Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsberg announced on Thursday that he was ready to resign due to the fact that the products of the Belarusian potassium fertilizer producer Belarusjkali are being transported through Lithuania, despite the fact that US sanctions came into force on Wednesday.
“I told the Prime Minister today [Ingrīdai Šimonītei]”In fact, last night I was ready to resign, and I am waiting for the Prime Minister’s decision,” Landsbergis told reporters in the Seimas.
“I understand the damage done to Lithuania’s reputation,” said the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, who is also the chairman of the ruling coalition’s “Fatherland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats” party.
Šimonīte announced on Thursday that she had not yet decided whether Landsberg should resign as foreign minister.
“When I decide, I will also inform,” she said during “government hours” in parliament.
Lithuanian state railway company Lietuvos Geležinkeliai said on Wednesday that Belarusjkali’s production was still being traded through Lithuania, as the prepayment made to Belarusjkali in November was enough to cover the costs of railway services in November and possibly also in January.
Lietuvas geležinkeliai announced that it had informed the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the prepayment.
Landsberg, for his part, said the railway company had informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of an advance payment to Belarus in September for services in October, but not of any subsequent payments.
LTG Cargo, a freight carrier of the Lithuanian State Railway Group, estimates that about one million tons of fertilizer will be transported in December, which means that six to nine freight trains will still pass through Lithuania.-
Lithuanian Transport Minister Marjus Skuodis on Wednesday asked the government commission, which deals with the evaluation of transactions of strategic companies, to give its opinion on the agreement between the Lithuanian state railway company Lietuvos Geležinkeliai and the world’s largest potassium carbonate fertilizer producer Belarusjkali.
The commission will have to decide whether the agreement is in Lithuania’s national security interests, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport said.
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