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Europe
Russia May Want A Cyprus Naval Port In Exchange For A Bailout
2013-03-21
The key graf in the report from Ekathimerini:

It is likely the Russians will ask for some form of compensation for such an investment. A naval port in Cyprus for the Russian fleet and access to the country's natural gas reserves are among the rewards Moscow might seek.

This sounds right to me. Gaining the (or at least a) concession on the natural gas reserves in the sea-bed around Cyprus would allow the Russians to maintain their strangle-hold on gas supplies to Europe. That's power in a very real way. The naval base idea is the insurance policy in case Syria goes belly-up for them and Tartus is no longer available. It lets the Russians keep their hand in the game.

And there's no reason why they couldn't bargain for both.
Posted by:Uncle Phester

#4  Gee, back some malcontents in a small region to gain a strategic advantage. Teddy Roosevelt to the black courtesy phone - a call from someone in Panama.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-03-21 09:15  

#3  the Cyprus savings account taxation plan would have actually hurt a lot of Russians and others who've moved personal funds to Cyprus so, sure, have a port
Posted by: lord garth   2013-03-21 09:05  

#2  Nature abhors vacuum.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-03-21 02:16  

#1  OTOH DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [Russia Today] RUSSIA MAY LOSE US$50.0BILYUHN SHOULD CYPRUS DEFAULT.

Moscow trying to get there "firstest wid the mostest" before Beijing also good for keeping a covert wary eye on Russ BFF Iran???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-03-21 01:03  

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