Secretary Talbott's speech was only one of the indications that Washington is finally awakening to what is at stake in the Transcaucasus and Caspian Basin.
Russia is increasingly asserting its right -- and its intention -- to use military force in areas of the former Soviet Union in the Transcaucasus and Central Asia.
Violations of arms control accords: In the process of bringing forces to bear in the Transcaucasus region, Russia would appear to have violated ceilings -- or be about to -- on the numbers of troops it can have there under the terms of the Conventional Forces in Europe agreement.