BERLIN Feb 22The German government was simply looking for an excuse to stop Nord Stream 2, Steffen Kotre, a member of the German Bundestag Committee on International Policy, told RIA Novosti, commenting on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on gas pipeline certification. «The anti-Russian government of Germany was simply looking for an excuse to stop the project. The federal government will put conditions that Russia cannot fulfill. The fact that this decision violates international law and contributes to the growth of gas prices shows that it is contrary to the interests of Germany,» Kotret said, adding that, in his opinion, stopping the project is the final decision of the Olaf Scholz government.The Spectator called the threat to impose tough sanctions against Russia a bluff German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier that he had instructed the country's Ministry of Economy to take a «necessary administrative step» in order to now cancel the certification of Nord Stream 2. We are talking about the withdrawal of the document from the ministry, on the basis of which the Federal Network Agency carried out the certification of the gas pipeline operator. Earlier, the Ministry of Economy of Germany, headed by Angela Merkel's associate Peter Altmaier (CDU), submitted a report to the German regulator, the Federal Grid Agency, which recorded the need for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to meet Germany's energy needs. Germany suspended the Nord Stream 2 certification process in 2021 AG as the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, so that the company reorganizes in accordance with the laws of the country. It was necessary to create a subsidiary in Germany and submit a new application for certification already on its behalf. At the end of January, Gazprom complied with the requirement of the German regulator. Nord Stream 2 AG, for certification under German law, has established in this country a subsidiary, Gas for Europe GmbH, which will become the owner and operator of the 54-kilometer section of Nord Stream 2 in German waters. The head office of Gas for Europe is located in Schwerin. As RIA Novosti was told in the press service of the Federal Network Agency, the certification of the operator of the gas pipeline section will resume after the completion of the transfer of the main assets of the German subsidiary and verification of the completeness of the documentation, while it was difficult to name the exact dates. 2022/02/34ed6c463f757feadc4c3c740af7e010.jpg» />Nikonov warned of retaliatory measures against Western sanctionsThe Russian Federation has repeatedly stated that the Nord Stream 2 project, which is actively opposed by the United States, which promotes its liquefied natural gas in the EU, as well as Ukraine, which is afraid of losing transit, is commercial, it is beneficial to Europe, and urged to stop mentioning him in the context of any politicization. Moscow also stated that it intends to continue gas transit through Ukraine. The fate of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was actively discussed in Germany against the backdrop of the situation around Ukraine. A number of German politicians, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock, are calling for the inclusion of Nord Stream 2 in the list of anti-Russian sanctions, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that in the event of an escalation, «nothing is ruled out.» Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after the meeting of the Security Council addressed to the citizens of the Russian Federation and stated that he considers it necessary to make a decision to immediately recognize the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. He noted that the world prefers not to notice the horror and genocide in the Donbass, not a single day goes by without shelling, the killing of civilians, the blockade does not stop. As the president stated, in case of further bloodshed in the Donbass, the entire responsibility will be on the Kiev regime. Immediately after the address, the President in the Kremlin signed decrees on the recognition of the LPR and the DPR. Published by: Olga Filippova
