"PROJECTS TO CREATE THE CENTRAL ASIA-SOUTH CAUCASUS-EUROPE CORRIDOR SHOULD BECOME A COMMON INTEREST

Petras Vaitiekunas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Lithuania

 

Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Vaitiekunas, how would you evaluate the efforts of Lithuania's diplomacy in reinforcing its positions to the international community?

Petras Vaitiekunas, Minister of Foreign Affairs the Republic of Lithuania: Rapid and successful democratic transition from the Soviet past to modern and progressive state, successful implementation of reforms, achievements in economy and consoliation of Lithuanian state increased Lithuania's self confidence in international arena. Today's Lithuania is a democratic and liberal state, open to outside world, which deservedly enjoys being a trustworthy member of the international community.

Lithuanian diplomacy has been working hard to reach the position of a reliable, committed and active partner in international environment - to be a member of the European Union, NATO or other international organizations. Our relatively small country can afford making national contributions to international peace and stability.

Membership in the EU and NATO has transformed Lithuania's engagement in regional and international affairs. Today Lithuania's foreign policy is focused on increasing country's profile internationally by building on the experience of the EU and NATO membership as well as on the development of good neighbourly relations and strong transatlantic link.

 

CE: The European Union today lacks a broad and principal identity. Which steps are taken to relieve this matter?

Petras Vaitiekunas: As you know, the EU comprises 27 member states and its motto is "united in diversity".  The EU embraces many different nations and cultures, its nature is multinational. This diversity makes EU identity unique - it is based on "being together" since 1957, when this European project began.

The EU identity is also formed by shared values of its members - democracy, liberty, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Though due to the historical circumstances Lithuania was not able to participate in this project from the very beginning, there is already our important contribution to it as Lithuania became member of the EU on the 1st of May, 2004.

I would not agree with a statement that a country loses its identity after becoming EU member. On the contrary, each member state participates in the creation of common canons, expresses and promotes its interests and identifies itself as a unique part in the wider context of the Union.

I would like to stress that the so called EU identity is getting even stronger as the time is passing by. As a good example I would like to recall the last European Council (June 2007) where EU leaders agreed that solidarity should be one of the key principles of the Union, underlined the importance of talking in "one European voice". The background for smooth strengthening of the European identity is being laid down.

 

CE: Which directions is Lithuania building its foreign policy to? How did these priorities alter upon its accession to the EU? Does the country pay attention to the mutual relations with European partners and the countries of South Caucasus?

Petras Vaitiekunas: First of all, Lithuania seeks to establish its firm position within the EU and NATO and to develop partnerships with NATO and EU member states. We see the membership in the EU as a unique opportunity to secure sustainable development and achievement of prosperity and high living standards. Lithuanian diplomacy seeks that the EU as a whole would be able to perform more cohesive and stronger Common Foreign and Security Policy, to formulate Common European Energy Policy, i.e. to achieve Europe that speaks with one voice to shield core values and basic interests of all member states of the EU. Therefore Lithuania promotes further integration of the EU Member States.

Second Lithuania's priority is to expand area of stability, good governance, rule of law, free market and democracy eastwards as a vital prerequisite for good neighbourly relations and successful development of Lithuania in long term. Therefore we assist our neighbours to carry out economical and social reforms, promote development and strengthening of civil societies, rule of law, respect of human freedoms and rights. Lithuania shares its unique experience of democratic transition from communist past to current modern and progressive country. In this regard I would like to stress that Lithuanian diplomacy advocates for keeping European perspective and NATO's doors open for those European countries, which see their future in closer cooperation with the EU and NATO.

Lithuania places a high attention to good relations with its EU neighbors. Strategic cooperation between Lithuania and Poland is being developed for more than decade. It has helped our countries to achieve the EU and NATO membership. The Baltic partnership has experienced different stages and has gone through from a symbolic phase of political solidarity to a day-to-day practical cooperation as it is now. Lithuania promotes a constructive dialogue with Russia based on pragmatic economic interests and universal values.  Lithuania maintains the policy of "selective contacts" vis-à-vis Belarus. Lithuania carefully follows developments in Belarus and is interested in the process of democratisation in the country. We continue supporting democracy and civil society in Belarus.

Lithuania pays a close attention to South Caucasus region as we consider it being an important part of our common neighbourhood. Situation in this region is closely linked to the stability and security of the whole Europe. Our vision for South Caucasus is a prospering, Europe-oriented and having good relations with neighbouring countries region. The maintaining support for ongoing reforms in the three countries is essential for fulfilling such a vision; therefore we welcome started implementation of the ENP Action plans for South Caucasus. These Action plans provide appropriate ground for substantial EU support in most important areas. For the moment so called "frozen" conflicts remain the greatest obstacle to the development of all South Caucasus countries. It is obvious that the word "frozen" concerns not the conflicts themselves but their resolution. In our view the EU should play a bigger role in resolving frozen conflicts in the region and all interested parties and international players should show more political willingness to solve these conflicts.

