One Year On, Security Council Hears Renewed Calls to Determine the Cause of Undersea Explosions Targeting Nord Stream Gas Pipelines
On the first anniversary of the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, speakers in the Security Council today reiterated their calls for objective and impartial investigations — carried out with a heightened sense of urgency — into the explosions.
Dirk Pohlmann, journalist, briefing the Council during a meeting requested by the Russian Federation, said that one year on, “astonishing little” is known about the Nord Stream explosions. While it is not known who is responsible, he said that he rejected the “Western-sponsored conspiracy theory” that identifies the Russian Federation as the culprit. The authorities in Germany, Denmark and Sweden — which are conducting ongoing investigations — “know enough”, he said, adding that the truth would open a Pandora’s box for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Jimmy Dore, political commentator, recalled that President Joseph R. Biden of the United States had said in February 2022 that if the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, “there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.” He added that through anonymous sources, the United States says that Ukraine is responsible for the Nord Stream attack — but it will not publicly blame that country. “And so, the United States continues to arm Ukraine to the teeth in hopes of extending the war and avoiding peace,” he said.
In the ensuing debate, delegates expressed concerns about the long-term environmental implications and unpredictable consequences of the Nord Stream attacks. Many voiced support for the ongoing Danish, German and Swedish investigations and called for their outcomes to be made public and reported to the Council.
The United Arab Emirates’ representative said that sabotage against transboundary energy infrastructure is a grave threat to international energy security. When such acts occur, competent national authorities must investigate. He stressed the need for international coordination and cooperation, adding that investigations should be thorough and rigorously fact-based.
Brazil’s representative said that any attack on energy infrastructure is bound to have a profound impact on how international actors perceive the security of their critical assets. Calling for the timely disclosure of preliminary conclusions, he warned: “Lack of reliable information leaves ample room for speculation and accusations.”
The Russian Federation’s representative said that emerging evidence indicates that the United States had carried out this outrageous criminal act, guided by a selfish desire to consolidate its dominance in Europe. Given a coordinated campaign in Western media to promote ridiculous versions of what happened, Moscow will continue to seek an objective, thorough investigation of the facts, with the mandatory involvement of its own authorities, he said.
The United States’ representative called the Russian Federation’s “disingenuous remarks” an attempt to undermine the ongoing investigations and prejudice their results. Moscow is calling for an impartial investigation, but at the same time it is attempting prematurely to place the blame on certain countries, he said, adding: “It is not surprising that it selectively promotes narratives that comport with its preordained conclusion.”
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15422.doc.htm
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