Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Legislation, Lithuania, Port, Railways, Transport

Raimonds Vejonis at the meeting with Liepaja municipality. Photo: president.lv

''Not always should we think that the only neighbor we have problems with is Russia. We also have a huge problem with Lithuania in regard to rail cargo shipments,'' said Sesks.

Already several years ago, Lithuania dismantled the rail line connecting Mazeikiai with Priekule and the Port of Liepaja. Furthermore, several dozens of kilometers of the rail line with Renge has been dismantled as well.

''The Latvian side has maintained its rail lines to the Lithuanian border, and the rail lines are in good shape. However, the Lithuanian side deliberately dismantled its rail connections with Latvia,'' said Sesks. ''This is not an indicator of good neighborly relations, and it is not very friendly for a neighbor to close off a road connecting the two countries or dismantle a rail line.''

Sesks pointed out that he discussed this matter with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite several years ago, but that the Lithuanian side continues to ignore this. ''That is why our politicians must be more active on solving this problem, as renewing the rail line with Lithuania would allow Liepaja Port to increase its importance in the Baltic Sea region,'' he said.