What goes on in Poland on the 22nd of September.
Duda: Nord Stream 2 will give billions to the aggressor
Polish President Andrzej Duda warned at the United Nations that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline poses a danger to Ukraine. “Russian gas will flow to Western Europe, bringing more billions to the aggressor,” he warned. Asked by the Polish Press Agency about the dispute between the US and France and Paris’ claim that it matters for the whole of Europe, the president replied: “I understand that the French believe that if they could be treated as they were treated, everyone could be treated this way.” Duda added „I can say the same about Nord Stream 2”.
„The pandemic did not stop the war in Ukraine, where more than 13,000 people have died since the beginning of the Russian aggression, and one state has seized the territory of another state. In Europe after World War II, in the 21st century, Ukraine was attacked,” the president reminded. „What was the reaction of the wealthy North to the tragedy of the Ukrainian nation, fighting for independence? It was the construction of the huge Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, through which Russian gas will flow to Western Europe, bringing the aggressor more billions and complete helplessness, or even indifference to the fact that Ukraine is in even greater danger from then on,” the president explained.
„I recently participated in the Summit of the Crimean Platform in Kiev and was one of the few leaders of the rich North there. I looked there for those who had built and approved the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. I did not find them,” said Andrzej Duda.
Kurtyka: The negotiations on Turów are getting harder
„We said that time matters and so we’ve made ourselves fully available. We were ready to sit there week after week. The longer the talks, the better we understood that these negotiations were becoming increasingly difficult. We even reached out to local government officials and the local community. Local government officials on the Czech side are also disappointed and want the Turów issue to be resolved as soon as possible,” Michał Kurtyka, Minister of Climate and Environment told the Polish Radio.
„We are dealing with a precedent and an exceptional situation, also as for the proceedings of this type of cases before EU institutions. For this reason, the Polish side, after the decision on the so-called interim measure, which was just ordered by the judge in May, presented a very comprehensive argument showing both the issues of energy security standing before our country and the region, as well as the supply of hot and drinking water to the inhabitants of Bogatynia and Zgorzelec,” the minister emphasized.
„In our opinion for this case to be properly solved two issues need to be addressed. First, it cannot be assessed by one person only. This will make it possible to maximally limit the arbitrariness of the final judgment, which is why we applied for a trial in front of the so-called General Court. Unfortunately, in this instance the response we received was very brief and only stated that it was the court’s prerogative to dismiss this motion. We also pointed to the fact that the case was so complicated that it would be pertinent to allow for an oral hearing, which would let the parties present their arguments, so that the wises possible decision could be made. This motion was also dismissed,” Kurtyka explained.