BNS: Lithuanian MEP views Latvian bid to build Nord Stream pipeline on land as sign of Baltic unity
Updated 2009-04-20
VILNIUS, Apr 20, BNS - Lithuanian member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis says that the Latvian president's proposal to build the gas pipeline Nord Stream on land hinted to unity of the Baltic countries in the efforts against the energy route involving environmental hazards.
"Zatlers proposes coming back to reality, giving up politicizing, pressure and focusing on the Russia-Europe business. I am happy about the statement made by Zatlers, it shows that Baltic unity is possible," Landsbergis told BNS in comment of the Latvian president's position.
In his opinion, the alternative proposal to lay the gas pipeline on land is "old and continuous," however, Russia had been avoiding it in order to evade "unfriendly countries."
"The land route is a further question. He proposes building it via the Latvian territory, and it is an entirely normal proposition," said the Lithuanian MEP.
Furthermore, Landsbergis noted that Latvia had "specified" its stance on Nord Stream because, in his words, all countries around the Baltic Sea should currently state their opinion on the "environmental study ordered and paid for" by executors of the project.
"They (Nord Stream) paid 100 million euros, so the answer, without doubt, should be positive that the construction mas no environmental effects, however, nobody is willing to trust this and here we have the Latvian president's opinion. He says it in a very clear manner that the gas pipeline in the sea is dangerous and Latvia would probably be against even if ecologic problems were solved. This is a very important positive thing," said Landsbergis.
In his words, unified opposition to the Nord Stream project could cause Russia to abandon it.
Last Friday, Zatlers said that Latvia was willing to speak with Russia's gas giant Gazprom about the Nord Stream alternative with the pipeline built via the Latvian territory. In his words, the current project of Nord Stream does not provide any commercial benefits or cooperation possibilities to Latvia.
The Latvian president also accentuated the hazards of constructing the gas pipeline on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, stressing he was not sure of Latvia's full consent to the project that even in the case of solution of all ecological problems.
In February, Nord Stream completed an Environmental Impact Report under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) Convention. The report indicated minor and short-term environmental effects of the project.
The report was in March presented for public discussion to countries, waters of which will be passed by the gas pipeline, namely, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, as well as countries that will feel the effects of the project including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland.
The project will also require that countries on the path of the gas pipeline, both in terms of territorial and economic and territorial waters, namely Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany issue construction permits. Project facilitators must also inform Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as the Baltic states will also be impacted by the pipeline crossing the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Planned by the company Nord Stream and Russia's oil giant Gazprom, the 1,200 km gas pipeline would be laid through the bottom of the Baltic Sea to connect Vyborg, a town close to St. Petersburg, with the German city Greifswald.
Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and Sweden are against construction of the gas pipeline on the bottom of the Baltic Sea due to threats to ecological and energy security.
