Merkel, Medvedev open gas pipelineNovember 8, 2011 - 14:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The leaders of Germany and Russia are officially opening a euro7.4 billion ($10.2 billion) natural gas pipeline that directly links western Europe with Siberia's vast gas reserves. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Dmitry Medvedev were meeting Tuesday, November 8, in the village of Lubmin on Germany's Baltic Seacoast where the 1,200-kilometer (760-mile) Nord Stream underwater pipeline reaches land. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte are also attending the ceremony in a sign of the political importance of Europe's newest energy link, meant to strengthen the security of the gas supply, The Associated Press reported. The pipeline is to ferry the gas from near St. Petersburg under the Baltic Sea to Lubmin by circumventing traditional overland transit routes in Poland and Ukraine. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. |