05/29/14 - Statement submitted for the Congressional Record on Azerbaijan Republic Day - Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Azerbaijan on its Republic Day. On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Russian Empire - making it the first democracy in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, only a few short years later in 1920 Azerbaijan was invaded by the Russian Red Army and was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991.

Azerbaijan continues to be an important partner with the United States in counter-terrorism efforts and initiatives to bolster energy security with strategic allies. With its vast resources of oil and gas, Azerbaijan is a key component to help our strategic allies in NATO and other European countries diversify their energy resources.

Many of our strategic allies in Europe are heavily dependent upon natural gas from one source or from unstable regions. And the ongoing events in Ukraine are a stark reminder that the United States must enhance our strategic partnerships with allies in Europe and Eurasia. That is why we must continue to support initiatives such as the Southern Gas Corridor which will route natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.

The Caspian Sea region holds significant energy resources and proven natural gas reserves. In particular, the Shah Deniz field in Azerbaijan is one of the world's largest gas fields, with over 30 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas. The Southern Gas Corridor will help our European allies diversify their energy resources by providing an alternative and reliable source of natural gas. This will increase global energy supplies and create a more competitive natural gas market, helping to bolster energy security and help improve geopolitical stability in the region.

Successive U.S. administrations have supported the development of energy resources in the Caspian Sea region, including earlier oil and gas pipelines from Azerbaijan to neighboring nations, as well as developing stronger trade relationships and international partnerships with the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

In fact, on April 2, 2014 Secretary of State John Kerry, in a joint statement with European energy leaders at a meeting of the EU-US Energy Council, stated ``The Council reaffirmed the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor to bring gas to Europe, urged for timely construction of a dedicated, scalable pipeline which keeps the options open for additional supplies, and agreed to explore investments to strengthen gas supplies to Central and Southeast Europe.''

The Southern Gas Corridor is an important starting point to provide Europe with an alternative and reliable source of energy. Establishment of the pipeline lays the foundation for opportunities for greater amounts of natural gas development and further pipeline infrastructure to bring additional energy resources to Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Azerbaijan on the 96th anniversary of its Republic Day.

07/18/13 - Member spoke at pro-Azerbaijan event to promote SOCAR and southern gas pipeline which ostensibly organized by US-based Assembly of the Friends of Azerbaijan. Saw photos of BP executive at the event. Addressing the event were Sen. Mike Crapo, Reps. Mike Turner, Xavier Becerra, Robert Aderholt, Henry Cuellar, Leonard Lance, Gene Green, Dana Rohrabacher, Ruben Hinojosa, Matt Cartwright, Bill Cassidy, Mike Fitzpatrick, Steve Stockman, Grace Meng, Yvette Clark and Sheila Jackson Lee. http://en.apa.az/news/196510

06/27/13 - Rep. Turner introduced H. Res. 284, a bill to promote Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field and European energy independence. Cites importance of pipeline through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey often.