Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to the German newspaper Rheinische Post, website of the ministry reported.
As he noted, “Positive dynamics has been reported in Russian-German relations, primarily in trade, the economy, science, education, culture and the humanitarian sphere, as well as in cooperation between our civil societies.”
According to the Minister, one of important international cooperation projects is Nord Stream 2.
“The construction of Nord Stream 2 is proceeding according to plan. Some 60% of the pipeline has been laid, and over 80% of the planned outlays have been earmarked. The benefits of the project are pretty obvious. The funds that have been invested in the project up until now have helped to create over 57,000 jobs in EU countries. The pipeline provides the shortest route for the delivery of gas, which European countries need, from Russia’s northern fields. It should be noted that Nord Stream 2 is a purely commercial project intended to strengthen Europe’s energy security and cut gas prices for European consumers.”
He specifically stressed that “Any attempts to force European consumers to buy more expensive American LNG are absolutely undemocratic and run against the market rules.”