VILNIUS - The Swedish ambassador to Lithuania has called for a unified approach from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on a planned electricity link with Sweden.
Ambassador Malin Karre said all three Baltic countries have to decide on whether an underwater electricity cable to Sweden should be built from Lithuania or from Latvia.
The cable link to Sweden has been delayed because of infighting between Latvia and Lithuania about where the cable should land.
"Whatever the decision, it should be made by the Nordic and Baltic countries. Therefore, we want to be certain that irrespective of whether this [energy] bridge goes to Lithuania or to Latvia, it is beneficial to the whole Baltics. Both or even all three Baltic countries have to agree among themselves to which country the bridge is to go," Karre said.
The squabbling between the two countries was farcical, the ambassador said.
"Earlier, your two countries were pushing and competing with each other like boys in a sandbox, but, as far as I understand from meetings with your ministers, you have started looking for a decision convenient to all," she said.
Latvian president Valdis Zatlers agrees that the Baltic States need to show solidarity.
"This could be any location in Latvia and any in Sweden. It is not important since we all are concerned about the energy security of the region. The Baltic electricity market is common, it's just that we have to modify the principles of the project so that it could be implemented by all countries, perhaps first via the setting up of a joint venture 's the regional electricity market operator, which would take care of energy supply to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland," Zatlers said in August. Karre added that recent events in Georgia and the probability that the Baltic countries might face energy problems highlighted the urgent need for Lithuania and Latvia to come to a decision.
"As far as I understand, there will be a meeting in early October, in which the Baltic countries are likely to find a solution," she said.
The solution to the energy problem is high on the agenda, with the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant's shutdown date rapidly approaching. Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus said speedy negotiations were important. "We cannot lose a single day, a single hour in the implementation of this plan. Otherwise we will come to harm, and it would cost us a lot," Adamkus said.
Lithuania faces the prospect of energy reliance on Russia because the Baltic nation is not connected to the European energy grid. It is due to shut down the Ignalina plant, its major source of electricity, in 2009 in accordance with EU policy.
Asked whether Sweden backed Lithuania's efforts to keep the Ignalina plant running beyond its scheduled closure date, Karre said that the Swedish government had not made such a decision yet.
"I understand that the Lithuanian government seeks an extension of the INPP as a means to ask the European Commission and other member states for help in solving energy problems. It is our duty to help it in this, possibly by implementing programs aimed at enhancing energy efficiency," the ambassador said.
"Speaking about the unsafety of the type of reactors the INPP uses, perhaps Lithuania's people should be worried that they have the Ignalina plant," she said.
Lithuania, which completed a study on the likelihood of a power link with Sweden last year, found evidence that the project would be attractive commercially and urges its neighbors to join the project as soon as possible. However, Riga aims to conduct analysis of a power link between Latvia and Sweden that may last until spring.
