BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/10/2008

Belarus ready to work with Latvia's railways and ports under direct contracts

The Belarusian side is ready to work with Latvia's railways and Kalija Parks company operating in the Ventspils seaport under direct contracts, Economy Minister of Belarus Nikolai Zaizhenko said when asked about the Kalija Parks' complaints about the falling volume of transshipment of potash fertilisers through the Ventspils port, reported Belta.

According to him, in the protocol of the fourth session of the Belarusian-Latvian intergovernmental commission for economic and sci-tech cooperation the Belarusian side points to the falling volume of transshipment of mineral fertilisers through Latvia. "At the same time we are ready to sign direct contracts with the railways and the Kalija Parks company with a view to optimizing the transportation and transshipment tariffs and also helping the Ventspils port stay competitive," the minister said.

According to Nikolai Zaichenko, at the sessions of the intergovernmental commission in the past three years the Belarusian side has drawn attention to the worsening competitiveness of the Ventspils port and to the rapid development of the Klaipeda port in Lithuania. More potash fertilisers now go through Lithuania which is due to shorter distance and more acceptable tariffs. These are the expenses of Belaruskali, and the company has the right to choose. "Governmental or intergovernmental commissions cannot make the company take decisions. They should agree by themselves. It Lithuania offers more favourable terms, then the company will not bring its cargoes to Latvia," Nikolai Zaichenko said. "The complaints are the problem of the two sides who would not agree on anything so far," he added.

During the session of the commission the Belarusian sides suggested thinking over the ways of helping Ventspils remain attractive for Belarusian cargoes. However, this position has not been supported yet. "As an alternative we suggested another way through Lithuania to Ventspils; however no solution has been found yet," Nikolai Zaichenko said.

When asked whether Kalija Parks suggested setting up a commission to study and assess the terms of transportation of cargo to Ventspils or Klaipeda, the Economy Minister said that such proposal was voiced by the Latvian side but the intergovernmental commission should not interfere in the dispute between economic entities.

Source:

http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1322935&lang=EN

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