 

CE: What will be the principles and norms Lithuania will be adhered to during its 2013 presidency in the EU?

Petras Vaitiekunas: Lithuania will hold the EU Presidency in 2013, which will be the first such experience for our country. Despite the fact that we still have 6 years ahead, we have already started the preparatory work in order to successfully meet this challenge. At the moment we are concentrating our attention on the following goals: planning of personnel, improvement of administrative capacities and strengthening of presidency capacities, learning of foreign languages, creation of infrastructure, accumulation of expertise from other member states.

We hope to be well prepared to undertake the workload of the presidency. The principles on which we pursue to organize our work are: competence, effectiveness, transparency, impartiality and dialogue with all member states. European solidarity on important issues is crucial. Lithuania is seeking for a united Europe that is able to find consensus and to speak in one voice.

I believe that Lithuania will be ready to ensure the effective functioning of the EU and to adopt well balanced decisions for the issues that will be on the EU agenda.

CE: Could you provide detail on cooperation between Lithuania and Azerbaijan? Which fields of cooperation should be paid the higher attention in both countries?

Petras Vaitiekunas: I would like to emphasize that in addition to the historical ties existing years back, social and cultural links, mutual sympathy between Lithuanian and Azerbaijanis nations, we have strong and pragmatic pre-conditions for the development of bilateral relations. Those would include Azerbaijan's European orientation, institutionalization of Azerbaijan's relations with EU and NATO through ENP's Action Plan and NATO I-PAP, as well as Lithuania's aim to actively contribute into this cooperation with European and Euro-Atlantic structures by sharing its reforms and integration experience. Growing Azerbaijan's role as energy resources' provider to Europe also ought to be mentioned.

Indeed, recent two years could be marked as the intensification of our bilateral relations, first of all on political level. Last year Lithuanian President Mr. Adamkus paid first official visit to Azerbaijan, followed by Lithuanian-Azeris business forum. Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Mr.Rasizade attended Vilnius Conference "Common Vision for Common Neighbourhood", we had numerous meetings with Azeris representatives in the margins of international events. Recently Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has paid his first official visit to Lithuania.

This year both countries strengthen diplomatic representation - Lithuania has opened an embassy in Baku and appointed the ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mr. Kudzmanas. In turn, Azerbaijan has opened an embassy in Vilnuce and appointed the ambassador in Lithuania, Mrs. Naira Shakhtakhtinskaya.

Lithuania and Azerbaijan share common views on importance of regional cooperation - especially in the fields of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, energy security, strengthening of democracy. In this regard Lithuania strongly supports GUAM's activities; this was demonstrated by Mr. Adamkus's attendance to GUAM summit in Baku this June. On our hand, we are looking forward to Mr. Aliev participation in the summit on energy issues, to be held this October in Vilnius.  As well, EU's Black Sea synergy initiative, including enhanced cooperation with the countries of Black-Caspian seas region, opens new perspectives for Lithuanian and Azerbaijanis relations on regional level.

The bilateral cooperation could and should be intensified - first of all I would mention economic relations.  The trade turnover is still relatively low (due to objective reasons - huge distance complicated transport communication, different business conditions...). But I think our economic cooperation has great potential because of growing economies in both countries and regional developments. As well, already having some notification from Lithuanian businessmen on concrete interests, we consider that the active political cooperation should be directed towards opening possibilities and fields of common interest in economic sphere.

Culture could be mentioned as one more perspective field of the cooperation - Lithuania and Azerbaijan are countries with rich cultural heritage and I don‘t see any obstacles for exploring the exchange of this, possibly taking on board other Baltic and South Caucasus countries - as it was already done in a very nice UNESCO‘s and Lithuanian MFA's project „Bridges of Fairytales", which resulted the books with fairy tales from all six countries.

As well, it is a pleasure to note that our President's role in enhancement of cultural links was appreciated by giving him an award of "Ilias Efendiev" international fund.

 

CE: Which details in terms of energy security are concerning Lithuania on the eve of the Energy Summit in this country? How would you evaluate the results of Krakow Summit?

Petras Vaitiekunas: Speaking in a broad sense, depleting traditional energy resources, growing energy prices, substantially increased global demand for energy resources due to the ongoing growth of developing markets as well as challenges of climate change related to the excessive use of traditional fossil fuels are crucial factors in shaping the new global energy approach. We are capable to cope with these challenges only trying to do our best in a spirit of cooperation. Therefore, the main idea of Vilnius Energy Summit 2007 is to find the most appropriate means towards successful and mutually beneficial cooperation among main energy producers, consumers and transit countries.

Participants of Krakow Summit - namely Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine - now are developing project of building the Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk corridor for the transportation of Caspian oil to European and world markets. It was agreed to prepare a feasibility study as well as to establish a project development company. It must be said that Krakow Summit in May 2007 laid good ground initiating cooperation process between states of Central Asia, Caspian and Black Sea Regions and European countries.

