Lithuanian PM: Railway repairs to remain apolitical

  • 2006-08-22
  • TBT Staff
Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas says no "repairs" of railways running through Lithuania would be carried for political reasons.
"The repairs of the railway will take place if it is necessary," he said on Aug. 21.
Russian military transit to and from the Kaliningrad region would not be restricted, he said.
"The military transit is proceeding as it always did but if an accident occurred, God forbid, repairs would definitely take place. This is not necessary so far," said Kirkilas.
President Valdus Adamkus believes that Lithuania's Kaliningrad transit program should ensure safety of passengers and cargo, adding that railways should be repaired in case of necessity.
"We have an obligation before the international community to allow Kaliningrad transit, however, at the same time we have to ensure safety of the trains and passengers crossing Lithuanian territory," the president said on Aug. 19. "If there is an issue of repairs to ensure safety of railway traffic, I do not see any political tensions here - work needs to be done. It is a normal process."
In co-operation with BNS