- Title: Germany is committed to Ukraine's gas transit role - Scholz
- Date: 12th December 2021
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (DECEMBER 12, 2021) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ AND POLISH PRIME MINISTER MATEUSZ JAKUB MORAWIECKI ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE / MORAWIECKI TALKING TO REPORTERS NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: (REFERRING TO NORD STREAM 2) "We continue to feel responsible for the future, for ensuring that Ukraine's gas transit business remains successful, and will take care to make sure it is. The same goes for future opportunities, for the agreements we have reached with the American government - but which we also think are correct ourselves - and that also includes helping Ukraine become a great source of renewable energies. We will also help Ukraine be a country that will be a major source of renewable energy and the necessary production that results from that. And that touches on what I said at the beginning: we are in concrete talks around how we can help achieve that" NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: (REFERRING TO EXTERNAL BORDER) "And that is why we will continue to stand in solidarity with Poland against this inappropriate path of hybrid warfare, there is no other way to describe it, and that we will support Poland here so that Poland doesn't have to let itself be blackmailed (by Belarus)." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: (REFERRING TO EXTERNAL BORDER) "We are watching the troop movements along the Ukrainian border with great, great concern. And we are making it very, very clear that the borders in Europe cannot be violated and that the integrity of its borders and countries is crucial. It should be clear that no-one should think they can just violate them without having harsh consequences." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: (REFERRING TO POLAND'S JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE) "Europe is a community of values and common laws. We are united under the rule of law and democracy. And therefore it would be very good and helpful if the discussions and talks between the European Union, the European Commission and Poland could lead to a good, pragmatic solution very soon. In any case, we would very much welcome it if a common understanding is reached between the European Commission and Poland, so that we, as the European Union, could continue to be united around these principles of democracy and the rule of law." SCHOLZ AND MORAWIECKI POSING, SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 26th December 2021 19:27
- Keywords: Mateusz Jakub Morawiecki germany olaf scholz poland
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001F7QE5AF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Germany remains committed to safeguarding Ukraine's role as a transit route for gas into Europe, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a news conference in Warsaw on Sunday, commenting on growing pressure on the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Nord Stream 2, which would bring Russian gas to Germany and bypass Ukraine, has still not been certified due to regulatory hurdles. At the same time there are fears of a Russian offensive on Ukraine.
"We continue to feel responsible for ensuring that Ukraine's gas transit business remains successful. The same goes for future opportunities," Scholz said at a joint news conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Scholz's predecessor Angela Merkel had said that the political basis for operating Nord Stream 2 was Russia's commitment to continue to use Ukraine as a gas transit route in the future as well.
"We will also help Ukraine be a country that will be a major source of renewable energy and the necessary production that results from that. We are in concrete talks around how we can help achieve that," Scholz said.
(Production: Leon Malherbe, Felix Hoske, Elena Gyldenkerne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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