 

CE: What are the principles to form the basis of Lithuania's energy security in the outlook?

Petras Vaitiekunas: In January 2007 Lithuania adopted new National Energy Strategy, where integration of our energy sector to the common EU networks as well as diversification of energy supply and energy mix are the key elements. Strategic goals to start exploitation of the new NPP until 2015 as well as operation of electricity interconnections with Poland and Scandinavia until 2012 are identified in the Strategy. We are also planning to increase significantly the share of renewables in our energy mix and energy efficiency.

Today we have a relatively good balanced energy mix. But after the closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant by the end of 2009, the share of gas in our energy mix would increase significantly. Therefore, at the moment Lithuania pays a lot of attention to solve problem of energy supply diversification. We have intensive discussions with Poland regarding gas pipelines interconnection. We are also thinking about the building of LNG terminal as well as new gas storage in the region. Adding to it, Lithuania strongly supports position to strengthen our and EU cooperation with Central Asia, Caspian and Black Sea region with the view to create new oil and gas routes to Europe. In our view, Central Asia as well as the Caspian and Black Sea region could be the good alternative in seeking the energy supply diversification in the Baltic States.

 

CE: Is Lithuania planning to extend its energy and economic cooperation with countries of the Caspian region? Which projects are the most attractive?

Petras Vaitiekunas: Taking into account the increasing dependence of the EU on a limited number of energy sources, suppliers and transport routes, diversification should be considered as one of the most important pillars of external EU energy policy. In this context Caspian Sea region have a strategic importance. Lithuania is strongly encouraging the EU to intensify energy dialogue with the region.

Projects to create the Central Asia-South Caucasus-Europe corridor should become a common interest. In this context two important projects are to be underlined: Nabucco pipeline and Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk project.

In 2007, European Commission put Nabucco project among four energy infrastructure priority projects where European coordinators will be appointed to speed up their implementation. At this stage it is important to secure the supply of gas to the project and the Caspian Sea region will play the central role in this field (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan could supply significant amount of gas). It is also worth to consider possible extension of the project to other Central and Eastern Europe countries (Poland and the Baltic States).

As to oil supply, today Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk oil pipeline is the most realistic oil diversification project for the EU in Eastern direction. Implementation of this project will allow transporting Caspian oil to the EU. In this case it is important to secure engagement of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan authorities and oil companies to shift part of their oil export through the new extended Odessa-Brody-Plock pipeline.

 

CE: In Lithuania's opinion, which components shall form the basis of the intergovernmental agreement to govern participation of governments and companies in Caspian oil transportation corridor project?

Petras Vaitiekunas: As you know, during the Krakow energy conference in May 2007 the delegations agreed to create an intergovernmental working group to prepare an intergovernmental agreement regulating the participation of states and companies in the project to build a corridor for the transportation of Caspian oil to European and world markets (Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline). Lithuania has appointed state company "Klaipedos Nafta" to participate in the starting stage of the project, in which feasibility study will be prepared. According to its results, main components for intergovernmental agreement will be drawn.

 

CE: What are the principles Lithuania observes on the EU expansion? What does the government think of Turkey‘s joining the Union?

Petras Vaitiekunas: The EU enlargement was and still is the most successful EU policy, which promoted stability and security along the Union's borders. Therefore we need to maintain this policy.

As to the enlargement process - it was already significantly improved in the last years - Copenhagen criteria, principles of rigorous but fair conditionality and judgment of each country on its own merits should be the key elements.

Lithuania supports Turkey's EU perspective. Turkey is important for the EU in many respects: strategic, political, economic and cultural. Turkey also plays a strategic role in building the stability and security in the Middle East, Black Sea and Caspian regions. If we take European energy security and diversification seriously, energy cooperation with Turkey is of strategic value. Europe-oriented and modern Turkey, which is motivated to continue its reforms, is the interest of the EU.

We want to have a European Turkey in the EU as a member state but a European Turkey must comply with the European obligations and values.

 

CE: How is Lithuania and the EU as whole going to build relations with Russia?

Petras Vaitiekunas: To start with, I want to stress that Lithuania and Russia are neighbours. We do not have other alternatives, but to develop good relations with Russia. We have big hopes to maintain these relations with Russia based on democratic values and mutually beneficial cooperation. However, a goodwill and recognition that practices of "zero sum" game is a straight highway to deadlock of relationship are the main conditions for the success of both of the EU/Russia strategic partnership and the EU member states relations and cooperation with Russia.

On the other hand, the EU should answer to itself: what kind of cooperation with Russia do we want and what kind of Russia do we want to cooperate with? The time is right to initiate inside the EU broader revision of the relations with Russia for better evaluation of our aims and efficiency of existing instruments of cooperation in the light of Russian internal developments. We need to be sure that on the EU side we have done everything we could for ensuring mutual quality of future EU - Russia relations.

 

Thank you for the interview.