Why Russia is worried about the gasket channel through the Baltic plait

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Почему Россию волнует прокладка канала через Балтийскую косу

The Deputy head of the Ministry of Maritime economy of Poland Grzegorz Witkowski, speaking in the story, which appeared in the main news on the “Te-V-EN” (TVN24), has accused the regional Council of Pomorskie Voivodeship in that it acts in the interests of the Kremlin. We are talking about the negative conclusion on the project of building a canal through the Baltic spit, which is promoted by the government of the party “law and Justice”.

Suspicions that someone is acting in the interests of Russia, is in Polish politics the most serious charge, therefore, the head of the Pomorskie Voivodeship mieczysław Struk (Mieczysław Struk) demanded an apology, and when the Ministry has not replied, said he will submit the case to the court. Neither Witkowski, neither his Agency did not specify what was meant by the words “to play the game with the Kremlin”, meanwhile play, apparently, no one: Moscow shows no special interest in the subject of the canal on the Vistula spit.

Free navigation in the Kaliningrad Bay

Recall: to make the channel through the Baltic spit Warsaw has decided to not depend on Russia, moving on to the Kaliningrad Gulf. Now the only way into the port of Elblag takes place through the Baltic Strait, which is under the control of Moscow. About half of the Vistula spit is Russian territory with special status. In Baltiysk, which is located on a promontory on the Strait, the Baltic fleet is based. It’s strategic and extremely important to Moscow from a military point of view, the area with the “regulated visiting for foreign citizens”.

However, the Russian authorities relate to the topic of the channel rather quietly. In the Kaliningrad region do not want to give comments to foreign media, since the bilateral relationship is the competence of the Federal authorities.

In March 2017, after the Polish Sejm adopted a law on the construction of the canal through the Baltic spit, Anton Alikhanov, who served as acting Governor of the region, and now became its head, has announced the establishment of a working group under the government of the region, which will study the environmental aspects of the Polish project. The composition of this group was to include scientists, social activists and members of environmental organizations and agencies responsible for water and marine management. “It is clear that we do not all go to Poland to teach, maybe if we find some reason for this, ask the MFA to do it for us,” said Alikhanov, who was quoted by the portal “New Kaliningrad”.

The channel as a military and geo-strategic project

About a month later, in April 2017, Alikhanov said that the intention to dig over the Baltic spit and to create a navigable channel that allows you to get in Elblag, there are not economic, but political (or even military) considerations. Acting on air of radio station “Sputnik”, Alikhanov noted: “In our view, the economy in this project is extremely small because there are other ports near the Elbląg — Gdynia, Gdansk. Economic background we here practically do not see. In our opinion, it is solely a political initiative, and maybe even having some sort of dual, military and strategic implications”.

In this sense, the Polish intentions is not surprising: the aspects associated with the defense sector, in February 2017, said, in particular, the Deputy head of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and inland shipping Pavel Brzezicki (Paweł Brzezicki). Later that the idea of building the canal was born in the Polish defense Ministry, in an interview with “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” (Dziennik Gazeta Prawna) told General Ruzanski (Mirosław Różański), which in 2015 — 2016 years held the post of head of the General command of the armed forces of Poland.

At the time it seemed that Moscow will use the topic of the channel through the Baltic spit, talking about the dangers that threatened Russia in connection with NATO’s expansion and increasing its military presence near Russian borders. The Russians would be easy to convince them that Poland is going to build near the port of the Baltic fleet its own military port and to conduct an aggressive action against the Kaliningrad region. However, in the statements of Russian officials, the motive didn’t appear any more.

That from a military point of view, the channel is useless, repeatedly told between the Polish military and experts. “In military terms, the channel does not make sense — pointed out in an interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza” (Gazeta Wyborcza) employee portal “defense.24″ (Defence24) Maximilian A Fool (Maksymilian Dura). — If you start a military conflict is there, roughly speaking, perforation of additional intervals, any gun from the Kaliningrad region. It is a stationary object, so the Russians will be very easy to destroy it. The project of digging the spit is an attempt to show that we can do. Huge funds are planned to invest in it, could be used much more wisely”.

The map will be a Polish-Russian island

After the statement sounded about the military overtones of the Polish project, Anton Alikhanov visited the Russian part of the Vistula spit. Following the visit it was announced that this area will receive the status of especially protected natural territory. During the year also took place the meeting of the working group, the establishment of which the Governor spoke. It includes, in particular, the head of the Kaliningrad branch of the environmental organization “Green front” Oleg Ivanov. In his opinion, the projects in territories relevant to the two States should discuss together. “The project itself may have been committed was harmless, however, it should be discussed with experts from neighbouring countries, in order not to violate the interests of the neighbor. In this case, no consultation was not” — said Ivanov. Among the main dangers associated with the construction of the canal, Ivanov refers to the change in the coefficient of salinity, saying it may have an impact on the ecosystem of the spit and other areas adjacent to the Kaliningrad Gulf. “It should be noted that as a result of spit actually turn into Polish-Russian island, and in this regard, in addition to the obvious environmental impact will be questions of international law,” — emphasizes Oleg Ivanov.

We hope that Polish authorities will comply with international obligations

The report, which was prepared by a working group under the Governor of the Kaliningrad region were transferred to the Russian Ministry of environment protection and natural resources. Minister Sergei Donskoi has made on its basis, in September 2017, the letter to the head of the Polish Ministry of environment Jan Szyszko (Jan Szyszko). In this text, fragments of which are published on the website of the Russian authorities, in particular, says: “We hope that the Polish authorities demonstrate a responsible approach to the preservation of the unique environment and biodiversity of the area of the Vistula lagoon, will provide for its part of unconditional fulfillment of international obligations, as well as presented under international environmental conventions information on the project to all the countries of the Baltic region before making a final decision on construction.”

We tried to find out in the Ministry of the environment, respond if the Polish side is somehow on the Russian letter. Answer we have not yet received. The Governor of the Kaliningrad region have already criticized Poland in that it is neither at the regional nor at the Federal level does not respond to queries regarding the canal project.

Russia can use the channel topic in their rhetoric

In Russian statements on the Vistula spit were often not sound military, and environmental arguments. Despite promises Antonov, the Russian foreign Ministry has not taken a position regarding the Polish project, my opinion of him was expressed only by the Ministry of natural resources. New Postings appear only in the local press of the Kaliningrad. In Russia decided that this is a local environmental issue, because digging the Vistula spit will not allow Poland to increase its military potential and will not create new threats to the Kaliningrad region.

The Russian part of the spit for a long time remained a neglected region. A territory with a population of approximately 600 people, the local authorities were interested only in 2017, and announced that there will create a natural reserve. This step will certainly help to emphasise the environmental aspects associated with Polish investment. It is possible that at any moment the Russian authorities will use this theme in their rhetoric, demonstrating an aggressive policy of Poland, the West and NATO. Now, apparently, Russia does not see the need.

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