[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 611 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 611

 Promoting global energy supply security through increased cooperation 
  among the United States, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, and 
                                Georgia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 29, 2012

    Mr. Stearns (for himself and Mr. Boren) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Promoting global energy supply security through increased cooperation 
  among the United States, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, and 
                                Georgia.

Whereas Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus are key regions with significant 
        energy resources and economic potential situated between Russia, China, 
        India, the Middle East, and Europe;
Whereas policies aimed at increasing economic interdependence with a positive 
        impact on peace and stability constitute one of the main priorities of 
        the United States toward the Caucasus and Central Asian states;
Whereas over the last decade more than one-third of European gas supplies have 
        come from Russia and some European allies are almost completely 
        dependent on Russian gas imports;
Whereas the development of the hydrocarbon reserves and their transportation to 
        western markets will contribute to the economic development of the 
        Caucasus states and the Central Asian countries;
Whereas Turkey's geographic location, situated between major oil and gas 
        reserves with 70 percent of the world's reserves lying to its East, 
        North, and South, and the world's second largest oil and gas market 
        lying to its West, enhances its geostrategic value as a global energy 
        hub;
Whereas Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the United States have jointly promoted 
        energy projects in the Caspian region for almost two decades;
Whereas the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, the second largest oil pipeline 
        in the world, has connected Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey 
        with global markets;
Whereas the East-West Energy Corridor aims to transport Caspian and Central 
        Asian energy resources to western markets through safe and alternative 
        routes, as well to ensure the security and stability of transit 
        countries;
Whereas the priority now becomes the realization of the Southern Corridor;
Whereas Eurasian energy security will be enhanced by the completion of major 
        infrastructure pipeline projects that deliver natural gas, such as the 
        Nabucco pipeline, the Trans Anatolian pipeline, the Trans Adriatic 
        pipeline, and the Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline;
Whereas the safeguarding of the balance of interests between the suppliers, 
        consumers, and transit countries is recognized as the key feature for 
        genuine energy security;
Whereas this multinational cooperation will continue to be a great asset for 
        preserving regional peace, security, and wealth, as well as defending 
        democracy and freedom in Eurasia; and
Whereas the United States and the European Union have established an EU-US 
        Energy Council to promote security of transit and key energy 
        infrastructures that could improve energy security at a regional and 
        global level: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House of Representatives--
                    (A) notes that economic and commercial projects, 
                especially energy related projects, offer an 
                opportunity in promoting integration and development in 
                the region;
                    (B) commends Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, and 
                Kazakhstan for their positive contributions to the 
                East-West Energy Corridor and energy security in the 
                region;
                    (C) supports the efforts of the United States 
                Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, and encourages the 
                continued engagement with the countries in the region, 
                notably Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and 
                Iraq for mutual security and prosperity; and
                    (D) encourages the Administration to continue to 
                engage with the countries in the region and provide 
                political and economic support for the projects; and
            (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it 
        is in the national interest of the United States to support and 
        enhance Europe's energy security by working with the 
        Governments of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia and its partners 
        to make available additional gas and oil supplies to that 
        market in a cost effective and secure manner.
                                 <all>