Posted on 05/25/2006 11:04:17 AM PDT by lizol
Estonia frowns on Baltic pipeline
The German-Russian deal struck last autumn to build a pipeline under the Baltic Sea to pump natural gas from Russia continues to raise concerns in the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine. These countries’ leaders have said they felt uneasy about, what they felt was, deals being made behind their back on an issue as vital as energy security.
This report by Michal Zajac in Tallinn.
Even though most of the information concerning the manner in which the gas pipeline will be constructed remains secret, environmentalists in the Baltic states still say that threats to the environment do exist. After all, the gas pipeline is to be laid on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, there may be a temptation to add more pipelines to transport chemicals or crude oil. According to Estonian environmental protection expert Marek Strandberg no matter how advanced technologies are applied, the life of the Baltic Sea along the pipe line will feel their consequences.
Estonia, just like the remaining Baltic states, is opposed to the German-Russian plans. The four billion euro project to construct a 1,200-km gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea is to be completed by 2010. The pipeline is to skirt Estonia, so Tallinn doesn’t feel it will lose any potential transit fees, but it’s still voicing its reluctance to the venture.
But when it comes to the Baltic states, there is one overriding concern. Estonians still feel that Russia is casting a long shadow over their newly independent country. Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute Andres Kasekamp argues that Estonia’s concerns over the German-Russian pipeline have several dimensions. The Baltic simply have painful memories of Soviet occupation and wish to be distanced from any dependence on Moscow.
But Germany and Russia stand by the deal signed by Gerhard Schroeder and Valdimir Putin in Berlin on September 8 last year. The pipeline’s construction is likely to go ahead next year. Estonia is aware that opposing the plans can bring about no results. That’s why Prime Minister Andrus Ansip is determined to focus on diversifying energy sources.
‘We are very much interested in having our energy system connected to the Scandinavian and Polish ones. To achieve this goal Estonia and Poland will ask for funds from the European Union.’
At present the European Union’s Green Paper on a European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy is open to public consultation. On the basis of responses given, the European Commission will develop more precise ideas on Europe’s common energy issues.
You may wish to brush-up on those analogy skills.
What "black sea"???
You see Liz, I actually presumed the Ukrainians had a valid gripe for once, turns out as usuall they don't.
Once again you ignore the point that countries not on the sea in question have zero business discussing the matter.
Recently he claimed that Lviv still belongs to Poland and even lectured myself how to write the city name correctly. I used Ukrainian version like above, he claimed that only Russian version “Lvov” is correct. :) He is unable to provide some valuable input to our discussions, well Russophilia is not enough.
Actually I claimed it may as well be for the way the lick Polish boots.
You know it's easy to forget which one considering how many Russia borders. I suppose when you only border ONE (as the 3 states in question do) it gives them such a sense of inadequacy they form little alliances of single-sea-bordering nations, even when they don't border the same sea.
Sure, sure.
Remember - Baltic - Black - Baltic - Black...
Keep repeating.
One has to wonder why the environmentalists aren't screaming madly about a gas pipeline in the Baltic, that could lead to an oil pipeline?
No they don't, they have a pipeline of their own.
And the only reason gas wouldn't be flowing through it is if they don't pay their bill.
Unless they have some preoccupation with failing to pay their debts (oh wait this is Ukraine, the international version of the aquaitance always in need of borrowing something but never interested in paying it back) they have nothing to worry about. They are in NO WAY able to administrate over what foreign nations do with their natural resources.
Russia could decide tommorow that gas is too precious and they don't want to sell ANY of this precious national resource and there is NOTHING EUROPE COULD SAY ABOUT IT.
That is soveriegnty, Either you beleive it, or you subscribe to marxism or globalism which asserts that it's okay for some countries to strong arm others over what they do with their own natural resources.
1/9th the world's surface.
Make's your little Polish self long for the days of False Dmitry doesn't it...
Ya'll coulda been a contender.
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