Russia/Lithuania: Presidents Applaud 'Progress' In Bilateral Talks

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a common statement on the future of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad once Lithuania joins the EU and maybe NATO. Both heads of state noted that progress has been made during their talks. The agreement seems to have allayed some of Russia's fears. The meeting of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended today in the Kremlin with an upbeat declaration expressing understanding for Russia's worries about the possible economic and security consequences of Lithuania's entry into the European Union and possibly NATO. The declaration constitutes a first step in negotiations to reach a mutually-acceptable compromise. At the end of a three-hour talk, Adamkus called the meeting with Putin "historic," saying that Moscow and Vilnius would make an "enormous" contribution to the "creation of a new Europe." Existing problems should be solved through "political negotiations," the Lithuanian president was quoted as saying. In a special statement on Kaliningrad, signed by Putin and Adamkus this afternoon, both countries pledged to grant Kaliningrad's inhabitants as much freedom of movement as possible and to improve the rules that regulate the shipment of energy and military equipment through Lithuania. However, disagreements persist over Lithuania's demand that Russian pay out compensation for the occupation of its territory for 50 years. While Adamkus clearly spoke out against the compensation law last summer, saying it didn't serve the nation's interests, he did tell NTV last night that Russia should compensate for ecological damage caused by Soviet occupation.