Direct speech
«The project of the construction of the North-European gas pipeline is currently being realized with the sufficient level of transparency», - said the deputy minister of natural resources Valentine Stepankov. «We intend to provide information about how we will maintain ecological security. That part of the gas pipeline, which runs by land of Russia, has already undergone the ecological examination. Formers, builders rendered all the necessary documentation; the positive decision of the commission of experts was received. Now we are going to the sea part of the pipeline, and there we’ll also make the project undergo the ecological examination. That part of the pipeline, which runs on the territory of Germany, will undergo the ecological examination according to German legislation».
RIA Novosti, April 10, 2006
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin expressed a hope that none of the states will hamper the realization of North-European gas pipeline (NEG) project.
“Torpedoing such projects means hampering the consolidation of energetic security of Europe itself”, - Putin said during the interview to journalists on Wednesday before his flight from London.
He emphasized that “almost the whole European economy is interested in this project”. The President added that NEG project “is not directed against some other third countries, and we don’t squeeze anybody out of joint operation in the energetic sphere in Europe”.
As Putin announced, “to politicize economic relations is counter-productive and harmful”.
“I hope we won’t face manifestations of this kind”, - Putin said.
Interfax, October 5, 2005
“The Russian-German Project of the North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) across the Baltic Sea floor is going to become an environmentally safe way of power supply, said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the European Commission (EC) for Foreign Relations and European Neighborhood Policy.
“Speaking of laying of the gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea floor, we should realize that the Project will contribute significantly to secure and environmentally safe gas deliveries in the EU,” said B. Ferrero-Waldner in her Monday interview to Interfax on the threshold of RF-EU Summit that takes place on October 4 in London.
“Our Commission started preparinga feasibility study of possible routes for the gas pipeline from Russia to EU, where such projects as Yamal-2 or Amber Pipeline are under consideration,” said B. Ferrero-Waldner.
Intefax, 03.10.2005
“Construction of the North European Gas Pipeline by Russia will ensure power supply to European countries and not to infringe upon anyone’s interests. Such opinion was voiced earlier today by Walter Schmid, German Ambassador to Russia, who commented for journalists on negative statements of a number of European countries concerning such construction.
“There were intense discussions of the North European Gas Pipeline construction with all parties concerned, especially on the threshold of the day such decision was taken,” said the Ambassador. He noted that as a result of such discussions, the parties came to a common opinion that the pipeline will ensure reliable supplies of fuel to both Germany and Europe at large, “and its construction is not to the prejudice of anyone.” Moreover, the Ambassador noted, “this is a project of private business, and it initiates, constructs, and ensures its functioning. It is therefore business of entrepreneurs to promote this Project, as this is not a mission of the state.” In addition, the Ambassador noted, the issue of power supply of Europe was discussed at the European level as far back as two years ago.
V. Schmid noted that in the course of this discussion a program of construction of this gas pipeline was considered and had a positive response.”
RBC, 29.09.2005
“Construction of the North European Gas Pipeline with a branch to Kaliningrad Region will boostdevelopment of the Region’s economy. According to Rosbalt correspondent, this was asserted earlier today in Kaliningrad by Sigurd Lehmann-Talkmitt, Chief Executive of German Federal Environment Protection Fund, at the 4th Russian-German Environmental Protection Meeting held here.
He noted that an increased economic growth should involve growth of environmental awareness. In practice, however, a lot of funds are normally invested in environment protection of those countries where certain economic potential has been reached, basic needs of people have been satisfied, and certain level of prosperity has been attained. “In this setting, I would advocate considering a gas pipeline that would run to Kaliningrad across the Baltic Sea floor under the auspices of implementation of NEGP Project as a great chance for accelerated economic development, not as environmental threat,” he said.
Rosbalt, 20.09.2005
Nicholas Redman, Economist of London Economist Intelligence Unit, believes that “…Thanks to it (NEGP, see note www.negp.ru), Gazprom will pay less transit charges to third countries. On the other hand, the project is favorable for Europeans, as it will enable reliability of supplies.”
Expert, 19.09.2005
Walter Jurgen Schmid, Ambassador of FRG in Russia, believes that implementation of the Project of construction of the North European Gas Pipeline … has no negative consequences for third countries. “ We are based on the fact that the project promotes power supplies to Europe and brings no harm to anyone,” – said Schmid earlier today in the air of Ekho Moskvy radio station. The German Ambassador expressed an opinion that the Project will be implemented regardless of the outcome of the past parliamentary elections in FRG. “During the political discussions in Germany, no one said that this gas pipeline should not be built,” emphasized Schmid.
Novosty TEK, 19.09.2005
“The Project of construction of North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) across the Baltic Sea floor from Russian Vyborg to the North German Greifswald is not to the prejudice of Poland’s interests.. Helmut Kohl, ex-Chancellor of FRG, asserted this. According to him, the Project is exclusively of economic nature, and in no event means “a new version of Moscow-Berlin axis”.
