Belarus blackmails Russia with the help of Baltic-Black Sea manifold
A German deputy Karl-Teodor Guttenberg is worried about the fact that the construction of the Northern pipeline may make Europe more dependent on Russia. Whether Europe is able to refuse the idea of the construction of a direct pipeline from Russia to Germany is the top issue of the today’s Eurofocus. The first line of the Northern pipeline will open in 2010. However, German people’s deputies are already worried. They say that the new pipeline will make Europe more dependent on Russia. The idea has a reason to exist as the former German Chancellor Gerhard Shroder works for Gazprom now.
However, a Belarusian economist Leanid Zaika is sure that nobody is likely to dominate in Germany-Russia relations:
“Gas from Algeria is unlikely to be sufficient for the whole Europe because the Old World consumes a lot of energy. Of course a panic can be observed in the West after Russia-Georgia war. However, Nicola Sarkozy said that Russia was a great country when he arrived in Moscow. Germany is also a great country and the opinion of two or twenty German deputies is unlikely to change the foreign policy of the two countries”.
According to Mr. Zaika, Europe will not refuse the opportunity of cheaper supplies of Russian fuel to the Old World because of the war in Georgia:
“Europeans understand that the conflict between Russia and Georgia is an unnecessary and untimely action. But I do not think that Europe will deprive itself of a quite natural necessity to buy high-quality fuel – Russian gas – because of it”.
Speaking about Belarus he noted that less intensive traffic in the “Druzhba” pipeline cold influence the Belarusian economy in a bad way. “Belnaftahim” is already studying possibilities of alternative oil supplies to Belarus from a Lithuanian port Butinge.
Leanid Zaika recalled the project of the begging of the 90s in an interview with ERB. It concerned the construction of the Baltic-Black Sea manifold:
“The Baltic-Black Sea manifold may be built. It is a rather old idea suggested by BNF 15 years ago. It is good to mention it to make the situation more delicate. Russia is sure to oppose to the construction of the Baltic-Black Sea manifold because it will result in Belarus seceding the Union of Belarus and Russia. In fact, everything that is going to happen within the next 10 years will be connected with EU membership of Ukraine and the wekening influence of Russia on Belarus. That is why Belarusian officials are not afraid to claim that our country can buy gas from other countries. Let them try – there is no objection to it”.
However, time will show whether we will see the Baltic-Black Sea manifold in reality.
However, a Belarusian economist Leanid Zaika is sure that nobody is likely to dominate in Germany-Russia relations:
“Gas from Algeria is unlikely to be sufficient for the whole Europe because the Old World consumes a lot of energy. Of course a panic can be observed in the West after Russia-Georgia war. However, Nicola Sarkozy said that Russia was a great country when he arrived in Moscow. Germany is also a great country and the opinion of two or twenty German deputies is unlikely to change the foreign policy of the two countries”.
According to Mr. Zaika, Europe will not refuse the opportunity of cheaper supplies of Russian fuel to the Old World because of the war in Georgia:
“Europeans understand that the conflict between Russia and Georgia is an unnecessary and untimely action. But I do not think that Europe will deprive itself of a quite natural necessity to buy high-quality fuel – Russian gas – because of it”.
Speaking about Belarus he noted that less intensive traffic in the “Druzhba” pipeline cold influence the Belarusian economy in a bad way. “Belnaftahim” is already studying possibilities of alternative oil supplies to Belarus from a Lithuanian port Butinge.
Leanid Zaika recalled the project of the begging of the 90s in an interview with ERB. It concerned the construction of the Baltic-Black Sea manifold:
“The Baltic-Black Sea manifold may be built. It is a rather old idea suggested by BNF 15 years ago. It is good to mention it to make the situation more delicate. Russia is sure to oppose to the construction of the Baltic-Black Sea manifold because it will result in Belarus seceding the Union of Belarus and Russia. In fact, everything that is going to happen within the next 10 years will be connected with EU membership of Ukraine and the wekening influence of Russia on Belarus. That is why Belarusian officials are not afraid to claim that our country can buy gas from other countries. Let them try – there is no objection to it”.
However, time will show whether we will see the Baltic-Black Sea manifold in reality.
