Germany says Russia heard calls on pipeline

BERLIN, Jan 11 (Reuters) European countries welcomed the re-opening of Russia's main oil export pipeline today with European Union president Germany saying it showed Moscow had paid heed to its appeals to ensure a reliable crude supply.

''I welcome that our appeals for a rapid, constructive resolution of the oil dispute did not go unheard in Moscow,'' said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

He added Germany wanted to open up a dialogue with Russia to place energy relations on a reliable, long-term basis, and Economy Minister Michael Glos said he expected future oil disputes would not come at the expense of European customers.

Poland, which has long urged the EU to take a tougher line with Russia over energy supplies, said its concerns about Russia might now have more sway within the 27-member bloc.

Oil prices fell after Russia re-opened the pipeline, which had rattled the European energy market and revived memories of Russia's gas row with Ukraine a year ago.

Russia restarted pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline after Belarus dropped an oil transit duty imposed last week and agreed to return oil Moscow said it had taken illegally.

The world's second biggest oil exporter had closed the pipeline for more than 60 hours, cutting European Union supplies by about 1.5 million barrels per day.

Last year a pricing row prompted Russian gas monopoly Gazprom to cut supplies on its main European export route.

European leaders, including European Commission President Manuel Jose Barroso had described Russia's unilateral action, without consultation, as unacceptable.

RELIABILITY FEARS Analysts said although international criticism might have contributed to Russia's decision to re-open the pipeline, domestic and regional considerations would have been paramount.

''The global response may have surprised Moscow, but it was not in Russian or Belarussian interests for the row to go on,''said Klaus Segbers, an analyst at Berlin's Otto Suhr Insititue.

The stoppage raised concerns in Europe, especially in Germany, which gets about a fifth of its oil imports via Druzhba, about the need to diversify energy supplies and raised questions over Russia's reliability as an energy provider.

The Polish conservative government, which has for a year lobbied the EU to take a tougher stance against Russia on energy supplies, was jubilant at Druzhba's re-opening.

''We are convinced the latest events will alter a little the tone of the discussion about energy security in the EU. We are optimistic,'' Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga told reporters.

Pawel Swieboda, head of Warsaw-based Demos Europa think-tank said western European countries might be more receptive to the concerns of central Europe which they had previously viewed as appeals from a region which was sensitive about Russia.

''Even if central European concerns were overdone, the EU has felt the pinch and it got the Union thinking,'' said Swieboda.

As EU president, Germany is charged with negotiating a new cooperation pact with Russia and leading the bloc's efforts to map out a long-term energy strategy.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 21 in Moscow to discuss the agreement and the closely linked issue of EU-Russia energy relations.

Reuters BDP GC2044