| Vladimir Putin: There will be no unilateral concessions on the energy market Javier Solana's report was prepared in an atmosphere of complete mutual understanding with Moscow. This, in any case, follows from Vladimir Putin’s comments made on Friday at a meeting with the heads of the largest news agencies of the G8 countries. When the conversation turned to the topic of energy, the Russian President remarked: “Just now at the European Union summit we discussed all these matters very openly, which I liked, in a comradely and even friendly manner.”
It seems that as the G8 summit approaches, the West, contrary to expectations, is showing a willingness to listen to Moscow’s arguments in the energy sector. Only the lazy did not accuse the Kremlin of using Gazprom as a political tool within the CIS. Vladimir Putin, once again setting out his approaches, admitted: subsidizing the Ukrainian economy through low energy prices is possible only for political reasons. And if Western governments see fit, they can do so at the expense of their own taxpayers. And everything immediately fell into place, since statements about purely economic motivation previously sounded hypocritical.
“Our Western friends very actively supported the “orange” events in Ukraine. We can see perfectly well what is happening there all this time. There are many problems that the country is facing. But if you want to continue to support everything that happens there, you will pay for it. Why should we pay for this? Everyone is well aware that Russia has subsidized the Ukrainian economy annually in the amount of $3-5 billion over the past 15 years. Every year, I want to emphasize this. And every year we raised the question that we need to switch to the European method of pricing,” said the Russian president.
“Here you represent a news agency from Germany,” Vladimir Putin addressed the head of the DPA agency, Malta von Trotha. -- Why should consumers in Germany pay $250 per thousand cubic meters, and in Ukraine - 50? If you really want to make such a gift to Ukraine, pay for it. Why do you want us to give these gifts? Take these three to five billion, take them out of the pockets of German taxpayers and explain to them that this is advisable for such and such reasons. We have nothing against it. Pay the money."
Mr. von Trotha did not express his readiness to “take out” billions and give them to Ukraine. It was difficult for him - and for other participants in the meeting - to object to Mr. Putin's words about the need to observe the principle of reciprocity in access to resources and energy infrastructure. The President immediately dotted the i’s: “As for access to our energy systems. I want to emphasize that these are our energy systems. Transport opportunities were created with Russian funds, and the mineral resources belong to the Russian people.”
And the president presented the logic in which, apparently, “in a comradely and even friendly way” he convinced the leadership of the European Union a few days ago at the Sochi summit: “What are we talking about when they are trying to convince us to ratify the Energy Charter and additional agreements? We are talking about access to two infrastructures: production infrastructure and transport infrastructure, primarily our main pipelines. This seems to be a mutual, mutual decision. But, naturally, we have a question: okay, we allow our partners into the production and transport infrastructure, but where will you allow us? Where are the deposits where we can come? They simply don't exist. This is, in essence, a unilateral decision by Russia.” Citing a “good example of cooperation” with the German concern BASF (“Gazprom” provided it with a share in the project for the development of the Yuzhno-Russkoye field in exchange for a share in the Wingas company, which sells about 11 billion cubic meters of gas on the German market), Vladimir Putin emphasized: “But There will be no unilateral decisions.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom Dmitry Medvedev, who spoke with foreign journalists on Friday, admitted that the “defensive reaction” of European countries in response to the foreign expansion of the Russian concern was absolutely natural. “I think it is absolutely natural that it would be difficult to expect a different reaction. Previously, Gazprom was the most undervalued company, but when the situation changed and Gazprom managed to build an effective export policy, the emergence of a well-structured player on the market could not but cause a similar reaction," said the First Deputy Prime Minister. Mr. Medvedev emphasized that Gazprom considers only the language of negotiations and economic arguments, and not threats, acceptable: “This does not mean that we will slam the door and leave (in response to criticism. - Ed. ). our obligations and will cooperate fruitfully with other countries.”
Dmitry Medvedev calls not to be afraid of Gazprom’s advance deeper into the European gas market and closer to end consumers. From his point of view, the exchange of a stake in the Yuzhno-Russkoye field for BASF’s gas distribution assets leads to strengthening Europe’s energy security, especially since the exchange of assets is “the strongest form of partnership.” “If Gazprom enters into assets in Europe, this should not frighten European consumers and companies. Because when you sit inside, you think about how to strengthen, and not turn the flow of goods in a different direction. There is no other way,” Mr. Medvedev explained. Ivan GORDEEV |
|
