Putin orders talks with Poland to clarify pipeline route to Western Europe

Deputy prime minister of Russia Victor Khristenko has announced that President Vladimir Putin is ordering talks with Poland to clarify problems regarding the construction of a gas pipeline to Western Europe which will bypass Ukraine. Khristenko, who is responsible for those negotiations, maintains that the agreement signed between Poland and Russia in 1993 is of essential significance in this case. According to the Russian interpretation of that document, Poland is obliged to allow construction of two gas pipelines on its territory. Khristenko said that the Russian side is preparing a rider to that agreement in which it will clarify its position. The Polish government is interested in the construction of gas pipelines, but according to Economy Minister Janusz Steinhoff the Russian plans for routing the line do not meet Poland's economic interests. There has been no official statement from the European Union (EU) thus far on the issue. A meeting between European Commission and Russian representatives on Oct. 30 will evaluate plans for the route of the pipeline as a whole. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1)