OREANDA-NEWS. May 2, 2007. The Minister of industry and energy Viktor Khristenko considers stoppage of “Druzhba” pipeline a technical issue and calls for European officials no to politicize the situation.
“ If we look over the Lithuanian situation and the last Europerliament’s statement, which adopted the resolution blaming Russia in respect to using energy as political instruments then the resolution itself really looks like political decision of the Parliament of Europe. That is the very attempt to politicize the technical and commercial issue not on the level of Lithuania as country, but on the level of European bodies”, the Russian Minister said at “Vesti” live broadcast.
“ I doubt whether these bodies have the right legal jurisdiction or legal foundations to discuss issues of such kind. Therefore for us accusations of Russia in energy squeeze at the most looks like shy attempt to cover up their own views how to politically use energy”, he emphasized.
V.Khristenko noted, that since that accident there were no any “legal actions”, viz commencement of court action, between companies involved in oil transit, its suppliers-Russian companies, and buyers of oil –owners of the Lithuanian refinery. “ Conclusions are that commercial relation gave no opportunity to present such claims”, Khristenko said.
He also notes that breakdowns at pipelines are happened not only in Russia, giving an example with Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, and Britain BP at Alaska. “ But as usual, only matters relating with Russia became politicized”, exasperated Khristenko.
“ At that,-added Russian Minister- I could dare not to dramatized the subject. We’ve exchanged opinions with Andris Peabalgs, curator of energy issues, member of Euro Commission. I stated in full technical aspects of the problem and attempt of their interpretation from the point of views of individual bodies.