IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 611 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

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.