The conference’s intrigue was the presentation made by an official of EuRoPol GAZ, the company that had signed a memorandum of intentions with Russia’s Gazprom, concerning the construction of the Yamal-2 bypass pipeline. Unlike the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, this company official did not think that his company had any obligations [in regard to Ukraine]. In fact, his message focused on the memorandum. He said the project could well be implemented provided his company accepted the terms and conditions.
Polish media says his statement is explained by the fact that EuRoPol GAZ was formed in 2003, with the sole purpose of building the Yamal-Europe-2 Pipeline.
Interestingly, Gazprom decided to ignore the conference in Warsaw, for reasons known best to its leadership, thus exposing its partner to vicious media attacks.
Ex-President Alexander Kwasniewski succeeded in countering these attacks by repeating official Warsaw’s rhetoric about Poland never going to act counter to Ukraine’s interest. “This gas pipeline is not only business, but also politics,” he added.
Witold Orlowski, Ph.D., believes that Ukraine should feel happy about this project: “Ukraine ought to wage a smarter, more flexible policy, and view this gas pipeline not only as a threat, but also as an opportunity of receiving more gas through Poland. Poland is supplied gas by Russia and it can supply more gas to Ukraine.”
Most in Poland, however, sharply responded to the signing of the memorandum in St. Petersburg, particularly to President Vladimir Putin’s appearance on television when he told Poland which gas pipelines to build. Jacek Sasin, of the Law and Justice Party, said this project, when implemented, would leave Ukraine totally exposed to Russia’s political blackmail, and that protection of Ukraine’s energy independence was an important part of Polish foreign policy. He added that if Warsaw signed an agreement on Yamal-2 with Russia, this would be tantamount to its assent to Russia’s blackmail: “We have succeeded in diversifying our gas supply sources and we’re no longer living at gun point, but Ukraine is.”
The Day’s FACT FILE
EuRoPol GAZ is a joint stock company formed on September 23, 1993, a month after the signing of an agreement, by the governments of Poland and Russia, on the construction of a gas pipeline and transit of Russia’s gas across Polish territory and gas supply to Poland. Article 1 of the agreement read that a joint venture would be organized, represented by the Polish government-run company Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) and Russia’s Gazprom. This JV was tasked with building and running the Yamal-Europe-2 pipeline.
PGNiG and Gazprom had each 48 percent of the stocks and Gas Trading S.A. had the remaining four percent. This company was founded in December 1992, made up of five large Polish and foreign companies. PGNiG was its biggest stockholder. In other words, most of the EuRoPol GAZ stocks should belong to the Polish side. PGNiG is a government-run company and official Warsaw is responsible for its performance.
By Vitalii KNIAZHANSKY, The Day, Warsaw, Natalia BILOUSOVA, The Day
COMMENTARY
Marek SIWIEC, Member of the European Parliament:
“The government and its representatives gave inconsistent statements on so called Yamal II. What is known for sure is the fact that a memorandum has been signed and that its impact is contrary to national interest. All the other issues might be subject to interpretation.
“They say that the memorandum is not significant. I wonder why it has been signed and why the Polish president called to Kyiv to calm his Ukrainian partner down. Who knew that the document had been prepared and would be signed? And if no one had known that, then who should have known? If the prime minister did not answer to at least one of these questions quickly, he would become suspected of political tricks or disorder and lack of competency and he definitely does not want. And one more issue. The whole action took place the day before Lutsenko release. The question arises whether the memorandum was supposed to help this complicated operation or if it could have actually undermined it.
The idea of Yamal II pipeline is actually nothing new. It has already been rejected by Poland for the political reasons since it means nothing else than exclusion of Ukraine and worsening its position in the negotiations on energy policy with Russia. Signing of the memorandum by a representative of the EuRoPol Gaz stands in a complete opposition to a previous energy and transport policy. The situation calls for explanation. Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed that he has asked the Minister of Interior Affairs to examine all the circumstances around signing memorandum by EuRoPol Gaz and Gazprom. He promised that the report will include the decision process and information flow analysis. The report is to be ready until next Tuesday. Deputy Prime Minister, Janusz Piechocinski who was in Saint Petersburg to talk about the issue apparently clearly informed Russia that the Polish government will not accept the offer. I hope that the situation will be explained as soon as possible. Poland has always been loyal towards Ukraine and I am sure that also this time it will be proven. The whole situation will hopefully turn to an insignificant episode.”
By Mykola SIRUK, The Day
