Estonian Defense Ministry against Nord Stream studying possibility of laying new pipelines
TALLINN. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Estonian Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu is does not support a request by Nord Stream AG for permission to research the possibility of laying new Nord Stream gas pipeline stretches in Estonia's maritime economic zone.
Last week, Reinsalu sent the Foreign Affairs Ministry a letter recommending a negative response to the company, the paper Eesti Paevaleht reported on Tuesday.
In the minister's view, behind the application to perform the research is Nord Stream AG's desire to continue along the Baltic Sea floor another two pipelines for bringing Russian gas to Germany.
"Solid analyses by the Defense Ministry and its subordinate structures show that Nord Stream AG's scientific sea research, as well as the laying, operation, and servicing of a potential gas route involves various threats to security," Reinsalu said.
Reinsalu therefore recommends a "firm 'no.'"
Nord Stream AG had asked the Estonian government for research permission back in August.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry response is being prepared - the ministry having requested the opinions of other ministries and agencies. The Estonian government's response to Nord Stream AG should be forthcoming in December.
In 2007, the Estonian government denied the company permission to do research and lay two initial lines of gas pipe, citing environmental considerations and saying that the route had to run to the Gulf of Finland through the geologically less suitable Finnish economic waters.
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has repeatedly expressed his negative attitude to the Nord Stream enlargement. "I do not think we have witnessed a significant change since the previous decision (the denial of permission to lay the first two Nord Stream lines through the Estonian economic zone). Hence I cannot expect an alternation of the position of the previous government. I do not think the situation has changed drastically since the time the previous application was made," he told a press conference in August.
He has reiterated his opposition to the new request, saying he sees no grounds for revising his viewpoint.
