Lithuanians suspect Russia of dirty tricks

International Herald Tribune ^ | August 7, 2006 | Judy Dempsey

[lizol]

Lithuanians suspect Russia of dirty tricks

By Judy Dempsey International Herald Tribune

Published: August 7, 2006

BERLIN: Lithuanian officials asserted Monday that Russia was trying to undermine Poland's purchase of a strategic oil refinery in Lithuania by purposely delaying repairs to a crucial oil pipeline that supplies the refinery.

With Russia's energy giants trying to increase their market share both in Eastern and Western Europe, analysts said Monday that the damaged pipeline could weaken competition Russia would face from Orlen, a leading Polish oil refining company. The pipeline was damaged in an accident last month.

"The timing of this accident is very strange," said Arunas Jievaltas, a senior diplomat at the Lithuanian Embassy in Warsaw. "It happened as Orlen was wrapping up negotiations to buy Mazeikiai Nafta refinery. Some would say that Russia is trying to show Poland that this is the price it must pay for obtaining Mazeikiai. It seems that every step which is taken by a Russian energy company is motivated by politics."

[EagleUSA]

Oh, come on now. The Rodina, acting sleazy? Never. A shocking indictment.

[1rudeboy]

Gasputin strikes again.

[lizol]

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[lizol]

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[GodGunsGuts]

Suspects? Suspects! Putin's Russia is one giant dirty trick.

[lizol]

Exactly.


Geeeez, can't be! :-)))

[1rudeboy]

My brother-in-law is in Lithuania right now. Can't wait to ask him what the Lugans think of all this. My guess is, "the Russians cut us off? again?"

[Leg Olam]

"Lithuanians suspect Russia of dirty tricks"

Yep, Moose and squirrel have not been seen in weeks.

[lizol]

The funny thing is, that the same "broken" pipeline doesn't stop Russian oil deliveries to Belarus.

Lithuania Pipe Dry, Belarus Gets Oil Supplies

And the Russians wonder why they can't be accepted as WTO members.

Just pathetic.

[1rudeboy]

Say, where are our "Mother Russians?" Is it some sort of a Kremlin holiday?

[lizol]

That's a good question. I was also curious about it.

Well, probably the most active ones have been eliminated.

[alloysteel]

"Lithuanians suspect Russia of dirty tricks"

Now THAT'S a news flash, and a most unusual turn of events. Always before, Lithuanicians NEVER suspected the Russians of any kind of duplicity.

Where is the picture of the winged pig?

[Thunder90]

Soviet Premier Putin is up to his tricks again!!!

[Thunder90]

Russia is still getting WTO membership.

[lizol]

That's what I meant.

[RusIvan]

Russia is still getting WTO membership.==

I think not anymore. If they didn't accept Russia then now Russia' hands are free to do such thingts.

[sergey1973]

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[lizol]

The thing is, that Russia has never given up doing such things.

[Lukasz]

Oleg Mitvol, the deputy head of RosPrirodNadzor, said Transneft would need "one year and nine months" to replace the entire section..

Typical Russian reaction :-)