NATO eyes greater role in energy security (Reuters)

[Eugene]

NATO eyes greater role in energy security
27 Nov 2006 11:58:12 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Mark John

RIGA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - NATO leaders will study at a summit starting on Tuesday
whether the alliance should take more action to avert potential threats to energy
supplies, for example by mounting patrols of key shipping lanes.

The talks in the Latvian capital Riga, the first NATO summit on former Soviet soil,
come amid Western concerns that Russia is exploiting its vast energy wealth to gain
political influence over import-dependent countries in Europe.

"Energy security is a NATO-relevant subject," NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer told Reuters in an interview ahead of the Riga summit.

-snip-

While energy security has always in theory been a concern of the 57-year-old
alliance, the issue has gained prominence since Moscow last winter briefly cut off
gas supplies to Ukraine in a pricing row.

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Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2791783.htm