Translation:
I was at #HartAberFair yesterday: Anyone who only wants to negotiate after d. last Russian from d. Crimea is driven out, accepts further escalation & speaks out for years of #war, d. Claims thousands more victims & #Ukraine is completely destroyed in the end
Sahra Wagenknecht: Regierung verweigert Informationen zu Pipeline-Anschlägen | Berliner-Zeitung - Oct. 16, 2022 |
Is the federal government withholding important information about the alleged attacks on the gas pipelines - including from parliament? The Bundestag member of the left, Sahra Wagenknecht, harbors this suspicion after she has made three inquiries to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On September 26, at least two explosions occurred on the lines of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. This created leaks that allowed gas to escape into the Baltic Sea, where the pipelines lie at the bottom. Who or what caused the explosions is still unclear, at least officially.
The NATO countries agree that they suspect Russia is behind the attack. However, it is unclear who [or how it was] carried it out. The federal prosecutor's office in Karlsruhe is investigating a "serious violent sabotage attack on the energy supply".
Ministry to Wagenknecht: No "on-site investigations"
Apparently, just under three weeks after the explosions, there is still no further information, not even on-site investigations. The Ministry of Economics informed the left-wing MPs in response to their written request.
Wagenknecht wanted to know what knowledge the federal government now has about these incidents and what measures it has taken "alone, with the EU, other governments and NATO" to determine who is responsible for the damage.
The answer is: none. "So far it has not been possible to conduct on-site investigations, which is why the federal government does not have any reliable information on the possible causes of the attack," writes the ministry in its reply, which is available to the Berliner Zeitung.
The Habeck Ministry answered evasively or not at all when asked what warnings the government had received about possible attacks on the pipelines and what measures had been taken. There is no more information for Parliament.
Report: No Conclusive Evidence for Identity of Nord Stream Saboteur | Maritime-Executive- Dec. 22, 2022 |
Germany, Sweden and Denmark all have open investigations running into the circumstances of the blast, but so far, they have come up with little to tie the incident to Russia or any other party, two dozen different European security officials and diplomats have told the Post.
"There is no evidence at this point that Russia was behind the sabotage," one official said.
Even if there were evidence, it might not reach the public. Information from within the three parallel investigations is classified and closely held; Sweden has even refused to start a formal joint inquiry with its German counterparts, citing national security interests. (That aversion may be due in part to counterintelligence concerns: just last week, a member of Germany's Foreign Intelligence Service was arrested and charged with passing information to Russian spies.)
Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, the low levels of trust between Moscow and Europe, and Western suspicions that Russia may have been responsible for the blasts, European investigators have not allowed Russia to join the inquiry. The Kremlin has denounced the process and blamed the blast on its Western opponents, particularly Britain. The UK rejects these accusations.
US should give responsible explanation on Nord Stream blasts: Chinese FM | Global Times - Feb. 10, 2023 |
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the US to make "a responsible explanation" to the world, after veteran US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in a latest article, accused the US of being the culprit behind the Nord Stream gas pipelines blasts in September 2022.
"If Hersh's investigative report is true, this is unacceptable behavior and must be held accountable," said Mao Ning, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Mao said that the Nord Stream gas pipelines are a major piece of transnational infrastructure, and the explosions have had a significant negative impact on the global energy market and the global ecological environment.
When asked to comment on US mainstream media's silence over Hersh's investigation, Mao stated that "it's not the first time" that US media has done so.
"It proves that some US media outlets do not care what the truth is. They are deaf to the truth that really matters, and what is loudly hyped by them is often not the truth, but a false narrative," Mao said.
China: Verantwortliche für Zerstörung von Nord-Stream-Gaspipeline sollten zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden
Comment Christian Reimann:
The demands that the German federal government in particular should make come from faraway China. But the federal government is still stonewalling and refers to "public interest for secrecy".
Please read e.g. also or again:
China: Verantwortliche für Zerstörung von Nord-Stream-Gaspipeline sollten zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden
Comment Christian Reimann:
The demands that the German federal government in particular should make come from faraway China. But the federal government is still stonewalling and refers to "public interest for secrecy".
Please read e.g. also or again:
Krieg und Frieden: Pulitzer-Preisträger: USA sprengten Nord-Stream-Pipelines
Immediately after the blasts at the end of September 2022, it was exactly the opposite. Some US media and some leading German media immediately drew suspicion towards Russia. Moscow immediately denied any responsibility.
In January 2023, Russia accused Sweden and Denmark, who were investigating the leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, of "trying to hide something" and preventing Russia from participating in the joint investigation.
Hersh sees in the statements made by his country's political elites before the blasts sufficient incentives for Washington to destroy the pipeline.
