The Baltic Course: Latvian PM: gas supply contract with Russia will not be terminated

Latvia does not plan to terminate the gas supply contract with Russia, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) said in an interview on a Latvian Television show "900 sekundes" this morning, informs LETA.

According to Straujuma, it is technically impossible to secure alternative gas supplies and therefore end Russia's gas monopoly until 2017, when gradual liberalization of the gas market is to begin in Latvia.

During the visit in the United States last week, Straujuma saw that the U.S. companies are interested in supplying gas to Europe, including Latvia, however, two to three years are required in order to organize U.S. gas supplies, which corresponds with the expected gas market liberalization in Latvia.

Straujuma stressed that the dependence on the Russian gas is not only Latvia's problem, it is an urgent matter for the other Baltic States, Poland and Finland as well. For this reason, the government has to make a decision in the coming month on how to terminate Russia's gas monopoly.
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