Blow to hopes of oil pipeline security

“the conflict in Georgia will rock confidence in the security of the pipelines already dented last week when Kurdish separatists claimed responsibility for an explosion on the Turkish section of the BTC pipeline that halted deliveries, depriving world oil markets of about 1 per cent of supplies.

Kaan Nazli, the director of emerging markets at Medley Global Advisors, said prolongation of military hostilities would “deal a devastating blow to prospects of maintaining a safe non-Russian route [across the Caucasus] for Caspian and central Asian oil and gas”.

Has one of Russia’s goals already been accomplished?