,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bga ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ae1 #bjba,mr4 ,cruz 7for himself and ,mr4 ,barrasso7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,affirming that the ,united ,states supports the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,gas ,forum and the ,eastern ,mediterranean gas pipeline4 ,whereas1 on ,january #ad1 #bjai1 the representatives from ,cyprus1 ,egypt1 ,greece1 ,israel1 ,italy1 ,jordan1 and the ,palestinian ,authority convened in ,cairo1 ,egypt to discuss establishing the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,gas ,forum 7,,emgf72 ,whereas1 on ,december #bj1 #bjai1 the ,united ,states ,congress passed the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,security and ,energy ,partnership ,act of #bjai 7title ,,ii of division ,j of ,public ,law #aaf-id71 which states it is the policy of the ,united ,states to promote and deepen energy security cooperation and development between ,greece1 ,cyprus1 and ,israel and to support the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,pipeline2 ,whereas1 on ,january #b1 #bjbj1 ,israel1 ,greece1 and ,cyprus signed an agreement to build an ,eastern ,mediterranean pipeline to connect the ,eastern ,mediterranean energy market to southern ,europe2 ,whereas1 on ,january #af1 #bjbj1 ,egypt hosted a forum with representatives of ,cyprus1 ,greece1 ,israel1 ,italy1 ,jordan1 and the ,palestinian ,authority to finalize the framework for launching the ,,emgf2 ,whereas1 on ,september #bc1 #bjbj1 the six member states of the ,,emgf held a signing ceremony that formally transformed the forum into a regional intergovernmental organization based in ,cairo1 ,egypt2 ,whereas1 on ,december #af1 #bjbj1 the ,united ,arab ,emirates joined the ,,emgf and ,egyptian ,president ,abdel ,fattah al-,sisi said the ,,uae will contribute to the forum's activities to serve strategic interests and enhance cooperation and partnership between the forum countries2 ,whereas1 on ,march #a1 #bjba1 the ,,emgf ,statute entered into force2 ,whereas1 on ,march #i1 #bjba1 the ,,emgf accepted ,france as a member2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and the ,european ,union are permanent observers of the ,,emgf2 ,whereas a vibrant regional gas market will promote prosperity and provide a sustainable path for economic development2 ,whereas the ,,emgf promotes technical and market collaboration in energy1 including by ensuring a competitive price for natural gas1 the development of new energy technologies1 and increased cooperation on cyber security2 ,whereas the ,,emgf and the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,pipeline will provide ,european nations with robust energy alternatives and decrease reliance on the ,russian ,federation2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has been a steadfast supporter of the creation of the ,,emgf as well as the agreement between ,israel1 ,greece1 and ,cyprus to support the completion of the ,eastern ,mediterranean pipeline2 ,whereas ,dan ,brouillette1 then-,united ,states ,secretary of ,energy1 notes the immense benefits that natural gas will bring to the region1 but to growing markets around the world2 ,whereas ,frank ,fannon1 then-,united ,states ,assistant ,secretary of ,state for ,energy ,resources1 echoes that energy resources are a catalyst for cooperation2 ,whereas ,george ,lakkotrypis1 then-,minister of ,energy1 ,commerce1 ,industry and ,tourism of the ,republic of ,cyprus1 said that ,u4,s4 support in creating an ,eastern ,mediterranean corridor is profound and solid2 ,whereas ,tarek ,el-,molla1 ,minister of ,petroleum and ,mineral ,resources of the ,arab ,republic of ,egypt1 stated1 ,the ,,emgf will be acknowledged throughout history as a unique and bold endeavor1 since it aspires to become an exemption to the historic norm of perceiving our current and prospective energy wealth as a motivation for conflict2 ,whereas ,kyriakos ,mitsotakis1 ,prime ,minister of ,greece1 stated that the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,pipeline is a pipeline for peace and cooperation between the peoples of the region2 ,whereas ,yuval ,steinitz1 ,minister of ,energy of the ,state of ,israel1 said the ,,emgf brings regional cooperation with ,arab and ,european countries1 the first of its kind in history2 ,whereas ,hala ,zawati1 ,minister of ,energy and ,mineral ,resources of the ,hashemite ,kingdom of ,jordan1 stated1 ,within the ,eastern ,mediterranean and utilizing our gas resources and infrastructure--cooperating and working together1 given all the challenges1 became a must4 ,we believe that this platform will serve to enhance dialogue between countries to reach a clear regional vision1 a vision that translates into policies for a sustainable regional gas market in the ,eastern ,mediterranean42 and ,whereas the ,,emgf is part of a growing network of regional agreements and frameworks that provide the basis for long-term peace and cooperation on vital issues related to diplomatic engagement1 collective security1 economic growth1 and energy development1 including the ,abraham ,accords1 signed on ,september #ae1 #bjbj1 by the ,united ,states1 ,israel1 the ,united ,arab ,emirates1 and ,bahrain3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 celebrates the establishment of the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,gas ,forum and congratulates the members for their success in building an international forum to advance ,eastern ,mediterranean energy2 7#b7 commends the members for demonstrating a commitment to multilateral cooperation leading to mutual economic and energy security2 7#c7 recognizes the historical significance of ,jewish1 ,arab1 and ,christian peoples working together to advance prosperity and security within the region2 7#d7 notes the strategic importance of the ,eastern ,mediterranean pipeline in enhancing ,european energy security and decreasing reliance on ,russian energy exports2 and 7#e7 calls on all states to support the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,gas ,forum and the ,eastern ,mediterranean ,pipeline4