In December, a natural-gas pipeline to Iran was opened, the first Turkmen gas-export pipeline to bypass Russia.

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Still, Russia sees the EU as a competitor in its sphere of influence and reacts fiercely to any interference, such as Belarus being told that recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia would hurt its prospects with the EU. That the summit was followed by a conference on Nabucco, a gas pipeline meant to bypass Russia in the south, was just another irritation.

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The Nabucco pipeline was supposed to bypass both Iran and Russia and increase instead gas exports from the former Soviet republics to Europe.

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But while Nabucco could supply Europe with gas from Azerbaijan, it would not help Turkmenistan, which would also need a pipeline under the Caspian if it is to bypass Russia and Iran.

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But America, determined to bypass Iran, is encouraging Turkey to consider a costlier, roundabout route: Turkmen gas would be carried by pipeline under the Caspian, through Azerbaijan and thence to Turkey.

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