The black lines show existing pipelines going from Russia.
The red line - existing pipelines, that are going to become parts of the new project.
The paused (???) red line show the planned pipeline (necessary to complete the project).
Posted on 10/10/2007 1:18:21 PM PDT by lizol
Five ex-communist countries sign oil pipeline deal bypassing Russia
by Jonathan Fowler 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
VILNIUS (AFP) - Five former communist-bloc countries signed a deal Wednesday to extend an oil pipeline that bypasses Russia, in a move that could diversify supplies and cut Moscow's energy clout. ADVERTISEMENT
The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Poland, Ukraine and host nation Lithuania looked on as government ministers and state oil company bosses inked an accord creating the "Sarmatia" consortium, which is to build the new network.
Most ex-communist countries -- and much of the rest of Europe -- rely heavily on energy imports from Russia.
Many are seeking to diversify their energy suppliers amid fears that Russia is increasingly exploiting its oil and gas market dominance to try to tame governments which fail to toe Moscow's line.
"This indicates the unity and commitment of the entire region for progress, self-determination and a guarantee for sovereignty," Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus told reporters after the ceremony.
His Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, who has regularly fallen foul of the Kremlin because of his pro-western stance, said the deal was a sign of "new strategic ties".
"This is a big change not only in the energy policy of Europe but I think also in wider geopolitics, in the wider configuration of the post-Soviet and post-communist space," Saakashvili said.
Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan said the deal would "lead only to more predictabilty, more cooperation and more mutual assistance between our countries."
Polish President Lech Kaczynski acknowledged that the project "has both an economic nature .. and a huge political impact."
He added, however, that "this agreement is not made against any other country."
The specific goal of the five governments is to create a new oil route linking the Caspian and Baltic Seas, based on an existing pipeline running through Ukraine, with the aim of opening the taps by 2011.
The Ukrainian pipeline currently ships Russian oil from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Brody, near Ukraine's western border with Poland.
The plan is to extend the pipeline to the central Polish city of Plock, home to the country's largest refinery, allowing new supplies to be shipped onwards to the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk.
Lithuanian authorities have also said that another branch of the pipeline could eventually run to the country's own oil export hub of Klaipeda.
The goal of the Sarmatia network is to enable oil to be pumped from energy-rich Azerbaijan -- and potentially Kazakhstan, which sent Energy Minister Sauat Mynbayev to the Vilnius talks -- through Poland and on to western European markets.
"These countries constitute one of the leading locomotives that can help build the prospects for the European energy market," said Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
Ukraine has been under pressure from Russia's state gas giant Gazprom and on Tuesday signed an agreement to settle a debt dispute that had raised fears in Europe of possible disruptions in supplies.
The Odessa-Brody pipeline was initially built in 2001 to reduce Ukraine's dependence on Russia for oil and carry supplies from the port towards the rest of Europe.
But when Ukraine failed to clinch the necessary oil supply deals with other countries it grudgingly agreed in 2004 to transport Russian oil in the opposite direction, for export from Odessa's tanker port.
The five governments plan to meet again in 2008 in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to set down the "entire schedule" of the pipeline deal, including its precise route and funding, Yushchenko said.
"Today, I cannot see any serious problems, neither financial nor commercial," he said.
B U M P
Oh boy, is Putin going to be passed-off. Ha! My guess is we will hear about many oil people in these countries having mysterious heart attacks, and dying of “food poisoning”....
Excellent plan by the people who know how rotten-to-the-core the Russians really are.
No kidding - Putin has decided to blend the best of the Soviet Union (secret police) with the best of capitalism (he and his cronies own all the capital). It once again is a brave new world, looks suspiciously like the old one though.
It once again is a brave new world, looks suspiciously like the old one though.
::::::
It really is the old commie world. Just with a new wrapper on it, that is becoming more transparent, as it slips off...
