BERLIN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier reaffirmed his support on Friday for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project and told the German press agency (dpa) that "the German government has an obligation not to intervene arbitrarily in such business projects."
Nord Stream 2 had already been realized to a considerable extent, said Altmaier, arguing that the necessary permits from all countries had already been granted a long time ago. Nord Stream 2 passes mainly through international waters.
United States Ambassador in Germany Richard Grenell had warned of possible sanctions against German companies involved in Nord Stream 2. In a letter signed by Grenell that went public on Sunday, the ambassador wrote that companies participating in Nord Stream 2 would expose themselves to a "considerable risk of sanctions".
Referring to Grenell's letter, Altmaier said "Germany is a country in which freedom of expression and freedom of the press are guaranteed. It is therefore not necessary to comment on every single letter. But the fact is that Germany is a constitutional state."
With regard to Ukraine, Altmaier said the country would have a legitimate interest in remaining an important gas transit country even after the construction of Nord Stream 2. "This is the reason why I have prepared the ground for direct talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission by traveling to Ukraine and Russia."
The Nord Stream 2 project aims to transport gas directly from Russia to Germany via an over 1,200-kilometer pipeline laid through the Baltic Sea. In November, the operating company of Nord Stream 2 announced that almost 100 kilometers of the pipeline had already been built in German territorial waters. Completion and commissioning of Nord Stream 2 are planned for this year.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had made clear that the Nord Stream 2 project could no longer be stopped, not even by threats of sanctions. "Nobody will prevent it," he told dpa prior to his departure for meetings with Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers on Friday.
Penalties imposed by the United States could lead to the exit of participating companies, according to Maas. "It would not, however, lead to the project not being realized." Enditem
