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Poland’s Ex-PM Accused of Gas Treason
Poland’s deputy economy minister on Monday accused the country’s former prime minister of lobbying Russia’s interests, which broke down the Polish-Norwegian gas deal. The accusation came several days after Poland bought 15 percent in a major oil and gas deposit in the Norwegian Sea.
In 2001, Poland’s then Prime Minister Leszek Miller was a member of “the Russian party” which acted to advance Moscow’s interests, Deputy Economy Minister Piotr Naimski said in a radio interview. “These accusations are serious indeed, and I mean them,” Mr. Naimski said adding that the Supreme Court ought to examine the case.
The accusations were voiced several days after Poland acquired a 15 percent stake in an oil and gas deposit in the Norwegian Sea from Exxon for an estimated $335 million. The deposit is believed to hold 36 billion cu. meters of gas. The operations are due to start in 2011.
Announcing the deal last week, Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said the access to a large oil and gas deposit will make the country more energy safe. The ruling Law and Solidarity party has earlier accused the previous government of keeping Poland heavily on Russian gas.
After the Miller government assumed power in 2001, the country walked out of the talks with Norway and Denmark on gas supplies. Leszek Miller said the deal broke down because the prices offered were too high. Poland’s new officials, however, find these explanations lame.
Piotr Naimski’s remark will surely make the case a political one as Leszek Miller is now virtually being accused of betraying state interests.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 06, 2007
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