A couple of Puty’s blackmail jobs and the word gets out. Do the Rooskies think Eastern Europeans are clueless ?
i attempted to pronounce many of the names and cities in this story and just found myself laughing. next time i’m in euroweenieville, i think i’ll visit plock.
At last, some good news.
Good name. The ancient Sarmatians were not to be trifled with. According to Herodotus, they were descended from some Scythian men who had married Amazons, and kept the customs of the Amazons. The women hunted on horseback with the men, and even fought in their wars. A Sarmatian woman could not marry until she had killed a man in battle.
President Ronald Reagan warned Europe about building pipelines going through Russia. But these little European countries, like Latin American countries, will do the opposite just to PO the U.S. (they think). Well, it finally came to pass last winter when Russia cut off their supply needed for heating; and some learned from it.
It boggles my mind how these little countries end up slitting their own throats thinking they are hurting the U.S.
It is laughable.
Sorry, I don’t get your point.
How “these little countries” may hurt the US with this project?
No, my emphasis is that Latin American countries are of the same mine (or lack there of.). Like Europe, they will do the opposite just to be contrary against the good advice of the U.S. and hurt themselves in the end.
Panama just lost a trade deal with the U.S. The head of their congress (Pedro Miguel Gonzeles) murdered one of our soldiers in cold blood back in 1990. He was tried in absencia in the U.S. for murder and unless he is removed from that position there is no trade deal.
The U.S. (last month) told Panama they are a sovereign nation and can do what they want. They were also told the U.S. is a sovereign nation and has decided against the trade deal. So there.
Panama was stunned.
Good.
This is in no way to be viewed as free market in action.
“President Ronald Reagan warned Europe about building pipelines going through Russia.”
Thank you. But remember I was talking about President Reagan’s time. This was before the wall came down. Those countries that had not suffered many years after WWII under communism loved and still love to try and stick it to the U.S. at their own expense.
None the less, I am not arguing with you or trying to convince you to see it my way. Not at all.
All I am saying is that I continue to be amused at these third rate countries cutting their own throats just to “get even” with the U.S….whatever that means.
It is like someone who knows better telling me not to walk down a certain street in a dangerous area in town. But I will do it anyway just to show my independence and brilliance.
This deal is useless without Kazakhstan.
And without Germany also. What those pocket tigers have forgotten is that Germany has already inked deal with Ruskies for two routes planned to supply Germany, southern via Romania Serbia Croatia and Italy, and other directly under Baltic sea from Russia to Germany.
Now, THIS means WAR.
Putin is now deciding what mix of soft diplomacy, hard diplomacy, soft military power and hard military power to use in scuttling this deal.
very excellent!
It's not impossible that there was some descent since there are lots of different ethnic groups in eastern Europe in the last centuries of the Roman Empire and afterwards--Attila ruled over lots of Germans as well as Huns and probably fragments of various other ethnic groups.
The ancient Sarmatae spoke an Iranian language (as did the Scyths--Herodotus thought the Sarmatians just spoke Scythian inccorectly).
The Russians do think the Eastern Europeans are clueless. That's why the the smarter ones give the Russians the finger every chance they get. If you see a Russian, you will usually also see a Pole or a Lithuanian poking him with a stick.
If you see a Russian, you will usually also see a Pole or a Lithuanian poking him with a stick.===
Yeah yeah:) Later Russians got mad with thier poking and smash thier faces then they crawl to West crying and complaining about Russians:).
The only ones crying are the Russians. They have the largest case of geopolitical penis-envy on the Planet. The Eastern Europeans understand their size and significance. What is the Russian excuse?
Simple so many armed invasions came on us from west directions for centuries. Always if we get week or something those on west decided to recheck us. We did our invasion just in answer and number of them are lesser.
So we have now the iron strong proof that if we see that anyone even can bite us we should do the preventive strike. Any kind:).
If they hate us then we hate them back. Double:).
Bring it on rabid beasts! Show the world what vicious mindless animals you are.