Chinese expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Lü Xiang, suggested the day after Hersh's explosive details were revealed, "that the consistent silence was solid coordination between the US media and the US government, and the strategy is to deny and delete the news portals". In addition, Hersh's reputation is attacked and the terrorist attack is played down.
....
At least these doubts are stated - the suspicion about Russia can probably no longer be maintained. At the beginning of February 2023, the Federal Public Prosecutor, Peter Frank, said in an interview with "Welt am Sonntag" that there was no evidence that Russia was the author.
Only a few opposition politicians in the German Bundestag dared to openly ask about the background to the attack. Above all, the Bundestag member of the LINKE, Sahra Wagenknecht. She sent written questions to the government and wanted to know what knowledge the federal government now has about these incidents and what measures it has taken in this regard "alone, with the EU, other governments and NATO". The answer is: none. "So far it has not been possible to conduct on-site investigations, which is why the federal government does not have any reliable information on the possible causes of the attack," writes the ministry. While the Habeck Ministry dodged what government warnings it had about possible attacks on the pipelines and what action was taken,
After careful consideration, the federal government had "come to the conclusion that further information for reasons of state welfare - not even in a classified form - could not be given." The reason for this was the "third-party rule" for international cooperation between the secret services, i.e. particularly strict confidentiality requirements. "The requested information thus affects secrecy interests that require protection in such a way that the public interest outweighs the parliamentary right to information and the right of the members of parliament to ask questions must exceptionally take second place to the federal government's interest in secrecy."
UN Security Council debates Nord Stream pipeline incidents | 21 Feb. 2023 |
The Security Council heatedly debated Russia's request for a UN-led inquiry into the September explosions along the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
"We are not here to set up a trial in the Security Council", Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said during discussions. He said Moscow was presenting a request for an independent investigation in light of doubts about the integrity and transparency of Denmark, Germany and Sweden in their ongoing inquiries.
Instead, he said, the UN Secretary-General "is someone we trust" to lead an investigation following reports in September of four leaks in the 1,224-kilometre-long pipelines that supply gas from Russia to Europe.
here was "proof that explosives had been planted" near the pipeline during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise in the summer of 2022, he said, referring to a recent United States news report by reporter Seymour Hersh claiming Washington was involved.
"This journalist is telling the truth," he told Council members. "This is more than just a smoking gun that detectives love in Hollywood blockbusters. It's a basic principle of justice; everything is in your hands, and we can resolve this today."
A blatant distraction
US Ambassador John Kelley said "today's meeting is a blatant attempt to distract" from the forthcoming emergency meeting of the General Assembly that will mark one-year since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
"That is what our focus should be on," he said. "Russia desperately wants to change the subject." Russia is "abusing its position as a Council member" for using this platform to air internet conspiracy theories.
"... let me state clearly and plainly: Accusations that the United States was involved in this act of sabotage are completely false. The United States was not involved in any way.
Competent authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden are investigating these incidents in a comprehensive, transparent, and impartial manner."
In addition, accusations that the US was involved in acts of sabotage "are completely false", he said, pointing out that resources for UN investigations should be preserved when States are unwilling or unable to investigate, unlike the current ongoing inquiries. 😂 🥱
Swedish officials stated that, in the investigations carried out onsite in the Baltic Sea, investigators documented extensive damage to the gas pipelines resulting from detonations.
Swedish authorities also said they had seized "foreign items", and that explosive residue was identified on a number of those items.
According to officials quoted in local media, the investigation is ongoing.
On 4 February 2023, the German Attorney General stated that their investigation was also continuing. We understand that the Danish investigation is continuing as well.
We are also aware of new reports alleging acts of sabotage involving the two pipelines.
I reiterate that the United Nations is not in a position to verify or confirm any of the claims relating to these incidents and that we await the findings of ongoing national investigations.
Given the sensitivity and speculation regarding this issue, we urge all concerned to show restraint and avoid any speculation.
Remarks by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Nord Stream Issue
It is increasingly clear that what happened to Nord Stream pipelines was by no means an accident, but rather a deliberate act. From the perspective of physical conditions, it is hard to imagine that any non-state actor would be capable of carrying out such destruction alone. At an open meeting of the Council held last September, many countries called for an investigation into the incident to uncover the truth and identify those responsible. This is also China's position. China supports speeding up the investigation, so as to swiftly find out the truth.
