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Regional News Roundup - June 9, 2008
Caspian quandary
(neweurasia.net) - Laying a gas transit route across the Caspian bed from the Azeri coast to the shores of Turkmenistan, with all its hydrocarbon wealth, remains an exciting prospect for energy-hungry Europe and one that grows tantalisingly near with the passing of time.
Western diplomatic offensive in Central Asia throws Russia on the defensive
(EurasiaNet) - As the CIS summit opened in St. Petersburg on June 6, Russia found itself in an unusual position — on the defensive in the Caspian Basin energy contest. But Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev appears to have assuaged Central Asian leaders, thereby ensuring that Moscow will continue to act as the funnel through which the bulk of the region’s oil and gas flows — if only for the time being.
Washington and Moscow vie for Turkmenistan’s supplies
Since 1991 the Kremlin and Washington have sparred over the hydrocarbon riches of the Caspian, the world’s greatest untapped regional deposits. While Azerbaijan is now firmly in the Western orbit, both Russia and America are vying for influence in Kazakhstan, but due to U.S. sanctions, Russia has greater opportunities to engage Iran. The final prize is Turkmenistan.
Leaders of ex-Soviet alliance meet (AP)
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