Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 18, 1990 TAG: 9004180572
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
Lithuanian officials had expected the Kremlin to begin cutting oil and natural gas supplies early today to enforce Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's threatened economic embargo.
Soviet troops were seen near a pumping station at an oil refinery in northwestern Lithuania this morning, but there was no change in the supply of fuel at the facility, according to a report on Lithuanian television.
Lithuania's energy minister said oil supplies were normal and he had not been informed of any planned reductions.
On Friday, Gorbachev threatened to impose an embargo of critical supplies unless Lithuania rescinded within 48 hours several laws meant to bolster its March 11 declaration of independence. Lithuanian leaders have made no move to meet Gorbachev's demands, but say they are willing to negotiate. Gorbachev refuses to meet with them until they rescind their declaration of independence.
President Bush said in Washington the United States was considering "appropriate responses" if supplies were cut. But he also said he did not want to damage superpower relations.
Lithuania's parliament, the Supreme Council, met today to formulate an official response to the Soviet leader, and was still debating the tone of the resolution into the afternoon, said Rita Dapkus of the legislature's Information Office.
Worried Lithuanians flooded the republic's government with phone calls and stocked up on fuel.
by CNB