I realize that I have a lot of catch up to do with a number of interesting energy developments in Europe, not least what Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero has been saying, but also the Nord Stream discussions during Medvedev’s visit to Berlin, as well as Gazprom’s moves to lock down Azeri gas supplies and the lone wolf U.S. government critic Matthew Bryza. My hands have been quite full preparing a couple of speeches and writing three new book reviews, so for the time being, I point you all to this interesting article on RFE/RL entitled “Energy: Caspian Pipeline Projects Resemble Gordian Knot.”

Rovnag Abdullayev, the head of SOCAR (the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic), has indicated that he is talking with many different parties about exporting Azerbaijani gas. “It’s not only Russia. Iran, Turkey, Israel, and European countries have expressed their willingness to buy Azerbaijani gas,” Abdullayev said. “We are looking for the most commercially profitable proposals and the best ways to launch the sale of gas from Phase 2 of the Shahdeniz [Caspian] field. Now we are analyzing [various offers] and talks with all parties continue. We will try to sell it for the best price possible.”