Lithuania Wants Better Relations with Gazprom - Energy Minister

Baltic state Lithuania hopes to create a better relationship with Russian gas provider, Gazprom, its new energy minister has said.

Jaroslav Neverovic wants to hold talks to ease a confrontation with Gazprom, but says he will still follow European Union plans for gas market deregulation. These have angered Moscow as they would place restrictions on their highly lucrative gas market, which provides about a quarter of the gas used in the EU.

Neverovic said the problems could be resolved around the negotiating table, a change in tone to the more forceful rhetoric of the previous centre-right Lithuanian government.

"We want to solve all disputes and we see a possibility of doing that, because Gazprom has demonstrated a constructive approach during our first meeting," Neverovic told Reuters newsagency.

He was referring to a meeting with Alexander Medvedev, the head of Gazprom's export arm, in December. Vilnius [the Lithuanian capital and seat of government] says it intends to talk to Gazprom again this month, although no dates have been set yet.

Lithuania and Gazprom have also launched suits against each other in the past, in international arbitration courts.

Lithuania has had a chequered history with Moscow, and was part of the USSR from the 1940s until 1990.

Neverovic, who took office last month, said he also hopes to establish a gas supply link with Poland, and will travel to Warsaw soon to discuss this, he told Reuters.