Russian president to attend Nord Stream launch ceremony in Germany

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who arrived in Germany on a two-day visit on Monday, will attend the ceremony of the launch of the Nord Stream gas pipeline on Tuesday, the Kremlin said. The pipeline will deliver Russian gas via the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing key transit countries Ukraine and Belarus. Russia provides up to 30 percent of the gas consumed in Europe.Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told journalists that the visit agenda will start on Tuesday with a meeting with President Christian Wulff. Then Medvedev will head for the town of Lubmin in the north of Germany, where, jointly with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, he will attend the Nord Stream launch ceremony. During the visit, the Russian leader will also discuss trade, economic, energy and security cooperation, as well as prospects of canceling visas between Russia and the EU, with Germany’s top officials.