Embassy Row

Pipe dreams

The controversy over supplying Europe with enough natural gas to keep it warm in winter has gotten so complicated that Hungary appointed a diplomat with the rank of ambassador to come to Washington to defend its position on the many competing transcontinental pipeline plans.

Mihaly Bayer, holding the title of ambassador-at-large, yesterday told Embassy Row that Hungary has been unfairly criticized for supporting a new Russian pipeline project that some critics fear could threaten the profitability of a European Union pipeline plan called Nabucco.

The EU project, still in the planning stages after four years, is an attempt to mitigate reliance on Russia, which currently supplies 25 percent of the 600 billion cubic meters (bcm) Europe uses annually. In Hungary, 80 percent of its annual consumption of 14.4 bcm of natural gas comes from Russia. Critics accuse Moscow of using its vast natural gas and oil reserves to advance its geopolitical ambitions. Nabucco would tap natural gas from the Middle East and Central Asia.

"We are really committed to the Nabucco project," Mr. Bayer said. "Our clear intent is to give a push to this project."

He defended his government's decision to support Russia's new South Stream project, which would serve the same Central and Eastern European markets as Nabucco and deliver the same amount of natural gas, 31 bcm a year.

"Any sane government, any sane person will try to find diversity," he said. "It's easy to say that Hungary has defected [from Nabucco] and taken sides with the Russians, but let's be serious."

Mr. Bayer said his government is not concerned about the potential of political pressure from Russia to support its global policies.

"For 40 years, Russia has been a reliable supplier," he said.

Mr. Bayer added that should any Hungarian government fail to ensure a steady supply of natural gas during the country's cold, bitter winters, "that government would fall." He explained that most Hungarians have no choice but to rely on natural gas, adding that most city residents live in high-rise apartments without another heating source like fireplaces.

"It's a very sensitive issue for any government," he said.

Mr. Bayer explained that while Europe relies on Russia for supply, Russia relies on Europe for demand.

"Ninety-three percent of gas from Russia goes to Europe," he said. "It's a natural dependency."

Asked about Nabucco's long delay and lack of funding for a project expected to cost more than $5 billion, Mr. Bayer said his job, as the only European ambassador to Nabucco, is to help "push" the pipeline to reality.

"I don't think it is a dream," he said. "We have to work to make it a real, concrete project."

Europe is going to need even more energy in the future, with projections showing the demand increasing by another 280 bcm by 2030.

"We are going to need more pipelines," Mr. Bayer said.

Russian censors

A congressional human rights panel denounced Moscow for new restrictions on press freedom and for failing to prevent assassinations of investigative journalists.

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, co-chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on incoming Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to lift the measures adopted by the Russian legislature, the Duma.

"The recent law passed by the Russian Duma placing greater restrictions on the media clearly underscores state efforts to turn back the clock to the Soviet era," the Maryland Democrat said in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day over the weekend.

"It is unfortunate that the Russian Federation created legislative penalties for anyone who fails to shape the news to their liking."

c Call Embassy Row at 202/636-3297, fax 202/832-7278 or e-mail jmorrison @washingtontimes.com.