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Moscow strengthens control over Central Asia's energy export routes |
| Home | (The Associated Press) - TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan: Russia scored a breakthrough Saturday in an intensifying rivalry between world powers for Central Asia's vast energy resources by securing a landmark pipeline deal. The presidents of Russia and the region's main energy producers, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, agreed to build a pipeline along the Caspian Sea coast to ship Turkmen natural gas to Western markets via Kazakhstan and Russia. The deal is a blow to U.S. and European efforts to secure alternatives to Middle East oil and gas that would be independent from Russian influence. |