VILNIUS, Jun 23, BNS – With Lithuania trying to reach a deal with Latvia and Estonia on boycotting electricity from the Astravyets nuclear power plant in Belarus, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis says that Lithuania should spell out its clear interests and defend them at the European Commission.

“We share the same stance with the president. Lithuania shall present a clear declaration spelling out its interests and involve the European Commission in that process … and then make every effort to defend those interests both here and at the Commission,” he told the reporters at the parliament on Tuesday.

Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas earlier proposed to the government to sign a compromise agreement, under which Latvia and Estonia would support Lithuania’s plans not to purchase electricity from the nuclear facility in Astravyets but would stop short of committing to do the same.

However, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius criticized the compromise version and urged the parties to negotiate a more ambitious deal.

Meanwhile, President Gitanas Nauseda called on the ministers to reach a common position on the issue.

Lithuania is the Belarusian project's biggest critic and is ready to boycott the entry of electricity from the facility into the market. Minsk rejects Vilnius' criticism regarding the nuclear power plant's safety.

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

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