MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
Wednesday that despite the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline,
several European Union (EU) member states and the United States continue to
aggressively oppose the project.
“So much criticism has been raised against this pipeline and it is
incomprehensible why this has been the case,” Lavrov said at a press
conference following a Collective Security Treaty Organization meeting in
Dushanbe, according to a statement published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Most of this criticism comes from the United States, which claims the pipeline
could “undermine Europe’s energy security,” he added.
Lavrov explained that Germany is actively involved in the project and has
confirmed its commitment to it.
He added that with the completion of all construction work, Russia is now
waiting to obtain all necessary permits from the German regulator.
The EU is criticizing Russia for not being willing to communicate with the
bloc as a whole, however, it is the EU itself that has persistently destroyed
relations with Russia at all levels, Lavrov said.
“We will communicate with those who are willing to do so,” he added.
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom announced the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas
pipeline construction on Friday.
The 1,230-km gas pipeline would bring 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually
from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. Enditem
