Zee Beam News

05–05–2008 –  RIAN News – Written interview with Gerhard Schroeder, a former German chancellor and the current chairman of the Nord Stream shareholders' committee - RIA Novosti
Question: You are on good terms with Vladimir Putin. But what about Dmitry Medvedev? You must know him well - he was one of the heads of Gazprom. Answer: I've known Medvedev for many years, and respect him as a man open and ready for discussion and guided by firm principles. As first deputy prime minister, he has shown that he is not only competent in economic and social policies, but is strong enough to implement his decisions. He has stated that consolidating a law-based state is one of his priorities. I'm sure that he will achieve this goal. There is no doubt that he has amassed enough experience in the world arena during his numerous meetings abroad. He will continue following the path that Russia chose as a stable and reliable partner in international politics and as a G8 member. There are complicated international tasks which can only be resolved by cooperating with Russia, such as the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, settling conflicts in the Middle East, and climate change. I'm convinced that Russia will make a substantial contribution to the resolution of these problems under Medvedev's leadership.
Q: The West believes that Medvedev will be a more liberal president than Vladimir Putin. What do you think on this score? A: I don't see any political differences between Putin and Medvedev. Up until now they have jointly determined Russia's policies. The West often misinterprets Putin's policies and convictions. There is no doubt that Russia has become a more open, democratic, stable and successful state than it was before Putin became president. By and large, the new president will continue Putin's policy, as he has declared. This is the correct decision. In the last few years, Russia has been a stable factor, unlike the rest of the world. I'm sure that under Medvedev, Russia will remain stable.
Q: On the eve of the recent NATO summit in Bucharest, Germany, France and some other European countries were against Ukraine and Georgia immediately joining the NATO Membership Action Plan. Nevertheless, NATO said that its doors are open to everyone and promised to resume a discussion of this issue at the end of this year. What chance do Ukraine and Georgia have of joining NATO? Will Germany side with its NATO allies on this issue, or will it consider the position of Russia, which is resolutely against NATO's advance toward its borders? A: Many nations, including some NATO countries, are skeptical about Ukraine and Georgia's entry into NATO. I'm skeptical, too. Most people in Ukraine are against joining NATO. The domestic political situation in Georgia is uncertain; moreover, it has outstanding conflicts, which cannot be taken into NATO by any means. I'd advise refraining from any action that may be interpreted as encircling or deterring Russia. NATO membership for these countries would be such a step.
Q: Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence has not yet received broad international support. Moreover, some countries, including Russia and a number of EU members, insist that the actions of the Kosovo authorities violate international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Moscow believes that those who have strongly supported Kosovo's independence have failed to explain why its situation is unique. Do you believe that it is unique? Do you think it may trigger off a chain reaction in other regions with "frozen conflicts"? A: Indeed, having recognized Kosovo's independence, the majority of EU members and the United States have created many problems. I mean not only Kosovo but also the conflicts that you have mentioned. In my opinion, this step was wrong because it was premature. There were other options. I think that Serbia should be admitted to the EU, if it wants. Kosovo could join the EU as part of Serbia, or it could acquire independent statehood when Serbia becomes a member. In any event, this conflict cannot be resolved without the participation of pro-European forces from President Boris Tadic's team. However, Kosovo's recognition has weakened these forces, probably so much that we will soon have to deal with an isolated and unpredictable Kosovo. To be honest, it is a pity that the EU has followed the United States' lead on this issue. This decision was probably in America's favor, but it was not at all in Europe's interests.
Q: Some of Germany's neighbors are accusing it of being friends with Russia ‘over their heads' with regard to Nord Stream. Is Nord Stream really that dangerous for Poland, the Baltic nations and Sweden? They are going to all-out to impede its construction. Will it be put into operation as planned - the first line in 2011 and the second in 2012? A: Nord Stream is not directed against anyone. To the contrary, it will make a major contribution to Europe's reliable supply of natural gas. This is a Russian-European rather than a Russian-German project. This is why the European Union views Nord Stream as a project which is of interest to all of Europe. And this is why all EU members should support it. Needless to say, the gas pipeline's construction and operation will comply with all environmental and technical standards. We believe that accelerated construction and intensive dialogue with other countries will allow us to start gas supplies in 2011.
Q: What about the attitude of other countries toward Nord Stream's sea route? When will they finally agree to it? A: Responding to their wishes, we are currently studying alternative routes for Nord Stream. In order to avoid delays, we are trying to streamline construction and allocate enough time to getting the approval of other countries. We will harmonize our subsequent actions with all Baltic states during international consultations. This process will take several months. Concrete deadlines will depend on how constructive the efforts of all countries are.
Q: Why has the project become more expensive - 7.4 billion euros according to Gazprom's estimate?  Its price tag was previously about 6 billion euros. A: The previous estimate was too rough; it was made more than two years ago, when the project had just been launched. Now a number of important factors have been taken into account during its planning. A considerable part of the increase is explained by safety regulations and environmental considerations. The dynamics of world prices have also exerted considerable influence on Nord Stream's costs, as well as on all its relevant infrastructure projects.