Lietuva in brief - 2010-04-01

Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius positively evaluates the intention of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to honor the victims of the Katyn memorial and lay flowers on their graves, together with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on April 4, reports ELTA. “These facts provide hope that Russia will revise its evaluation of the January 13 events in Lithuania. We want a different approach to our struggle for independence. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko helped Lithuania in the January 13 case. It was very hard for Lithuania to admit to the whole world that during the war, Lithuanians murdered Jews, to admit and apologize, respecting the human sufferings of each and every nation,” said Kubilius. Putin offered to create trust forums, similar to those that Russia has with the Czech Republic, and Poland, where difficult historical issues are being discussed until it is arrived at a mutually satisfactory solution.

Lithuania would like to speak with Russian company Gazprom about “the modernization of prices,” Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, reports ELTA. At the beginning of the meeting, Putin welcomed Kubilius’ acceptance of his invitation to meet and attend the opening of the International Rostropovich music festival. Putin expressed his satisfaction over a “great opportunity” to discuss bilateral relations, trade issues which, according to him, were “not bad, but could surely be better.” The Russian prime minister also said that he was interested in energy issues. Kubilius also invited the Russian prime minister to attend the sitting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Lithuania at the beginning of June.