OREANDA-NEWS. On February 08, 2007 Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, during his official visit to Lithuania, met Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania, and Gediminas Kirkilas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, reported the Official website www.mk.gov.lv.

The focus of the meeting with President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus was the issues regarding the sea borders of Latvia and Lithuania, the energy policy in the area of gas and electricity, the aspects of the Baltic solidarity and economic cooperation. The Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus presented the Latvian Prime Minister with a significant national award – the Grand Cross of Commander – for strengthening friendly and favourable relations between the both countries.

In its turn, during the meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, the bilateral relations and regional issues of the both countries were discussed in more detail. Concerning the area of energy security policy, the Prime Ministers discussed the progress regarding the issue of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. The issues concerning the gas line projects of Nord Stream and Amber were also discussed. The Prime Ministers agreed that plans of Amber for building a gas line should be considered at the level of European Union and Russia by offering an alternative terrestrial route from Russia to Germany, crossing the territories of the Baltic States and Poland.

Concerning the area of transport infrastructure, I.Godmanis informed about the implementation of VIA Baltica project and necessity for completing the building of Kekava by-pass road. The opportunities for the implementation of the Rail Baltic project, ensuring the services of passenger carriage and transport movement between Europe and Russia were also discussed. I.Godmanis highlighted that this issue concerns not only Latvia and Lithuania, but whole European Union, tackling of which requires support of Russian party and readiness to introduce technical equipment of European standards.

In the context of matters of the European Union, the Lisbon Treaty and strengthening the neighbour policy in Georgia, Moldova and the Ukraine were discussed.

In today’s agenda I.Godmanis has a meeting with Viktoras Muntianas, Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania, the ministers for economy and finance, as well as the representatives of Latvian Trade and Industry Chamber.