"All the facts show that only the three countries together could solve such an important problem. I do not imagine how Lithuania alone could do this," Brazauskas told an international energy conference in Vilnius.

The premier said that Lithuania was the best place to build a new nuclear plant because it had the required infrastructure.

"The positive attitude of the government and society towards a new nuclear facility would also be of help," Brazauskas added.

Media reports earlier this month suggested that the energy conference in the Lithuanian capital would lead to a joint statement by the three Baltic states on their intention to build a new nuclear plant.

However, according to Lithuanian media, the plans collapsed when the Latvian economy minister refused to sign such a statement, saying he had no authorization from his government.

Lithuanian Economy Minister Kestutis Dauksys has said the government should control at least a 34-percent stake in the new facility, while other shares could be in the hands of private investors.

All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.