This is a joint subcommittee hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “In recent years, vast energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean have been discovered that have the potential to be an economic boon and realign the geopolitical landscape in the region. Israel and Cyprus have been at the center of these discoveries and have worked together in an effort to take advantage of these resources, but there are still some hurdles slowing down progress. This hearing will be an opportunity for the Members to hear from the administration about the role it is playing in facilitating progress in the Eastern Mediterranean, the steps it is taking to promote greater cooperation in the region, and how these latest developments will impact U.S. policy and interests.”

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Mr. Amos J. Hochstein
Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs
Bureau of Energy Resources
U.S. Department of State
[full text of statement]

The Honorable Jonathan Elkind
Assistant Secretary for International Affairs
U.S. Department of Energy
[full text of statement]
____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)