The  President  of  the  joint  stock  company Ventspils Nafta Ms. Olga

Pētersone  spoke  last  week  in  Washington  during  the  Round  Table

Discussion  Energy  and Security: Challenges for Russia and Baltics and

informed  of  the  situation  concerning  the transportation of Russian

crude oil by pipeline to Ventspils. In addition to her participation in

the  above discussion Ms. Pētersone had some meetings with US officials

and  executive  representatives of both the Department of Economics and

the Department of Energy to talk about the same issue.

Making  positive  comments  on  her  visit  to the USA the President of

Ventspils  Nafta,  JSC  points out that high rank officials of US state

institutions,  energy  sector  and research organisations have received

precise  and  adequate  information of the Russian crude oil transit by

Latvia as well as of the respective problems. During the discussion the

relationship  between  Russia  and  the  Baltic  states  in  the energy

industry  was  considered  and  later  the President of Ventspils Nafta

answered  questions  of  those  concerned  with  the Russian oil export

policy on Latvia.

During  the meetings with Mr. Carlos Montoulieu , the representative of

the  Department of Economics, and Mr. John Brodman , the representative

of  the  Department  of  Energy,  they  have discussed the issue of the

Russian  crude  oil transportation to Latvia and agreed to proceed with

the  exchange of information about further developments of the existing

situation and its possible solutions.

The  Round  Table  Discussion  in  Washington  was  hosted  by Women in

International   Security   -   WIIS  ,  an  international  organisation

established in 1987 and comprising high rank representatives from state

sector,  business,  non-state  organisations and academic circles. WIIS

hosts  annually more than 40 events, including round-table discussions,

international  conferences, receptions and meetings with many prominent

speakers  to the subjects of various concerns. One of the WIIS events -

the  conference  on Security of Baltic States was held in Latvia in the

spring  of 2003 and honoured by H.E.Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the President

of Latvia.



Ventspils Nafta, JSC

For more information please contact

Ms.Gundega Vārpa

Tel.372-7229793;

e-mail: vnafta@mailbox.riga.lv