“That information was provided and was constantly shared (…) we did not hear a clear position that the contract should be terminated,” M. Dubauskas said on Friday at the LRT radio show “Radijo ringas”.
According to him, all the information was provided to the Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs and to the company’s board meeting in mid-October and November, which also includes representatives of the ministry.
Arno Strumilos / 15min nuotr./Mantas Dubauskas
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“We communicated with the representatives of the Ministry about all the steps related to the situation in Belaruskalij, as well as provided information to the Board. I will remind you that there is also a representative of the Ministry of Transport and Communications in the Board, ”he emphasized.
True, he stressed unable to answer whether the information reached the ministers.
“I could not confirm whether the ministers were informed directly, but the representatives of the minister’s team, the representatives of the ministries, were informed. I could not say how the information is walking in the ministries, ”said a representative of Lithuanian Railways.
VIDEO: Understand in an instant: how the political crisis over Belarus transit arose
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He noted that all options for terminating the contract had been consulted with the company’s internal and external lawyers, and a way out of the situation that would not result in hundreds of millions in losses had been sought.
Commenting information that appeared on Thursday that the company itself had initiated talks with financial institutions with regard to the possibility of accepting payments and after 8 December, he claimed that this was done in order to secure evidence in possible legal disputes.
Photo by Lukas April / 15min / Belaruskalij wagons checked at Stlasylai railway border checkpoint
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“It simply came to our notice then force majeure “In a circumstance provided for in the agreement with Belaruskalij, we had to have a very clear answer – whether there are opportunities to pay or not,” said M. Dubauskas.
“For this purpose, all or almost all of the financial institutions registered in Lithuania – banks and electronic money institutions – were contacted, asking them whether they would service or not,” he stated.
According to him, all institutions were asked to provide a negative response in writing, which could be used in any subsequent legal proceedings, such as an action or arbitration.
“So that we can provide proof that there was no way to pay,” the company’s communications director explained.
However, he admitted that one company had been found that had agreed to service the settlements.
Sigismund Gedvilas / 15min photo / Eugenijus Gentvilas
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Eugenijus Gentvilas, a parliamentarian who also took part in the show, said that he believed that both Lithuanian Railways and the port of Klaipeda acted “behind the backdrop of the Government and against Lithuanian policy decisions”, so responsibility should fall on them.
According to the member of the Seimas, the companies have agreed with the Bulk Cargo Terminal, which handles fertilizers, to continue operations.
“It seems to me that this is a conversation behind me. And here are these fintechų “The searches clearly show that we were looking for ways to continue working here after December 8,” said E. Gentvilas.
He also had questions about the search for options to terminate the contract – when did they start in December or August?
VIDEO: Lithuanian Railways: how to stop the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania
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“I think those decisions should have been made a long time ago, those ways have been found and the government has been consulted. Could the government have done those things? He probably could, too, “the parliamentarian said.
However, E. Gentvilas admitted that the Ministry of Transport and Communications “had to keep the reins in hand” and ensure that the process went as it should.
Although he said that the version of “Lithuanian Railways” sounded like a self-defense to him, he claimed that he did not want to be categorical and asked for more information.
“Tell us when the second advance fell, when the government or ministry was informed of the response. We are now floating in airless space, “said a spokesman for the ruling coalition.
On Wednesday, it became clear in the Seimas that in November, as the US sanctions on Belaruskalij came into force on December 8, the state-run Lithuanian Railways took an advance from representatives of the Belarusian regime. The head of the company claimed that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Communications had been informed.
VIDEO: Press conference of the Ministry of Transport and Communications on the suspension of the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through Lithuania
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At the time, Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsberg assured that the government was only aware that the company had asked for an advance payment in October, and not for subsequent payments. To his knowledge, the Lithuanian company did not request the last payments.
This was confirmed by Mantas Bartuška, the head of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, who claimed that the payment was made automatically, later an attempt was made to return it, but this was not possible.
After the information became clear, the representatives of the Seimas opposition said in a press conference held on Thursday that the government had sold the interests of the state for the money and the ministers responsible for it must take responsibility. This position was expressed by representatives of five opposition groups.
Some of the ruling conservatives say that the responsibility for the situation lies with the management of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, not the ministers.
G.Landsbergis and the Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis announced on Thursday that they had informed the Prime Minister Ingrid Šimonytė that they were ready to resign due to the situation.
The prime minister said she would announce the decision on the fate of the ministers early next week.
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