In the new world of high priced energy, Russia figures that if they have the natural resources, ie Georgia's oil reserves, they have the keys to the kingdom. By controlling a major reserve, they have the influence, which for the past year has reaped those in control of them beaucoups bucks.... Oil, or the lack thereof, has become the biggest bargaining chip to leverage. While diamonds are not traded on major futures and commodity exchange as is oil, the Russians have in the past, wreaked havoc in the diamond market by leveraging their other major natural resource; Siberia's diamond mines.
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