reported that the Lithuanian government had quietly agreed with Belarus that the Astravyets N-plant project had been harmonized with Lithuania, as required by the Espoo convention. Furthermore, the Lithuanian government reportedly intends to boost the power lines leading to Belarus to be able to buy electricity from the Astravyets utility and sell it further to Sweden and Poland.

 

In the interview to the daily, the foreign minister emphasized that Lithuania has been demanding and would continue to demand, through all the potential of international organizations, that Belarus observed the Astravyets security requirements. "We will never lower the threshold, as the safety requirements for the power plant, which is being constructed some 50 km from Vilnius, are a sensitive issue for us and the rest of the region," Linkevicius noted.






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