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The German government has not changed its position regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, said deputy government spokesperson Martina Fietz at a press conference in Berlin, on Monday.
Fietz stated that the “federal government has expressed in the last few days that it has not changed its position on this project.” The spokesperson’s comments came after renewed calls from France to stop the project over the arrest of Alexei Navalny and the Russian government’s response to protests by the opposition leader’s supporters.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christofer Burger added, that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell plans to visit Moscow, this week to discuss possible new sanctions related to Navalny’s arrest. He also stated that Germany condemns the military coup in Myanmar, adding that they hope for “a quick end to the military coup and the return to constitutional normality.”
On the topic of RT’s bid to expand into TV broadcasting in Germany, Fietz commented that the “press is a constitutional pillar of our society and media diversity is essential for a democratic community, broadcasters must meet certain criteria.”
“Whether RT, previously Russia Today, meets these criteria, this will be decided by the state media authorities,” she explained.
On Sunday, mass protests calling for Navalny’s release were held in several cities in Russia and around the world. Navalny remains behind bars in Moscow after being arrested upon his arrival in Russia on January 17 from Germany. On Monday, January 18, the opposition leader was jailed for 30 days breaching the parole conditions of a suspended sentence from a 2014 embezzlement conviction in Russia.
Prior to his arrest he had spent months in Berlin, recovering from an alleged Novichok nerve agent attack.
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SOT, Martina Fietz, Deputy government spokesperson (German): “I can’t update you with any news regarding North Stream 2 but the federal government said in the last few days that it has not changed its position on this project.”
SOT, Christofer Burger, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson (German): “The High Representative Mr Borrell will travel to Moscow this week in order to discuss possible new sanctions due to the developments on the issue, and the High Representative’s talks will continue.”
SOT, Christofer Burger, Foreign Ministry spokesperson (German): “Sanctions have already been made against those responsible for serious human rights violations in Myanmar. We hope, our expectations are that the protests against this military coup come not only from us in Germany, but from the whole of the EU and also from many other countries, also countries neighbouring Myanmar, and that lawful order will lead to a quick end to the military coup and the return to constitutional normality.”
SOT, Martina Fietz, Deputy government spokesperson (German): “I can tell you that the freedom of press is a constitutional pillar of our society and media diversity is essential for a democratic community. Broadcasters must meet certain criteria for instance they must adhere the protection of minors in order be approved. Whether RT, previously Russia Today meets these criteria, this will be decided by the state media authorities.”
#Germany #Berlin #Nord Stream2 #Russia
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