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Slovakia's president warns Nord Stream-2 may become Russia’s policy tool

The project contradicts efforts to decrease dependence of the European Union on Russian gas supplies, which may be used by Russia as a tool to reach its political goals

Slovak President Andrej Kiska EPA/MARKKU OJALA

Slovak President Andrej Kiska

© EPA/MARKKU OJALA

PRAHA, November 23. /TASS/. Implementation of Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline project contradicts energy security interests of the European Union (EU) and may become a policy tool of the Russian Federation, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said on Monday.

The project contradicts efforts to decrease dependence of the European Union on Russian gas supplies, which may be used by Russia as a tool to reach its political goals, he said.

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Andrej Kiska said he’s concerned about Slovakia and Ukraine losing their status of key transit countries for delivering Russian gas to the European Union. He also expressed doubt that the project is purely commercial. "Many our partners in the EU use arguments that this is a purely commercial project of private companies, which has nothing to do with politics. This position contradicts our experience," President said, adding that the project’s implementation may turn into a drama when gas supplies will be used in the interests of the politicians.

The country’s Prime Minister Robert Fico also speaks out against Nord Stream-2 project, as he says Slovakia may lose hundreds of millions of dollars coming to the budget for transiting Russian gas to Western Europe.

On September 4, 2015 Gazprom signed a shareholder agreement on the Nord Stream expansion with Basf, E.ON, Engie, OMV and Shell. The pipeline with capacity of 55 bln cubic meters of gas will deliver fuel via the Baltic Sea directly to Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, France, Denmark and other countries bypassing Ukraine. Thus, strategic energy flows will bypass Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.

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Oil & Gas Slovakia Nord Stream

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