Lietuva in brief - 2009-08-26

  • 2009-08-26
It is not very logical to continue this ongoing delay in the ratification of the sea border agreement between Latvia and Lithuania, says European Parliament Deputy Vytautas Landsbergis, reports news agency LETA. "I was the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament when the agreement was being drawn up. I met with several high ranking Latvian officials. The agreement has been signed, but the last step to finalize the agreement has not been made - its ratification in the Latvian Saeima," claims Landsbergis, emphasizing that the Lithuanian parliament already ratified the agreement ten years ago. Landsbergis believes that there is a political force [in Latvia] which does not wish for the agreement to come into force. 

Russia is trying to bring under its control the Baltic States, warns European Parliament Deputy Vytautas Landsbergis, reports news agency LETA. Landsbergis said in an interview with daily Diena that "There is a specific situation in Latvia - people of other nationalities either support the development of a European country or tend to be in favor of the [former] Soviet Union. Appointment of the new Riga mayor [Nils Usakovs] proves this." Landsbergis also said he has no need to be in contact with Latvia's European Parliamentarian (EP) Alfreds Rubiks, and says that Tatjana Zdanoka "has already been working in the EP, claiming to be an advocate of Latvia's interests, although all political analysts know that she represents Russian interests." Landsbergis though declined to comment on whose interests Rubiks is pursuing in the EP.