"Energy and Turkish coffee
Monday, May 15, 2006
Opinion by Egemen BAĞIŞ
ISTANBUL - TDN guest writer
Turkey's desire to become the �Energy hub� in her region is not just the government's desire to become a player in the global energy market, but a result of the geo-political location of the country and the political developments in the area. From a Trans-Atlantic security point of view, Turkey, a staunch NATO ally, is also the correct choice of the west. To understand this even more clearly, one needs to examine the energy producers and consumers in the region. In one key area, the Caucasus, we see a strong power struggle. Azerbaijan and Georgia are caught between the United States and Russia. Russia seems to prefer playing a heavy hand there. Their transport of energy resources to western markets was important 10 years ago, but is now more important. The BTC pipeline is a key lifeline. However, under the current geopolitics, one pipeline doesn't ensure the pro-western direction of the Caucasus."
More:Energy and Turkish coffee - Turkish Daily News May 15, 2006
