UPDATE: Kremlin says Nord Stream-2 in interests of Europe

(Provides new headline, lede, adds comments throughout)

MOSCOW/BERLIN, Sep 3 (PRIME) -- The Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project is commercial, it is being implemented in the interests of energy security of the entire European continent, the calls of some German parliamentarians to stop it because of the situation with opposition leader Alexei Navalny are emotional statements that are not based on any facts, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

“These (calls in the German parliament to stop implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project) are rather some emotional statements that are not based on certain facts ... The Nord Stream-2 is a commercial project in the interests of both countries, in the interests of energy security of the entire European continent,” Peskov said.

The German Green Party earlier called on the federal government to shut the Nord Stream-2 pipeline after the new details in the Navalny case.

“The Nord Stream-2 is no longer a project that we can implement jointly with Russia,” the party’s leader Katrin Goering-Eckard said late Wednesday.

Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Soeder said on Thursday that the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project is a commercial project not linked to suspected poisoning of Navalny, but an unfavorable context is being created.

“We received bad news yesterday. We support the chancellor’s course – we call on (Russia) to give clear answers, on the one hand, on the other hand, we need a clear common position of Europe ... As for Nord Stream-2, this is not a government decision, but a private commercial project. One thing is not connected with the other, from our point of view. Although, it must be admitted, this project in this case cannot be presented in a positive light,” Soeder told N24 television channel.

Germany said on Wednesday that Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier that construction of the pipeline will be completed and there are no reasons to connect the project with the Navalny case.

Germany’s Uniper said in a statement it is certain that the Nord Stream-2 pipeline is necessary for Europe and that the project can be finished soon.

“We are convinced of the need for the Nord Stream-2 project and the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacities. Production in Europe is falling, pipeline and LNG infrastructure are urgently needed to guarantee safe, flexible and affordable natural gas supplies to Europe in the future. Out of 2,460 kilometers of the pipeline more than 2,300 kilometers have already been laid. We are confident that, despite the current break, the project can be completed as soon as possible,” the statement said.

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