Paavo Lipponen, the ex-PM of Finland, has take up a senior role in Nord Stream AG and plans to lobby for the early start of the subsea pipeline construction. He has become the second European politician, after Gerhard Schroeder, to work for the Russian gas monopolist.
      
       The ex-Prime Minister will urge Finland and other European countries to soften their position on construction of the North European Gas Pipeline through the Baltic Sea.
      
      Nord Stream Project is presently opposed by Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic States. Some experts say these countries welcome any reason to postpone the project, which is to cut their profits from gas transit duties.
      
      source:
      www.rosfincom.ru