Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis today, who is on his official visit to Lithuania. During the warm and efficient meeting the two counterparts have discussed the topical bilateral issues and shared initiatives intended to make the neighbourly cooperation even more dynamic.

During the meeting, the Prime Ministers shared evaluations of the financial and economic situation in the two countries. The counterparts agreed that situation was similar in both countries. Although currently Latvia’s economic indicators are slightly worse as compared to those of Lithuania, stringent saving measures adopted by the new government led by Valdis Dombrovskis are going to stabilise the situation in time; and Latvia’s economy, like Lithuania’s, should start recovering next year.

The two counterparts have also dwelt upon the joint Lithuanian-Latvian energy projects. The Prime Ministers have agreed that the energy link with Sweden is a joint commercial project of three equal states, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden, the principal aim of which is to integrate the free and open Nordic and Baltic electricity markets. Lithuanian Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas, who was also present at the meeting, has informed the Latvian Prime Minister that Lithuania is going to purchase 50 % of electricity in the free market and is ready to fully open the electricity market by 2013.

Prime Minister Kubilius has noted that Lithuania has recently speeded up the implementation of another joint project – that of the Visaginas nuclear power plant – as well. Lithuania is going to present the Road Map for the Visaginas nuclear power plant during the Baltic Prime Ministers’ Roundtable that is to take place on 26-27 April 2009 in Vilnius. The Road Map is going to set specific steps for the company implementing the project, which will provide the basis for the start of the actual construction of the nuclear power plant already in the beginning of 2010.

Andrius Kubilius has brought up some other issues as well. The Lithuanian Prime Minister has expressed concern about the possible impact of the changing Latvian education funding on the Riga Lithuanian secondary school, which serves as a Lithuanian hub in Latvia. Prime Minister Kubilius has requested Latvian Prime Minister’s help in addressing the situation regarding some of the Latvia-Lithuania boarder roads trenched on the Latvian side. The Latvian Prime Minister has made note of this.

The counterparts have agreed that the strategic neighbourhood cooperation could be reinforced by the Balts’ Foundation established and led by the Prime Ministers of both states. The Foundation would be responsible for the implementation of different cultural initiatives.