Russia Warns against Politicization of Nord Stream 2 As Germany Links Project to Ukraine Crisis
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Russian side will comply with all required norms during the certification of Nord Stream 2, and hopes the process is not artificially delayed or politicized, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
"The commissioning of Nord Stream 2 will constitute a significant contribution to ensuring the energy security of the entire European Union. The procedure for its certification by German regulators and the European Commission should not be artificially delayed or politicized. It must be carried out in strict accordance with existing standards, which we intend to strictly comply with," the Ministry said in a statement on its website on Monday, Sputnik reported.
The ministry noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart would discuss a broad range of issues at their meeting Tuesday. "There will be an in-depth exchanger of views on the most pressing international problems, primarily the implementation of Russian proposals for comprehensive security guarantees in Europe," the statement said.
Earlier in the day, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that the West would take "appropriate measures" against the gas infrastructure megaproject in the event of an escalation over Ukraine, and recalled that Berlin and Washington had adopted a joint statement on the matter last year.
"We as the new German government have stated clearly in the coalition agreement that energy projects must comply with German and European laws. This also applies to Nord Stream 2. Currently, this project does not fully comply with European law, so the certification process has been suspended," Baerbock said, speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.
"In the event of continued escalation by Russia we and our partners will take appropriate measures," the foreign minister warned.
"No country has the right to dictate to other countries which direction they may take, which relationships they may have and which alliances they may enter into. Ukraine's sovereignty can never and will never be subject to negotiations," Baerbock said. "Each further aggressive act will have a high price for Russia, economically, strategically, politically," she added.
The Green Party politician did not elaborate on these "aggressive acts." Moscow has repeatedly dismissed these "aggression" allegations, and accused the West of using the Russian bogeyman as an excuse to continue the buildup of NATO forces near Russia's borders.