Russo-German pipeline deal raises tension
Tom Parfitt
Russia and Germany are on the verge of signing a multibillion pound
pipeline deal that has the potential to alter Europe's political landscape and seriously
aggravate the Kremlin's relations with its former Soviet neighbours.
The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is expected to ink the deal tomorrow
to build a pipeline under the Baltic sea that will bring vast supplies of gas to western
Europe.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will endorse the deal with
German chemicals manufacturer BASF as he visits the German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder.
The north European gas pipeline will allow Russia to bypass
"unfriendly" states such as Ukraine and Poland.
"It will help us avoid all the complications with those countries
and deal directly with the Germans," said Alexei Makarkin, an analyst at the Centre
for Political Technologies in Moscow.
Oil and gas deals have emerged as a key tool in foreign relations as
the Kremlin seeks to expand into European energy markets. About a quarter of Europe's gas
is provided by Russia. The pipeline will carry gas 600 miles under the Baltic sea to the
German port of Greifswald and from there to other countries, including Britain. It is
expected to come on stream by 2010.
The Polish president, Alexander Kwasniewski, spoke out against the
project yesterday, saying the deal had been struck "over our heads".
He added: "From the point of view of the European Union ... of
common EU policy toward Russia, it is not a good situation if one EU member, an important
country, Germany, conducts such a policy over our heads and over EU heads."
Relations between Moscow and Warsaw sank to a new low last month after
a series of beatings of diplomats and their families in the two capitals.
Analysts say the pipeline is a sign of the Kremlin's desire to punish
neighbours that it believes are trying to forge a rival power base. Mr Makarkin said it
would be a blow to "countries which are attempting to create an alternative centre of
influence on the post-Soviet territory".
Russia and Ukraine have been at daggers drawn since the "orange
revolution" that swept Viktor Yushchenko to power last year. Mr Yushchenko angered
the Kremlin further when he joined forces with the Georgian president, Mikhail
Saakashvili, to announce a new pro-democratic alliance.
Moscow and Kiev have clashed repeatedly over transit of gas supplies.
Gazprom is threatening to triple the price Kiev pays for its supplies. Ukraine said last
week that it could retaliate by quadrupling transit tariffs.
Vladimir Zharikhin, of the Institute of CIS studies, said Russia's
former Soviet neighbours no longer had a right to expect its patronage.
“Guardian”, September 8, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk
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