The broad principles (with few or no surprises) of a global energy policy and the "action plan" designed to put them into being, which were adopted by the G8 Summit (see this column yesterday) failed to level out the differences of opinion between the Western countries and Russia. They relate to aspects which appear theoretical, but which are actually very real, and exert a direct influence over behaviour on the world market. The interested parties have been discussing this for a long time,...