VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus is back home after holding informal talks with his Polish counterpart, Lech Kaczynski Aug. 27 and 28 during which they discussed a wide range of topics from nuclear power to EU integration.
Kaczyński thanked Adamkus for his role in harmonizing positions of the European Union member states on the EU reform treaty due to be approved at October's Lisbon Summit.
Kaczyński also confirmed Poland's willingness to participate in the building of a new nuclear power plant after recent hints that Poland might be having second thoughts about the project.
The presidents expressed hope that advanced technology would be used to integrate the Baltic States into the Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE), and agreed that a joint Lithuanian-Polish enterprise will be set up in the near future for the purpose of building an electricity supply 'bridge'.
On transport infrastructure, Adamkus and Kaczyński adopted a joint position with regard to the Rail Baltica railroad and Via Baltica road projects, stressing that both should be implemented without delay. They also agreed to act together in pressing the European Union for a resolution of the controversial Augustow bypass, a key road route between Poland and Lithuania.
Presidents of Lithuania and Poland agreed to continue aiming for positive changes in resolving issues relevant to the Lithuanian and Polish ethnic minorities. President of Poland Lech Kaczyński assured that they will try to solve the issue of building an extension of the Lithuanian school in Punsk.
The meetings were conducted at Kaczyński's summer residence, giving an indication of the close personal relationship that seems to be developing between the two men. Only U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have previously had an invitation to the Polish presidential bolt-hole.
