16.06.2021, Moscow.
If confrontation between Europe and Russia escalates, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline can be cut off in 20 minutes, political scientist and the leader of the Essence of Time movement Sergey Kurginyan said on June 4 on the air of the Tema program on the Union channel.
The political scientist commented US’ decision to refrain from sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
According to Kurginyan, Europe is not sovereign as it is controlled by the USA. The coming elections in Germany will increase this dependence, and the confrontation between Russia and the West “will escalate.” In this case, Kurginyan believes, “cutting this line off [Nord Stream 2] is a matter of 20 minutes. That’s it. Same thing with the South Stream.”
The expert noted that the Russian elite fixates on economic ties with the West, and it fails to take politics into account, “Let us keep trading and trading, regardless of what is taking place around is.” “But the economy per se has never ruled the world. This is a great mistake,” the analyst reminded.
Also, “the economy itself is very misleading,” Kurginyan added. He reminded about the Baghdad ― Berlin railway that was being built in the beginning of the 20th century. It was to connect the territories of the Ottoman Empire from Constantinople to the Persian Gulf for German goods to reach India and South-East Asia bypassing the Suez Canal controlled by the UK. “This raised so much concern in the UK and other countries” that an anti-German alliance emerged, the Entente, and it “became a factor in unleashing World War I,” the expert said.
The leader of Essence of Time indicated how much effort Europe puts into searching an alternative for Russian gas. “Look, what alternative gas lines are considered today? What is taking place in Serbia, which is allegedly friendly to us? They are building these terminals, too. What is Poland doing in relation to this?” he said.
“Economy is part of politics, too. However, an attempt to consider economy, as Joseph Stalin used to say, ‘in itself and for itself’ as something independent… is, I think, an economic neurosis that we have seen over many years,” Sergey Kurginyan concluded.
In May, Serbia announced the construction of a gas pipeline from Bulgaria to Serbia, which will become an alternative to Balkan Stream, the extension of South Stream. The new gas pipeline will transport Azerbaijani gas from the territory of Bulgaria and liquefied gas from a terminal in Greece. This will compete with Russian gas, which has no competitors in the Serbian market today.
On June 3, Denmark revoked its authorization given to the Poles for the construction of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline through the Danish territory. The gas pipeline from Norway to Poland aimed against Russia’s interests would allow Poland to avoid importing Russian gas. The withdrawal of Denmark drew the indignation of the Polish side.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
