But competition helps investors spread risk, and competition is critical for ensuring transportation costs are set by the market, not monopoly rent seekers. We have already seen the positive effects of this competition as, simultaneous with our efforts to develop westward pipelines, shipments of Kazakhstani oil via other routes have gained increased export quotas and lower transit fees. This is no coincidence. Our views on energy cooperation with Iran are well known. It has its own separate and distinct rationale.
Gas is another important part of the region's energy development.
The United States strongly supports the efforts of Turkeys and Georgia to diversify their natural gas supplies. We support Azerbaijan's initiative to sell them gas, and to sell gas through Turkey to Europe. Once completed, this pipeline will form a key part of the gas portion of the east-west energy corridor. That commitment remains true, for both oil and gas transportation projects. In closing, I would like to leave you all with the clear understanding that the interests I have outlined above that form the foundation of our Caspian energy policy are strategic constants.