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Baltic PMs ink agreement on development of regional gas market

Xinhua, December 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The prime ministers of the three Baltic states during a meeting here on Friday signed an accord for the development of a single regional gas market, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis told reporters.

Speaking to the press after the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting, Kucinskis said the talks in the Latvian capital city focused on strengthening the Baltic region's security, as well as transportation and energy-related matters.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said at the news conference that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia had to pay special attention to the creation of a regional gas market and a more efficient use of the existing infrastructure, which makes the declaration on the development of the regional gas market especially important.

"Now, it is essential that the authorities and operators ensure the implementation of the agreement," the Lithuanian prime minister said.

Looking back at Latvia's performance as this year's presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers, Kucinskis praised the progress achieved on implementing the decisions made at the NATO Warsaw Summit in July, agreements reached on the Rail Baltica railroad project, as well as work on the creation of an integrated electricity and gas market.

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, whose country is taking over the presidency next year, said Estonia's priorities in 2017 would include boosting the Baltic region's security, developing the single energy network and transport connections, with the Rail Baltica project being regarded as the top priority.

Established in 1994, the Baltic Council of Ministers, is the format for intergovernmental co-operation among Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Endit