MONTREAL –
The fact that part of a Russian gas pipeline remains in Germany after it was returned to Europe from Canada exposes the dishonesty of President Vladimir Putin, the Canadian and German foreign ministers said on Wednesday.
“We called it a bluff,” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie told reporters in Montreal about the Russian president at a joint press conference with her German counterpart, Analena Berbock. “It is now clear that Putin is weaponizing energy flows to Europe.
Since Canada allowed the return of a turbine used in the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, Russia has cut its natural gas supplies to Germany by up to 20 percent. Ministers say it shows Putin is using energy as a weapon of war.
“It had to be clear to the world, so (Putin) couldn’t use the pretext of a blocked turbine in Montreal as the reason why he was reducing the flow of Nord Stream 1,” Jolie said later in the day at an event with Baerbock, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. “That’s why we decided to send it back.”
In mid-July, the Liberal government drew criticism for granting Siemens Energy an exemption from sanctions against Russia and allowing the turbine – which had been in Montreal for repairs – to return to Germany and then Russia for installation in the pipeline.
The Ukrainian government has accused Canada of setting a dangerous precedent that risks compromising economic sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“What we’re seeing right now is that Putin was trying to sow division within the alliance, within the G7,” Joly said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz inspected the turbine on Wednesday in Germany and said there were “no problems” blocking the part’s return to Russia, except for missing information from Russia’s state gas company Gazprom.
Last week, Gazprom blamed the cut in gas supplies to Germany on a delay in the delivery of the turbine due to Western sanctions. The company is specifically asking for documents from Siemens Energy proving the turbine is not subject to Western sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Baerbock said the documents were being corrected and accused Putin of trying to use the turbine issue to divide countries that support Ukraine.
“(Putin) tried to divide us,” she said. “He tried to play games with us and now the whole world can see crystal clear that he is just using energy as a game.”
Canada has granted exemptions to Siemens Energy for six turbines.
Germany relies almost exclusively on gas for heating, Baerbock said, adding that it was a “mistake” to depend on Russia for energy.
“It was a mistake to be so dependent on cheap Russian gas,” she said, adding that her government was committed to phasing out Russian natural gas and would turn to Canada.
“This partnership must rely on common rules, on common standards, and that’s why Canada is one of the most important partners for us,” Baerbock said.
Joly told the chamber of commerce audience that Germany is looking to invest in liquefied natural gas projects in Canada, adding that it has met with the governments of Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to discuss hydrogen projects, which also could lead to energy exports.
Earlier in the day, the two ministers inspected a grain silo at the Port of Montreal. “Canada increased our domestic grain production this year by 30 percent,” Joly said, adding that wheat production was up seven percent.
“We are sending mobile grain silos to Ukraine so that we don’t lose production that way,” she said. “We are sending ships to get the grain to where it is needed and increasing our donations to the (UN) World Food Programme.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 3, 2022.
— With files from The Associated Press
Add Comment