ITAR-TASS, 18.09.2005
“European Commission is not doubtful about the economical efficiency of the Project of North-European gas pipeline (NEGP). Françoise le Baille, official representative of European Commission, asserted this. She emphasized that the basic problem of Russian exports of gas to Europe is still infrastructure, so any steps taken to improve it are most welcome. The EC representative denied all assumptions of East European journalists concerning the possible use of Russian power supplies as a “tool of political leverage” against EU member countries. She noted as well that transportation of gas across the Baltic Sea floor will not affect its ultimate price for European consumers.”
ITAR-TASS, 14.09.2005
“The UK is interested in supplies of Russian natural gas by the North European gas pipeline (NEGP), said Malcolm Wicks, UK Minister of State (Energy), last Tuesday at the briefing in Moscow.” According to him, British companies “will be able to contribute a lot in this project.” Answering the question whether this means that the NEGP will be extended to the UK, M. Wicks said this was up to the owners of the gas pipeline, who, under the recently signed Agreement, will be Gasprom, BASF, and E.ON».
INTERFAX-AGI, 13.09.2005
In the Room Potsdam 3 of Intercontinental Hotel, where signing of the Agreement on construction of NEGP took place, gathered the German elite. “Today is a great significant day for economic cooperation of these two countries, said Klaus Mangold, Chairman of Eastern Committee of German Economy, to Vremya Novostey. “Year by year, the Russian-German partnership strategies become still stronger, which not only enhances interaction in the sphere of supplies of energy, but brings it beyond its normal scope. I believe, NEGP Agreement will enable us to add real quality to the mutually beneficial German-Russian cooperation for many decades ahead.” Burckhard Bergmann, Head of the Board of E.ON Ruhrgas, the first and so far only foreign top manager, member of the Board of Directors of Russian Gasprom, was among representatives of the German side. More than three decades ago, he was one of the path breakers dealing in supplies of natural gas from the USSR to West Germany and other European countries. In response to a question of a Vremya Novostey correspondent, Mr. Bergmann said: “It is another remarkable event for us today. Pursuant to the signed Agreement, Germany and Russia will be linked by another direct main gas pipeline, via which Germany and other European countries will be able to receive additional volumes of natural gas from Russia. I believe, this is the best evidence of the success of the mutually beneficial business partnership between the largest German and Russian energy companies – E.ON, E.ON Ruhrgas, and Gasprom. Wulf Bernotat, Chairman of the Board of E.ON Concern, is very optimistic about the future of this cooperation. In his conversation with a correspondent of Vremya Novostey, he stressed the importance of the new gas pipeline for ensuring of energy safety not only for Germany, but for quite a number of West European countries: “Signing of the today’s agreement is a logic stage in the development of relationships with our Russian partners. Cooperation between E.ON and Gasprom will retain its nature of strategic cooperation in the future as well.”
Vremya Novostey, 09.09.2005
“Members of European Commission welcome the forthcoming signing by management of Gasprom and German concerns, E.ON AG and BASF, of an agreement concerning the construction of the North European gas pipeline (NEGP), which is going to take place next Thursday in Berlin. “Creation of a new infrastructure intended to ensure gas supplies to EU member countries, is only welcome,” said last Thursday in Brussels to journalists Rupert Kritmeyer, representative of Mass Media Directorate of European Commission. He recalled that Russia is the largest gas supplier to West Europe.”
RIA Novosti, 08.09.2005
“A positive fact here is in further intensification of economic cooperation between Germany and Russia, - said Kurt Dieter Grill, CDU/CSU fraction member in Bundestag, and expert in issues of energy policy, to correspondent of Vremya Novostey. – We see the North European Gas Pipeline not only as an additional Russian natural gas transportation corridor to Germany. We see it as a project aimed at an increase of gas supplies, in particular, to the UK, whose national gas reserves have been rapidly reducing. At the same time, we have to maintain the diversification of sources of purchase of gas at a proper level, so that we would not be dependent on a “monopolist pipe”.
Vremya Novostey, 08.09.2005
“The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, says that the Russian Federation respects interests of gas transit countries, but it is going to protect his economic interests.
“Quite recently, Ukrainian partners advised Russia that they believe it to be inexpedient to proceed with the gas transportation consortium, – said V. Putin at the press conference in Berlin devoted to the outcome of negotiations with Gerhard Schroeder, Chancellor of Germany. – I would emphasize that we are not trying to force anyone away from our power affairs in Europe. We hold economic interests and geopolitical situation of Russian gas transit countries in great respect. We believe they should play a deserved geopolitical role in Europe. But we reserve the right to protect our own interests.” President Putin emphasized that Russia is building new pipelines “in order to avoid political, environmental, and other risks, and eventually reduce the price of fuel sold to the West.” “The smaller is the number of transit countries via which our gas is transported, the lower is the price of Russian gas,” said Putin.
“We believe, launching of such a large-scale project will give a new powerful momentum to energy dialogue between Russia and European Union at large,” said the President.
As Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder noted, the signed Agreement on construction of a gas pipeline between Vyborg and North German Greifswald “is of historical importance for Germany that will be granted reliable power supply for decades ahead.”
ITAR-TASS, 08.09.2005
