By Hooman Peimani (9/22/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Being surrounded from three sides by hostile or unreliable neighbors, the operational pipeline will meet Armenia’s gas requirements from a friendly neighboring supplier, while significantly increasing Iran\'s gas exports now mainly limited to its uncertain exports to Turkey. The pipeline, which could be extended to Georgia and Ukraine, could go even farther to reach Central and Western Europe via Ukraine. If fully implemented, this will not only increase Iran\'s gas exports substantially, but it will drastically boost the importance of Armenia and Georgia and, by default, the South Caucasus, as a main export route for fossil energy to supply the European economies.By Robert M. Cutler (9/8/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: The supergiant Karachaganak condensate and gas field, onshore in northwestern Kazakhstan was discovered in 1979. Production began in 1984. After Kazakhstan became independent, BG (formerly British Gas) and Agip acquired rights to negotiate its development.By Fariz Ismailzade (9/8/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: When appointed prime minister of Azerbaijan in August 2003, Ilham Aliyev pledged to work with his father’s team. In the short run, at least, he has kept his word. The unification of the ruling elite around Ilham Aliyev prevented the fragmentation of the ruling New Azerbaijan party (YAP) and made a relatively smooth transition from former President Heydar Aliyev’s era into his son’s possible.By Stephen Blank (9/8/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: U.S. interests in the South Caucasus include thanking both Georgia and Azerbaijan, the only Muslim country with forces in Iraq, for their support of the U.The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst is a biweekly publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, a Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council, Washington DC., and the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm. For 15 years, the Analyst has brought cutting edge analysis of the region geared toward a practitioner audience.
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