[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 162 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 162

  Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding oil and gas pipeline 
                     routes in the South Caucasus.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 14, 2001

    Mr. Knollenberg (for himself, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. 
   Sweeney) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding oil and gas pipeline 
                     routes in the South Caucasus.

Whereas the development of strong political, economic, and security ties among 
        all the nations of the South Caucasus, and between this region and the 
        West, will foster stability in the Caucasus;
Whereas the development of open market economies and open democratic systems in 
        the nations of the South Caucasus will provide positive incentives for 
        international private investment, increased trade, and other forms of 
        commercial interaction with the rest of the world;
Whereas Armenia has shown itself to be a valued ally of the United States and 
        the democratic nations of the world, and the United States continues to 
        cherish the strong bonds that exist between the two nations;
Whereas Secretary of State Colin Powell has stated that Armenia's integration 
        into international institutions remains a foreign policy priority for 
        the United States;
Whereas Armenia's exclusion from regional economic and commercial undertakings 
        in the South Caucasus hinders United States policy goals of promoting 
        stability in that region;
Whereas proposed oil and gas pipelines originating in the Azerbaijani capital of 
        Baku and terminating at the Turkish port of Ceyhan, via Georgia, 
        specifically bypass Armenia at the insistence of Azerbaijan;
Whereas other engineering and feasibility studies of proposed Baku-Ceyhan 
        pipelines also do not include Armenia;
Whereas the proposed Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is expected to cost more than $2.7 
        billion;
Whereas a pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan that traverses Armenia is more direct and 
        would save approximately $400,000,000 to $700,000,000 over a pipeline 
        following the proposed route through Georgia;
Whereas United States taxpayer funds have been used and will continue to be used 
        for planning and implementation of South Caucasus pipeline projects; and
Whereas United States taxpayers demand that United States funds be used 
        effectively and efficiently: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States should not subsidize any oil or gas 
        pipeline in the South Caucasus whose commercial viability is in 
        doubt or which hinders the United States goal of integrating 
        Armenia into a secure and prosperous regional economic 
        framework;
            (2) all proposals for South Caucasus oil and gas pipeline 
        routes should be carefully evaluated to ensure that all nations 
        of the Caucasus are included in consideration of energy and 
        trade routes;
            (3) any engineering and feasibility study, and any project 
        implementation, that utilizes United States Government funds, 
        regarding the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, or similar energy 
        transportation projects, must include trans-Armenian routes; 
        and
            (4) the Trade Development Agency should fund and support an 
        oil and gas pipeline feasibility study to determine the cost 
        savings of a trans-Armenia Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.
                                 <all>