Why does Georgia matter?

I sometimes have been asked why I am so interested in Georgia, and I have a lot of answers to the variety of people asking. But today, I saw a particulary good answer when it comes to international politics in the BBC World's website, talking about the elections in Georgia:

Why does Georgia matter? Georgia's proximity to Iraq, Iran and Turkey makes it strategically important. A key oil export pipeline from the Caspian Sea also runs through it. The West regards Georgia as a key test of Russia's readiness to respect other ex-Soviet states' independence, while Moscow is sensitive to any potential source of instability along its border in the Caucasus.