Realize this, Putin's continued strategic missile threats against America and European nations, coupled his Kremlin's open support for the worst Islamic terrorist dictatorships, along with weapons shipments to brutal communist tyrannies , will one day totally backfire, resulting in a massive catastrophe for Russia itself, very similar to Nazi Germany's crippling downfall.
What else can be expected by a depraved neo-Stalinist thug?
Realize this, Putin’s continued strategic missile threats against America and European nations, ==
Russia does it only as the balance. You shouldn’t forget that they pointed missiles on Russia too.
coupled his Kremlin’s open support for the worst Islamic terrorist dictatorships, along with weapons shipments to brutal communist tyrannies , ==
Russia SELLs weaponry for hard currencies, she doesn’t give nothing for free. For her it is just business. Nothing more. If it won’t Russia then China or someone else. When you’d understand that?
will one day totally backfire, resulting in a massive catastrophe for Russia itself, very similar to Nazi Germany’s crippling downfall. ==
Nazi started invasion to other nations. But Russia won’t do that. Russia is on defensive only. But Russia trully need to be strong else someone will recheck her borders as it was many times in the past.
Bring it on rabid beasts! Show the world what vicious mindless animals you are.==
You too hateful:).. Your venom will poison you:)..
The only reason missiles might still be targeting Russian geostrategic sites is Russia under Putin remains a potential threat, has Russian ICBM's targeting European, Canadian & US cities, plus the fact another attempted coup could be staged by ultra-die-hard commie Russian generals wanting to start the war against the West now, in relation to KGB Putin's 'milk the West for all they are worth, arm the Axis of Evil and attack later, utilizing Moscow's armed proxies'.
"Russia SELLs weaponry for hard currencies, she doesn’t give nothing for free. For her it is just business. Nothing more. If it won’t Russia then China or someone else. When you’d understand that?"
Where is Putin today (10-16-2007)? Answer: Terrorist exporting Iran showing his true colours once again with his ongoing arms and nuclear fuel support for a pack of Islamic killers.
Russia will not be reined in: Putin
The KGB boss has spoken...
"Nazi started invasion to other nations."
From 1939, 1940 and through half of 41 the Russian communist horde were slaughtering thousands in Finland, plus stealing Finnish their land. (Give it back!) Then Moscow's NKVD killers invaded the Baltic states, where in all three small nations more mass murders coupled with one way trips to Bolshevik slavery & death in Siberia were inflicted on the Baltic countries, along with the eastern Polish & White Russian populations, while the Moscow's ally Berlin invading Nazis butchered the population of the rest of Poland & began the horrors of the Shaoh, triggering mass murder on a barbaric level only equal to Stalin's wholesale slaughter of millions.
Communist Massacres and Atrocities of the Second World War
Defensive only?? LOL That's why Putin's Kremlin neo-Soviet mind controllers continue brainwashing & training Nashi youth cultists to become robotic street thugs for 'Vlad', plus the fact Putin is building up a massive arsenal of new generation bigger and more deadly ICMB's & IRBM's, far more nuclear subs then in the 'old days', updated ABM systems, flying Russian long range bombers as if the Cold War was on with a vengeance, and the expansion of Russian civil defense -- which are all preparations for a first strike, total war!
"But Russia trully need to be strong else someone will recheck her borders as it was many times in the past."
Does a 'strong Russia' include selling every conceivable weapons to the most imfamous terrorist rouge state around the globe?
The West must remain constantly vigilant against totalitarian Putin and his nest of KGB operatives, still intent on crushing and enslaving the Free World.
From 1939, 1940 and through half of 41 the Russian communist horde were slaughtering thousands in Finland==
Soviet communists under rule of georgian Stalin. If you talk “Russian” then please show me the appropriate example. Russians do not answer for the deeds nonrussian rulers of Soviet Union.
