BERLIN, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian defense minister backed the project to build the North European Gas Pipeline on the Baltic Sea's floor at a news conference at the Russian embassy in Germany. Sergei Ivanov said he understood the concerns of Poland and the Baltic states, which transited Russian natural gas to Western Europe. "Those countries are known to use only a small portion of oil products and gas supplied by Russia and to export the bulk of energy resources," Ivanov said.
"I sympathize with their approach and I would probably do the same if I were in their place. However, Russia pursues its own interests in Germany...We must not let the transit countries capitalize on (our gas(."
Ivanov said the Baltic pipe would carry extra volumes of energy resources, while the existing gas pipes' capacities would not be reduced. Ivanov said the project was not politically motivated and blamed Poland and the Baltics' phobias for tensions over the project. (more)
