Linkevicius praises U.S. moves for LNG export

On the last day of visit to the United States, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius met with Ed Royce, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, to discuss regional energy security threats and energy security challenges caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, reports ELTA. Royce said to the minister that prior to their meeting the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives approved a law on liberalization of liquefied natural gas export. It is hoped that the full House will vote on the law in the nearest future.

Linkevicius noted that a positive decision by Congress on liberalization of liquefied natural gas exports is highly significant to Lithuania and other states of Central and Eastern Europe, which seek to diversify energy resources as much as possible and to reduce energy dependence on one supplier.

At a meeting during the conference of the Atlantic Council, Linkevicius and U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden discussed the agenda established with President Dalia Grybauskaite during Biden's recent visit to Lithuania.

In Washington Linkevicius also raised the question of opening the U.S. market to Lithuanian food products, especially meat. The minister visited the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he noted that Lithuanian authorities have submitted all the required information and hoped for prompt decision by the U.S. administration regarding import of Lithuanian meat products.