Lithuania expects handling transit cargo of NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan

In his words, Lithuania can offer competitive terms and conditions.

Masiulis, who was in the United States in January, said that Lithuania's relevant officials were in "very close contact" with the US Defense Department's transport and logistics division USTRANSCOM.

"We submitted all calculations and proposals to prove that return from Afghanistan via Klaipėda would yield economic benefit and we are ready to offer very competitive conditions in terms of the quality of service, speed of service, and price," Masiulis told BNS.

"Indeed, we stand good chances of having at least part of the transit of NATO's return from Afghanistan going through the Lithuanian territory and the Klaipėda port," the minister noted.

In his words, precise routes of NATO's return transit are yet to be finalized.

"Details of the route are being discussed and planned. Companies in charge of cargo expedition and transport are involved. In this case, we're working close with Maersk Line and Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways)," Masiulis said.

The Lithuanian minister noted that the biggest competition for NATO cargo in the Baltic region was among ports in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The Foreign Ministry has said NATO was currently holding talks with countries that could be on the route of the so-called Northern supply route before reaching the Baltic ports. Currently, the bulk of cargo to Afghanistan go via Russia and countries in Central Asia.

"NATO Allies are intensively planning fast and efficient withdrawal of military and civilian cargo from Afghanistan. Air and railways remain the main ways of transporting cargo and personnel," the ministry said in a response to BNS.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania is proposing that Allies should choose the Klaipėda Seaport, Lithuanian railways and roads," the ministry said.

More than 2,000 containers containing various cargo, mainly from America, have traveled to Afghanistan via Lithuania.

Germany's Der Spiegel weekly said in early April that Klaipėda should be one of the Baltic ports for transporting the cargo of the NATO forces withdrawing from the international operation in Afghanistan.

The majority of NATO forces should leave Afghanistan in the end of 2014. All in all, about 130,000 soldiers, 70,000 vehicles and about 120,000 containers should be transported out of the country.

NATO is currently holding negotiations with Russia for stationing a temporary transit center there.