2/21/2007

Poland, Sweden focus on controversial Baltic pipeline plan

Warsaw - Foreign ministers from European Union partners Poland and Sweden discussed on Tuesday in Warsaw controversial German-Russian plans to construct a natural gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea floor.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt vowed Sweden would 'closely' analyse any pipeline proposal in the context of international, maritime and particularly environmental law before taking a decision whether to approve the plan.

The planned pipeline passes through Swedish, Danish and Finnish maritime economic zones.

Sweden has not yet received any official notification of construction plans from investors in the project, he revealed.

Poland and fellow EU Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania remain united in staunch opposition to the natural gas pipeline plan, insisting it poses a grave environmental hazard to the fragile Baltic Sea eco-system and a threat to their own energy security.

Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga underscored Poland's continued opposition to the pipeline plan and said it was counting on Sweden's 'traditional solidarity on the issue.'

Agreed by Germany's E.ON-Ruhrgas and BASF Russian fuel titan Gazprom last year, the controversial Baltic pipeline plan is aimed at providing a direct supply of Russian natural gas to Germany, bypassing existing lines passing through Poland.

Plans call for construction to begin next spring.

Source:monstersandcritics.com



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