Russia is a difficult neighbour for Poland, but this neighbourhood also holds out a number of promises, Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said on August 7, 2017, in an interview with business daily Kommersant.
Asked about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project opposed by Poland, Waszczykowski said that the pipeline - which would run from Russia to Germany circumventing Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states - was a «political instrument.»
He also said that «the position of the EU and its individual members» on the project threatened to make Poland «dependent on unstable and politically motivated Russian gas supplies.»
The foreign minister pointed out that Poland is currently dependent on Russian gas, but is determined to diversify its supplies.
He pointed to Poland’s new LNG terminal and an agreement signed with Denmark and Norway on the construction of the so-called Baltic Pipe connection.
He expressed his belief that in about 5 years Poland would be «less dependent on Russian gas,» if not «completely independent» of it.
At the moment, he said, Poland meets a 3rd of its demand for gas through its own resources, and expects to meet another third through the LNG terminal, and the remainder by pipeline from Norway.
Nevertheless, Waszczykowski said Poland is ready to continue buying gas from Russia as long as it comes «at a competitive price».