Russia attaches "great importance" to South Stream

BELGRADE The Russian Federation attaches major importance to the realisation of the pan-European project of South Stream pipeline, ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin says. The project will make room for setting up ties between eastern and western part of Europe, the diplomat told a conference in Belgrade dedicated to the pipeline. Russia attaches "great importance" to South Stream "Russia attaches major importance to the South Stream pipeline, having in mind its positive European commitments to European unification," Chepurin stated. He underscored that this would be a new step in the flourishing of Europe which will no longer be limited by "Berlin Walls." Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the opening of works on the major infrastructure project for no reason, the ambassador said. Serbia and Russia will always be a part of the European continent and the South Stream pipeline is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe which connects eastern and western parts of the continent, Chepurin said. He noted that the South Stream pipeline is a Russian project in which shareholders from Germany, France and Italy have a stake and it gathers ten countries. The South Stream pipeline will supply around ten percent of Europe's need for gas by 2020 as it will bring 63 billion cubic metres of gas out of the necessary 630 billion gas. Chepurin pointed to the positive perspectives of the development in the gas market in Europe since the gas consumption in the EU increased by 12 percent in 2013. The realisation of the major project worth EUR 15 billion has special importance in the times of economic crisis because it ensures additional investments, new jobs and economic growth, Chepurin said. The 900 kilometres long South Stream pipeline will transport gas under the Black Sea via Bulgaria and Serbia to other European countries. The construction of the 422,4 kilometre section of the pipeline through Serbia should begin late this year and it should be completed by the end of 2015. The South Stream section in Serbia should also branch into Croatia and the Serb Republic (RS) for 160 kilometre sections, and the authorities are also discussing the construction of the southern section of the South Stream pipeline, with the branches toward Macedonia and Montenegro. Aleksandr Chepurin (Tanjug) Tanjug

Russia attaches "great importance" to South Stream

"Russia attaches major importance to the South Stream pipeline, having in mind its positive European commitments to European unification," Chepurin stated.

He underscored that this would be a new step in the flourishing of Europe which will no longer be limited by "Berlin Walls."

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the opening of works on the major infrastructure project for no reason, the ambassador said.

Serbia and Russia will always be a part of the European continent and the South Stream pipeline is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe which connects eastern and western parts of the continent, Chepurin said.

He noted that the South Stream pipeline is a Russian project in which shareholders from Germany, France and Italy have a stake and it gathers ten countries.

The South Stream pipeline will supply around ten percent of Europe's need for gas by 2020 as it will bring 63 billion cubic metres of gas out of the necessary 630 billion gas.

Chepurin pointed to the positive perspectives of the development in the gas market in Europe since the gas consumption in the EU increased by 12 percent in 2013.

The realisation of the major project worth EUR 15 billion has special importance in the times of economic crisis because it ensures additional investments, new jobs and economic growth, Chepurin said.

The 900 kilometres long South Stream pipeline will transport gas under the Black Sea via Bulgaria and Serbia to other European countries.

The construction of the 422,4 kilometre section of the pipeline through Serbia should begin late this year and it should be completed by the end of 2015.

The South Stream section in Serbia should also branch into Croatia and the Serb Republic (RS) for 160 kilometre sections, and the authorities are also discussing the construction of the southern section of the South Stream pipeline, with the branches toward Macedonia and Montenegro.