The Voice of Russia: Gazprom to build South Stream regardless sanctions - CEO

Gazprom and its partners will build the South Stream gas pipeline to Europe regardless, despite the negative statements against this project by EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, the Russian gas giant's CEO, Alexei Miller said on television station Rossiya 24.

"No one can prohibit us from building South Stream, so construction will continue," Miller said, adding that there are regulatory issues [concerning a number of restrictions according to European legislation], "but this applies to the operation of the gas pipeline."

He said the first line of the pipeline is scheduled to be put into operation at the end of 2015, and there is still time to discuss these issues with the European Commission.

Miller gave the interview after trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union on ensuring secure transit shipments of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine.
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