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Russian Premier Stresses Importance of North European Gas Pipeline

Posted on: Friday, 9 December 2005, 09:00 CST

Text of report by Russia TV on 9 December

[Presenter] An hour ago in Vologda Region the go-ahead was given to the construction of a major gas pipeline. The ceremonial welding of the first seam took place in the settlement of Babayevo. Via the new pipeline Russian gas will go to western Europe directly bypassing third countries. The overland section of the pipeline will connect the richest Russian deposits with Vyborg. From there, on the Baltic seabed, the pipeline will go to Germany. We have live on the line our special correspondent Aleksey Kondulukov. Aleksey, good afternoon, could you tell us about the opening ceremony?

[Correspondent] Indeed, an hour ago the ceremonial welding of the first seam of the North European gas pipeline took place which is to connect Russia and Europe, and create a possibility for direct gas supplies to countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and, on the Baltic seabed, it will branch off to Sweden, Finland and Kaliningrad Region.

Today's ceremony was held in a rather festive atmosphere. Here, on wasteland in Vologda Region, where the pipeline is being laid, a ceremony took place which was attended by Prime Minister [Mikhail] Fradkov, Aleksey Miller, chairman of the Gazprom board, and German Minister of Economics and Technologies Michael Glos, who specially arrived for the ceremony.

After the ceremony the guests, as well as foreign participants in the project, left their signatures on the "pipe to Europe".

The Russian prime minister, in particular, went to journalists and told them about the importance of the project, above all for Russia. The project is to create jobs in all the areas through which the overland section of the gas pipeline will go in Vologda and Leningrad regions. Besides, wide-diameter pipes - 1.5 m - are made at Russian enterprises too, which is very important - [at this point correspondent was cut off]

[Fradkov, speaking at opening ceremony] It will make it much easier and create conditions for more reliable supplies and, essentially, enhance energy security for the participating countries. Naturally, the fewer intermediary links and transit territories there are, the cheaper it is for the sides to efficiently fulfil the obligations they have taken upon themselves.

[Presenter] Unfortunately, our correspondent was cut off. Let me remind you that it was Aleksey Kondulukov who was reporting from Vologda Region, where the go-ahead was given for the construction of the gas pipeline linking Russia and western Europe.

Source: BBC Monitoring European

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