Russian President Vladimir Putin in meeting with Germany industrial managers on Sunday announced the first gas exports to Germany by a Baltic Sea pipeline by 2010. Speaking at the Constantine Palace near St Petersburg, the Kremlin head said that around 55 billion cubic metres of gas will be pumped through pipelines currently under construction, DPA reported. According to the Kremlin, taking part in the meeting were managers from EADS, BASF, ThyssenKrupp, Siemens and Dresdner Bank among others. There is however a lack of clarity between the state-run Russian gas concern Gasprom and its Western partners as to the financing of the project. Meanwhile, Putin announces that Russia wanted to open new negotiations with it largest creditors over early debt repayments. "We are are interested in such work, as long as it brings advantages for both sides," Putin said. Russia's debts to Germany at the end of 2004, totalled around 15.5 billion euros (18.8 billion dollars), sources in Moscow said.
