Putin reminds EU of Russia’s Pacific oil pipeline

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that Russia’s first oil pipeline to Asia must be completed without delay, underlining Russia’s energy clout just hours before European Union leaders meet to discuss Georgia.

Russian state-owned news agency RIA said Putin had signed a government order “on speeding the building of phases of the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean (pipeline) and not allowing delays,” while on a visit to the Far East.

He was speaking in Kozmino, a giant oil terminal being built on the Pacific coast to take the oil from the pipeline, which is being built by Transneft.

Russia, the world’s No. 2 oil producer, is fighting back at criticism from the United States and European states for recognizing Georgia’s two breakaway regions as independent and sending troops deep into the tiny ex-Soviet nation.

Reuters