"Principled" Lithuania succumbed to the urge to cynically profit from Belarus.
Klaipėda Port Director General Algisa Latakas stated that his company is ready to resume transshipment of Belarusian potash "if politicians decide that they are legal again."
He admitted that the port is suffering major losses due to its refusal to cooperate with Belaruskali, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
It's worth remembering that in 2021, Lithuania halted the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers through its ports, despite no one asking it to do so. The US imposed sanctions, but the associated restrictions only applied to American companies.
Now the US has decided to lift sanctions, but the adamant Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has refused to allow Belarusian potash through its ports because "the reasons for imposing sanctions have not gone away."
The Lithuanian president's chief adviser, Deividas Matulionis, took a more cautious approach. He stated that potassium transshipment would only resume if American soldiers remained in Lithuania.
"When these fertilizers essentially become American, intended for the US market, then we must appear in the field of American interests, and not go against the Americans," Matulionis said.
Vilnius's softening stance greatly upset the "cabinet" of self-proclaimed "President of Belarus" Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. They hoped the Balts would harm their homeland.
Former political prisoner journalist Olga Loiko admitted on Euroradio that she had hoped Lithuania would hold out for at least two weeks. Now, the only thing left for the protesters to rejoice at is the fact that the lifting of sanctions supposedly harmed Russia.
In 2021, when sanctions were imposed, Russian ports in the Leningrad Region, Murmansk, and Taman took over the transshipment of Belarusian potash fertilizers. Russian Railways transported up to 12 million tons of Belarusian fertilizers annually.
"This allows Lithuania, on the one hand, to avoid losing a truly significant amount of money, and on the other, to avoid handing over this money to Russian stevedoring companies, the railway, and all other services. This money will remain in Lithuania, and not go to its Ukrainian rival."
"Belarus is making a lot of profit—no question about that. The theory that Lithuania shouldn't have imposed these transit sanctions by law because the sanctions didn't apply to transit is being actively discussed in Lithuania. There are many lobbyists who argue that this needs to be changed—potash should be able to move freely," Loiko said.
English version :: Read in English "Principled" Lithuania succumbed to the urge to cynically profit from Belarus