Press digest: Lithuania
21.12.2004, 09:00These are the top business stories in Lithuanian daily newspapers today:
VERSLO ZINIOS With Russian oil giant Yukos losing ground in the battle with the Kremlin- analysts say it is bound to lose control of Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta. The Lithuanian government has already started considering alternative sources of crude oil supplies for the MN refinery- but has given up the idea of taking over control of the company. Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas has told Economy Minister Viktor Uspaskikh that the government currently has no plans to buy a controlling interest in MN because this would not guarantee efficient operations for the company. Uspaskikh had earlier suggested that the state could take over a controlling interest in MN to be able to ensure stable operations for the refinery. The Lithuanian prime minister yesterday told the Economy Ministry to "react to the changing situation promptly in order to secure stable oil supply". The ministry was instructed to exercise control through its appointed members in the MN board.
LIETUVOS RYTAS The local council of the northern Lithuanian town of Anyksciai has voiced outrage at the never-ending roadworks carried out by the Vilnius construction company Viti- which impedes traffic in the town. Viti is implementing a nearly LTL 14-million sewage pipeline development project in Anyksciai. "It was the greatest mistake to go for the lowest bidder in selecting the construction contractor. Cheap work simply tramples on the long-cherished good ideas-" Anyksciai mayor Alvydas Gervinskas said.
LIETUVOS ZINIOS Following a conflict with Danish trade unions- the Lithuanian construction company Atkirta has decided to suspend its operations in that country. According to an article by the Lithuanian daily Lietuvos Zinios- Latvian construction firms are facing similar problems in Sweden. Atkirta has built several houses in Denmark- but has still failed to sell them and the client has not paid the company for work. Atkirta CEO Saulius Kalkauskas predicts that the Danish contract will not have been profitable as the conflict with the trade unions has cost a lot of nerves and penalties.
Lithuania government officials and experts are still disputing over who should be given control of a project worth LTL millions to create Internet access points in rural areas. As the discussions continue- it remains unclear who will get the European Union aid for the project.
Source: BBN - Media