BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/01/2007

Lukashenko Names North European Gas Pipeline Russia's Most Foolish Venture

MosNews

On Sunday, Jan. 14, Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has named the project for construction of North European Gas Pipeline under the Baltic Sea Russia's most foolish venture.

"Russia's most foolish project is construction of a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea. It's unknown what may happen with this gas pipeline, which is lying on a pile of armaments," Lukashenko told journalists in Minsk. He added that the project may make it into the Guinness Book of Records and said that "the realistic project is to build the second branch of Yamal-Europe gas pipeline", which goes through Belarusian territory.

The Belarusian leader has questioned Gazprom's policy in regards to constructing the Baltic gas pipeline, saying that he cannot hold normal negotiations with the management of Russia's state-controlled gas giant.

Commenting on Lukashenko's quips, Kremlin source told RIA Novosti: "These words once again prove very well that we need to build such a pipeline."

As MosNews has reported on previous occasions, the North European gas pipeline will bypass traditional transit countries, such as the Baltic states, Poland and Belarus, directly connecting Russia and the Baltic shore of Germany. Part of the pipeline will be built under the Baltic Sea. Lithuania has already complained of possible environmental damage, while Poland has named the agreement to build the gas pipeline a conspiracy between Russia and Germany.

Source:

http://www.mosnews.com/money/2007/01/15/lukashenkopipe.shtml

Google
 


Partners:
Face.by Social Network
Face.by