Lituanica

The main motivation for not coming was an acute political crisis in Poland. ‘Crisis in Poland, what crisis?’ could be asked.  Crisis in Poland does not surprise anybody.  It happens almost every day.  However, unofficially the reason for not coming was that the Polish site is not happy about Lithuania’s private business taking part in the project.  It is a dubious situation, there are voices in Lithuania also that the business group concerned should have less saying in the project.   

Furthermore, Lithuanian parliament has passed the Law on nuclear project, which according to its critics does not posses enough controlling powers over the private capital.  The state should control 51% of the state.  Lithuania, according to the law should have a control of 34% of the plant; the rest of the countries should share 22% each. 

On his first foreign visit to Tallinn, the newly elected President of Latvia Zalters and the Estonian President Ilves declared that if Lithuania and Poland will not agree on the project soon enough they have to think of alternative solutions and try to solve this problem on their own.  This was a signal sent to Warsaw and Vilnius.   During Zalters’ trip to Vilnius he declared that the Baltic states could not afford to wait until Poland will solve its own domestic problems.   

We have to make decisions now, because after the Ignalina plant will be shut down at the end of 2009 the Baltic states will become even more dependant on Russia on the energy supplies.  Lithuania’s President Adamkus assured his Latvian counterpart that there are no any problems with the Poles and that the plans are not changing. There no any guaranties that brothers Kazcinsky will stay in the power for long enough.  There are no guaranties that Warsaw would be as enthusiastic about the project if the regime change will eventually take place.  It also seems that Polish factor in the project is having a negative effect on unity among the Baltic States.