Does a ‘strong Russia’ include selling every conceivable weapons to the most imfamous terrorist rouge state around the globe?==
No it isn’t. But when you prove that Iran is the terrorist regime? If it gives weaponry to iraqi insurgents to attack the occupational soldiers then it is no terrorism. The terrorism is the attack on the innocent civilans ONLY which military surely not. So any military is the legitiomate target for insurgents.
What do you say about the real terrorism which Kurds excersises against Turkey? Those kurd terrorists hit the civilian targets. But America refuses Turkey to punish the terrorist bases in Northern Iraq.
"If it gives weaponry to iraqi insurgents to attack the occupational soldiers then it is no terrorism. The terrorism is the attack on the innocent civilans ONLY which military surely not. So any military is the legitiomate target for insurgents."
You fully exemplify the current, twisted, predictable, neo-Soviet mindset with your bombastic comments, and you should be thoroughly ashamed of your open support for the Islamic killers controlling Iran.
Is there far too much vodka consumption going on there? Are you attempting to say during the entire history of the repressive communist enslaved Soviet Union, Russians were never in control of the Kremlin or the Red Army, the Gulags, the KGB... (you know, as in Putin history..)?.
Please, enough with the silly attempts at Kremlin style propaganda.
You picked the wrong side, Ivan. You decided to be America's enemy and help jihadists kill our soldiers. Soon it will be your Russian soldiers killed in Abkhazia and Ossetia, and we will celebrate their deaths! When the Chechens slaughter your children we will have no pity for you, because you chose to be our enemy. Any sympathy we may have had for your struggle against the Chechens is now a thing of the past. I hope they kill you all! We will help your enemies to kill you the way you are doing to us in Iraq. You savage animals deserve nothing less.
You're wasting your time here, M. Espinola. The burgeoning Marxist/Islamist alliance we are all fully aware of—anyone, for that matter, who follows geopolitics closely at Free Republic—dies en mass on the mountains of Israel, when they finally invade the Middle East.
RusIvan, I will certainly not be so arrogant to boast in the future hegemony of the United States, because the Lord rules in the affairs of men, but Russia and her contemporary allies are identified specifically in the Bible as getting creamed in the future. Although I'm as fervent an American patriot as anybody else, as you are Russian, I try to maintain some objectivity.
Regardless, America isn't named in the Bible. Russia and her future is. Your Russian apologia notwithstanding, either give your heart to Jesus, or buy a helmet. Russia and Putin will continue to be on the wrong side of history until the inevitable happens.
Georgia is the wink link - Russia has already invaded it once.
Communism sucks. Communism is responsible for over 110 million deaths in the 20th century. Maybe you can understand our unease at seeing it revived in Russia?
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM
-Snip-
With this understood, the Soviet Union appears the greatest mega-murderer of all, apparently killing near 61,000,000 people. Stalin himself is responsible for almost 43,000,000 of these. Most of the deaths, perhaps around 39,000,000 are due to lethal forced labor in gulag and transit thereto.
The way things are rapidly proceeding with Putin and his Axis of absolute Evil cohorts, every bit of Ezekiel 38 & 39 is on the verge of a full manifestation.
That’s about the size of it!
Are you attempting to say during the entire history of the repressive communist enslaved Soviet Union, Russians were never in control of the Kremlin or the Red Army, the Gulags, the KGB... (you know, as in Putin history..)?.==
Russians were the part the smaller part of soviet leadership then for example Ukranians. Russians were never in the supreme commad of USSR until Mihael Gorbachev. Ukranians had 3 leaders likeL Khruschev, Brezhanev and Chernenko. Gorby was the first ever Russian in charge of Soviet Union.
So it is absolutely unfair to put the all soviet communist deeds only on Russias. They wer Ukranians, Georgians, Latvians, even Chinese or something and Russians too. SO Russians were ther in the wide company.
Please, enough with the silly attempts at Kremlin style propaganda.==
Funny:) Everyone has the internet these day so can recheck my facts. You too. But you refuses because the facts contradict your russophobia:). It is bad for you not me.
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