Cablegate: Behind the (Georgia) Conflict, a Fight for Oil

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O 271125Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8478
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9614
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8822
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SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: BEHIND THE (GEORGIA) CONFLICT, A FIGHT FOR OIL

Liberal Folha de S. Paulo's correspondent Gilles Lapouge comments
(08/27): "...The combat is clear: the Americans and Europeans try to
ignore Russia and Iran by opening new ways for the oil to flow, over
which Russia has no control. But Moscow intends to maintain and
resume the administration of Russian and Asian gas and oil to
Europe. In the confrontation between the West and Russia, Georgia
is in a strategic position, which on one hand explains Western
efforts for the countries in the Caucasus to make them a part of its
economic-military devices... And, inversely, the risks assumed by
the Kremlin to defeat Georgia and attract it to Russia's sphere of
influence as well as the two Georgian separatist pro-Russian
provinces of Abkazia and South Ossetia. A difficult game of chess
has started. It is necessary to say however that the Russian player
managed to block the Western player (the U.S. and EU). Unless in
the meeting called by Sarkozy a great idea comes forth."
White

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