Nord Stream is meant to create new economic environment for Russia-EU ties - Medvedev
MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - In implementing the Nord Stream gas project, Russia is trying to bring economic relations with the European Union to a new level, President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
"When sometimes Nord Stream or South Stream are described as Moscow's attempt to get Europe addicted to Russian fuel, this sounds as unfair and probably absolutely unjustified manipulation," he said in an interview with Polish media ahead of his visit to Warsaw.
"In my opinion, ultimately these are mutually-beneficial and absolutely politics-free things," he said.
"The objective of the Russian Federation is to create a new economic situation with this project for relations between our nations, for relations between Russia and the European Union," he said.
"If the diversification of sources of fuel in Europe and the guaranteed delivery fuel form Russia is politics, then it is a political project. However, I believe that this is a case when we are acting in mutual interests," Medvedev added.
He said that Russia's interest lies in selling its gas to as many consumers as possible and Europe's interest lies in receiving fuel, including gas, processing it, heating homes, and launching new projects and industrial facilities.
"There is nothing very political here in the sense that it is a mutually-beneficial thing. The politics here lies in the fact that it is a major project that requires the political consent of a number of states," Medvedev said.