National Security Commission requested to evaluate Lithuanian Railways and Belaruskali agreement
Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis has appealed to the National Security Commission to evaluate the agreement between Lithuanian Railways and the Belarusian company Belaruskali allowing transportation of Belarusian fertilisers across Lithuania. The Commission is requested to assess whether the agreement is in compliance with the interests of national security.
According to the Minister, the transportation of Belarusian fertilizers across Lithuania raises a number of national security issues, therefore it was decided to appeal to the National Security Commission to assess whether any further implementation of the agreement is to be permitted.
The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions against Belarus three times already this year: nine companies relevant to the Lithuanian transport sector have been added to the US sanctions list since June this year. The US announced new sanctions, effective from 8 December, against Belarus in August, companies on the sanctions list include: Belaruskali, Belkaztrans and Absolutbank. These sanctions apply to all potassium fertilisers. Belorusskaya Kaliynaya Kompaniya was closely associated with Belaruskali as the main target of sanctions on 2 December 2021. The EU sanctions introduced in the summer do not apply for recurring contracts signed until June this year.
As the US sanctions do not apply directly to Lithuanian companies, further transportation of fertilizers will depend on the sanctions regime, decisions made by state institutions and the position upheld by banks in terms of servicing payment orders by Belaruskali.
Last updated: 08-12-2021
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