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VILNIUS, May 12, BNS – Seven members of the United States Congress have urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton withdraw the statement of support to Belarusian nuclear power plant announced last December and back the Baltic nuclear utility projected in Lithuania. "We therefore urge you to rescind your December statement in favor of the Belarus plant and instead proactively work with the governments of the Baltic states to promote a nuclear plant in their territory," reads the letter, a copy of which was received by BNS.

The congressmen expressed concern about plans to build nuclear power plants in the Russian Kaliningrad region and Belarus close to Lithuania's borders amid lack of proper cooperation with the Baltic nations in the projects.

"While we support the use of nuclear energy, when done in full compliance with IAEA Safeguards, it appears Russia's motivation is not to produce electricity but to maintain its stranglehold on energy supplies to Europe," reads the letter.

The US representatives said they had seen media reports about Russia's attempts to persuade South Korean and Italian companies into withdrawing from the Baltic project of construction of a nuclear reactor.

"Such reports, if true, should be loudly condemned by the Administration. (...) We're sure you agree it is in the United States' interest to lessen Europe's reliance on Russia's energy exports and to promote deeper ties between the US and our Baltic allies," the congressmen said.

Among signatories of the May 9 letter are four US senators Jon Kyl, Mike Crapo, Jeff Sessions and Ron Johnson, and three members of the House of Representatives John M. Shimkus, Dan Burton and Jeff Fortenberry.

The letter was presented personally to Lithuania's Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas currently on a visit in the US.