SCHWERIN (dpa-AFX) – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) has expressed understanding for the criticism of her long commitment to the German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. “I’m also critical of that today,” Schwesig told the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” (Thursday). From today’s perspective, dealing with Russia at the time and sticking to the construction of the controversial gas pipeline was a mistake. “We and I thought that a dialogue could change things for the better. In this case, unfortunately, that was a mistake,” confessed Schwesig.
The establishment of the so-called climate protection foundation, which should enable the pipeline to be completed, was also a mistake. “With the knowledge I have today, I wouldn’t make that decision anymore,” admitted Schwesig. The foundation was set up by the state in early 2021 with a state contribution of EUR 200,000, while the GAZPROM subsidiary Nord Stream 2 contributed EUR 20 million for climate protection projects.
As has now emerged, Nord Stream 2 had a direct influence on the wording of the foundation’s charter. Critics speak of a fake foundation in which climate protection should only denounce the actual purpose of completing the gas pipeline while circumventing the threat of US sanctions. The pipeline has now been completed, but was not permitted to operate because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The aim of the state government is to dissolve the foundation, but there are still legal hurdles to be overcome.
Schwesig denied allegations that she had allowed herself to be exploited by the Russian state-owned company Gazprom. There was an exchange between the state government and Nord Stream during the entire construction of the pipeline. However: “To construct from this that one was constantly being influenced is absurd,” she explained. Schwesig also complained that many of those who helped make decisions now act “as if they had never been there”./fp/DP/jha
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