Lithuanian Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas says that the Government is not afraid of the ultimatum issued by Russian gas company Gazprom because the Government holds consistent position and it always suggests solving issues by negotiation.

"The ruling of Stockholm arbitration is a very important and useful for us. Once again it showed that the Government does not try to respond to any Gazprom ultimatums and it is not afraid, instead it maintains a very consistent position offering to address all the questions in negotiations. Lithuanian residents understand and support the Government's claim that we must have an alternative to natural gas supplied by Gazprom and the ultimate statements that the company makes do not give the outcome that perhaps Gazprom would have expected," Sekmokas said in an interview to radio Ziniu Radijas, Thursday.

The minister pointed out that Gazprom simply does not want to admit its defeat. He also noted that the first lawsuit filed by the Russian gas giant was dismissed without a hearing by the Stockholm arbitrage, writes LETA/ELTA.

"The first lawsuit was rejected and the second claim was not approved. So far in this match Gazprom loses 0:2," said the Minister of Energy.

As ELTA has previously reported Tuesday, the Stockholm arbitrage court has made a final confirmation of the Lithuanian Government's right to initiate an investigation of operational activities of the company Lietuvos Dujos (Lithuanian Gas) and rejected all Gazprom's claims for damages.

The court said that Gazprom by no means can ban the Government from bringing issues related to the management of Lietuvos Dujos to court.

Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas says that such decision of the Stockholm arbitration shows that the threats Gazprom is making against Lithuania of the international arbitration and the loss of millions are completely invalid.

Source: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/energy/?doc=60833

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