https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/27/2780198_fwd-os-france-poland-georgia-cablegate-france-bullied-poland.html

Another cable out on on Monday (7 March) shows the influence on German politics of Matthias Warnig, a former officer in the east German secret police, the Stasi, who runs day-to-day affairs in the Nord Stream consortium.

"The [US] ambassador asked whether the project [Nord Stream] has the full support of the German government. Warnig said yes, noting that he has regular, direct access to Chancellor Merkel's office and that Nord Stream chairman Gerhard Schroeder also meets frequently with Merkel," the November 2009 dispatch from the US embassy in Moscow says.

Mr Warnig added that Russia's South Stream project, a plan to increase EU dependency on Russian gas, is a no-go, however: "He said that although he is a 'de facto employee of Gazprom,' he personally believes South Stream is unlikely to be built anytime soon."