VILNIUS, November 21 (RIA Novosti) - Lithuania will buy two minesweepers from the U.K. at a cost of 55 million euros ($70 million) which will be paid in installments up to 2011, the minister of national defense said on Friday.

"We are trying to clear the Baltic Sea bed of mines, but our vessels are over 50 years old. To operate and maintain them is expensive," Juozas Olekas said.

"That is why I think it is better to buy new ones, which will serve us for another 20 years, and will significantly ease our everyday workload, cut expenditure and will help to economize funds," he added.

Olekas said that the purchase has been planned for several years, and could no longer be postponed even with the ongoing global financial crisis.

Currently, Lithuania's Navy has a fleet comprising three patrol vessels, two minesweepers, one frigate, three harbor boats and a pilot boat.