Sochi (Russia), Jan 22
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised German Chancellor
Angela Merkel that Europe could count on Russia as a reliable
partner for future energy supplies and offered to set up a stock of
Russian gas in Germany.
After talks on the Black Sea resort of Sochi Sunday, Putin told the
chancellor that Russia was working to build new routes of transport
for its energy supplies to the EU, which gets 30 percent of its oil
imports from Russia.
A camp storing Russian gas could be set up in Germany allowing the
country to take over a distributory function in Europe, he said.
As a result of the three-day stoppage earlier this month, which
Russia blamed on its neighbour Belarus, Russia was now trying to
reduce the dependency on transit countries and this necessitated the
construction of a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea as well as
increased exports via the port of Primorsk near Saint Petersburg,
Putin said.
Moscow had a great interest in global energy security, he added.
Russia's move had cut oil supplies to Europe through a pipeline
running through Belarus.
Germany and other EU states were annoyed by a lack of warning from
Moscow when Russia stopped pumping oil through Belarus. Officials in
Berlin said it would have been good, if Russia had given the West
prior notice.
Including energy security in a new partnership agreement between
Russia and the EU was a "question of taste", Putin added, saying
there definitely should be "clear, written rules" to adhere to.
Merkel, who was paying her first visit to Russia since Germany took
over the twin presidencies of the EU and Group of Eight leading
industrial nations on Jan 1, told Putin that communications needed
to be improved "in order to avoid irritations".
In terms of reviving the Mideast Quartet comprising the UN, the EU,
Russia and the US, Putin supported Merkel's aim to hold a meeting
soon with the other members to bring Israel and Palestine back into
peace negotiations.
In reference to Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Merkel said
it was important to show Tehran that the door to further
negotiations was still open.
(c) Boloji.com :
1999–2008 : All
Rights Reserved Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
