"Russia's bid to control Caspian energy
By William Courtney And Kenneth Yalowitz
October 4, 2008
RUSSIA'S INVASION of Georgia in August inflicted a potentially severe blow to global energy security by threatening export routes for Caspian energy. Russian President Medvedev's declaration on Aug. 31 that Moscow has "privileged interests" - read, a sphere of influence - in bordering countries underscores that Moscow's aims stretch beyond Georgia. Among the targets are the major producers of Caspian energy - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan."
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