Ukrainian FM speaks out against gas pipeline
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pawlo Klimkin has spoken out against the South Stream gas pipeline project, which will transport gas from Russia to Austria while circumventing Ukraine starting in 2017.
"As a member of the EU, Austria should stick to the rules," Klimkin said in an interview with the newspaper Die Presse during his visit to Austria on Tuesday.
The South Stream project was unlawful in the EU, he said, and he did not believe it would be profitable. "South Stream costs almost €30 billion," Klimkin pointed out. "Why should one spend so much money on a project which does not contribute to diversification?"
On the subject of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Austria, the Ukrainian minister said that Austria could invite whoever it wanted. However, the EU should "speak with one voice" when it came to foreign policy. This was important for the Union's credibility, he said.
Klimkin also accused Russia of violating all kinds of international and political laws in the Ukraine conflict. "This is why we need to think about what kind of guarantees of international law we need in the future - for ourselves, and for Europe," he said.
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"As a member of the EU, Austria should stick to the rules," Klimkin said in an interview with the newspaper Die Presse during his visit to Austria on Tuesday.
The South Stream project was unlawful in the EU, he said, and he did not believe it would be profitable. "South Stream costs almost €30 billion," Klimkin pointed out. "Why should one spend so much money on a project which does not contribute to diversification?"
On the subject of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Austria, the Ukrainian minister said that Austria could invite whoever it wanted. However, the EU should "speak with one voice" when it came to foreign policy. This was important for the Union's credibility, he said.
Klimkin also accused Russia of violating all kinds of international and political laws in the Ukraine conflict. "This is why we need to think about what kind of guarantees of international law we need in the future - for ourselves, and for Europe," he said.
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