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Estonia Hampers Russian Gas Pipeline Project
Russia and Estonia exchanged another set of accusations late last week, showing that the ongoing conflict is far from being over. Meanwhile, Tallinn has found a tool to retaliate. Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip declined to meet former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to discuss participation in a Russian gas pipeline, which means the project implementation will slow down.
Russian and Estonian official kept the argument sentiment hot over the weekend as the Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov demanded an apology for the removal of the Bronze Soldier statue in Tallinn. Estonian Interior Minister Urmas Paet fired back, saying that “it is Russia that should be offering an apology for the blockade of the Estonian embassy in Moscow, an attempt of assault at the ambassador and lies in Russian press.”
Russia has not imposed any major economic sanctions on Estonia despite recent threats. Moscow does not seem to have any effective tool of influence on Tallinn. A large part of Estonian businessmen are ethnic Russians. On the other hand, diverting the fuel transit supply from Estonia would hit Russian companies since the search for alternative routes in other Baltic states or Belarus would incur serious losses.
Estonian authorities, in the meantime, have found a way to retaliate. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will not meet Gerhard Schroeder, chief executive for the North European Gas Pipeline’s operator Nordstream, Urmas Paet said Saturday. The former German Chancellor was planning to visit Tallinn on May 8 to secure Estonia’s agreement to host a part of the pipeline’s route.
Estonia has recently refused Russia’s request for research in its economic waters for the project, saying the application was filed incorrectly. Authorities say they are going to consider a new application within the next four months, which means the best time for underwater works will be over. The decision is likely to set back the pipeline project which sees the launch of the first branch in October 2010.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 07, 2007
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