Transit of Belarusian potash fertilisers through Lithuania cannot be stopped

As stated by the largest shareholder of the Klaipeda Container Terminal, businessman Igor Udovitsky, transit of fertilisers of Belaruskali – against which the United States has imposed sanctions – through Lithuania cannot be stopped since it will contradict the international agreements of Lithuania, the European Union and the United States, Delfi reports

“No US sanctions related to transit of Belarusian potassium through Lithuania are in place or can exist. Sanctions cannot be applied to transit as a procedure,” Mr. Udovitsky said.

According to him, all states, including the United States, are bound by international treaties – the World Trade Organisation Agreement and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – which guarantee freedom of transit for landlocked states.

"Naturally, both the US and the EU – which have ratified these agreements – cannot violate them – and they do not violate them,” Mr. Udovitsky added. Moreover, as the businessman noted, the Lithuanian Sejm has ratified three bilateral agreements with Belarus which establish a free regime for cargo transit through Lithuania and the Klaipeda Seaport.

Mr. Udovitsky stressed that all participants of potash fertiliser transit, including the Lithuanian authorities, consulted the US Treasury Department and the European Commission on application of sanctions. They were told that Belarusian fertilisers can be transported through Lithuania if payments are made in Euros rather than US Dollars.

"Therefore, our actions are completely legitimate and co-ordinated,” he stressed.