We live in an era of globalization, when cooperation among countries in energy, transportation, and communication is increasingly close, and transboundary construction spans across continents and oceans. Any deliberate sabotage of transboundary infrastructure is a malicious act. Failure to find out why it happened and who is behind the destruction will send a wrong signal to those with ill intentions and make them believe that they can get away with whatever they do. An objective, impartial, and professional investigation into this matter, releasing the findings and pursuing accountability as soon as possible are not only related to the incident itself, but also bear on the security of global transboundary infrastructure. Moreover, they are also closely related to the interests and concerns of every country.
As the most authoritative and representative international organization, the UN can play an active role in conducting an international investigation and ensuring the security of transboundary infrastructure. China welcomes the draft resolution tabled by Russia in the Council, and believes that it is of great significance to authorize an international investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.
Recently, we have come across a lot of details and relevant information concerning the Nord Stream incident, which is alarming. Today, the briefers have also shared with us important information and their reasonable analysis. Faced with such detailed materials and comprehensive evidence, a simple statement of "utterly false and complete fiction" is obviously not enough to answer the many questions and concerns raised around the world. Finding a way to dodge today's meeting does not mean that truth can be concealed. We expect convincing explanations from relevant parties. Such a request is entirely legitimate and reasonable.
If the US is not behind Nord Stream explosions, it should have no reason to block a UN investigation | SCMP Opinion - Zhou Xiaoming |
- An incident with such grave environmental, energy and security implications should be properly investigated with the guilty party held accountable
- Having appeared to blame Russia for the explosions, the US should welcome an international investigation - unless it has something to hide
Berichte: Spekulationen über Täter der Nord-Stream-Explosion | Der Rheinpfalz |
Citing information from the secret service, it was said that a pro-Ukrainian group could be responsible. Authorities in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA were involved in the investigation, reported "Zeit" online. From the German side, the federal government and the responsible federal prosecutor did not comment specifically on the reports when asked.
"The Federal Public Prosecutor (GBA) has been investigating the matter since the beginning of October 2022," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. "Most recently, a few days ago, Sweden, Denmark and Germany informed the United Nations Security Council that the investigations are ongoing and that there are still no results," he explained. According to a spokeswoman, the GBA did not want to comment on Tuesday evening.
The Stop The War movement wants to see peace talks happen, not the arming of an ongoing war which only benefits arms manufacturers.
On 25 February there were peace rallies across the Western world from Berlin to Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam and across the Atlantic in Boston, New York, Washington DC and San Francisco ... Veterans for Peace
Translation:
Apt commentary by Alexander King on a successful #peacerally & the attempts to belittle and defame it. "Such campaigns are dangerous. Not only for those affected, but for society as a whole."
German coalition parties showing their true colors: no transparency
"Investigate attacks on the Nord Stream pipeline" | Telepolis documents - March 2, 2023 |
Debate in the Bundestag about the Nord Stream attacks. Violent exchange of blows between traffic light parties and opposition. When will sabotage be cleared?
In February, at the request of the AfD parliamentary group, the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines were debated in the Bundestag. In addition to reporting, Telepolis documents the speeches on the subject.
The AfD has indicated a request to speak on the rules of procedure. There you go, Herr Frömming.
(Konstantin Kuhle [FDP]: What's next?)
dr Götz Frömming (AfD): Thank you very much. - Madam President! Esteemed colleagues! We are about to debate an issue that is not only of national importance and scope, but - I think we agree - also of international importance and scope. We look sadly at the chancellor's empty seat. I know he's excused;
(Dr. Paula Piechotta [Bündnis 90/Die Grünen]: You are not serious!)
but the vice chancellor and economics minister, who would also be responsible for this area, is in the house. Therefore, in accordance with Section 42 of our Rules of Procedure, I request that the Minister be summoned.
(Applause from the AfD)
Vice President Aydan Özoğuz: The parliamentary manager of the Greens, Till Steffen, has reported. - Please.
dr Till Steffen (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen): Of course, what you are doing here is very transparent.
(Applause from the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and from the SPD as well as from members of the FDP)
It is also about a pronounced - how should I put it? - flimsy topic. You have registered a real non-topic for the current hour.
Deutscher Bundestag: Sharp controversy over how to deal with attacks on German infrastructure | VIDEO |
Untersuchungsausschuss “zum Angriff auf Nord Stream" | Bundestag - March 6, 2023 |
Liveübertragung: Mittwoch, 15. März, 18 Uhr
Die AfD-Fraktion fordert die Einsetzung eines Untersuchungsausschusses ,,zum Angriff auf Nord Stream". Ihr dazu angekündigter Antrag soll am Mittwoch, 15. März 2023, beraten und im Anschluss an die rund 45-minütige Aussprache dem Ausschuss für Wahlprüfung, Immunität und Geschäftsordnung überwiesen werden. (hau/06.03.2023)
