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The proposal by the European Commission of 30 January 2002 on the solution of financial issues of the negotiations in 2004-2006, is presented in time and is a good basis for further discussions and negotiations which have to be concluded this year, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis pointed out. The Minister noted that it would be the main issue of negotiations during this year, from today until the signing of the agreement on accession to the European Union. Minister Valionis has emphasized that it is very important for Lithuania that the European Commission adhere to Commissioner Günter Verheugen's promise on the assistance to the decommissioning of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant: it has a positive impact that Ignalina NPP issues are single out as a separate item in the list of the Community's expenses on EU enlargement. According to Antanas Valionis, the existence of this budget line allows to have a grounded hope that the financing of the closure of Ignalina NPP will also be continued after 2006, while a joint working group of the European Commission and Lithuanian energy experts will establish the exact amount of EU assistance. Minister Valionis indicated that the Commission's proposal on direct payments to farmers of new EU member states is better than expected on the basis of the 1999 Berlin agreement, which did not envisage any aid to new member countries farmers, though assistance to agriculture could be greater. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister expressed his hope that the EU will show still more solidarity to the new members in the final negotiations package and EU assistance will be even more extensive since the accession day than it is being proposed at present. It is also necessary to guarantee Lithuania's preparation to effectively manage the assistance received, which is our own responsibility.