We want to be supportive of the process as much as possible, and if confirmed, I will do what I can to be supportive to both communities as they try to undertake a very difficult path to reconciliation and reunification.

economic assistance, development assistance, is one of the best ways that we can encourage democratic values in many of the countries that we are working in.

I would be a strong advocate for enlarging those budgets, at the same time ensuring that the money is well-targeted and well-spent.

For a number of years, I think we viewed Europe as our most important ally, and we were well on the way to a Europe that was whole and free and at peace.

I could not agree more, and I look forward to working with you to address those challenges.

I will be an advocate for more robust programs in the key countries across the region.

I would just urge you to think about that.

Your willingness to serve at a time when there is continued financial upheaval in Europe, as well as the threat from Russia and from ISIS, is absolutely critical.

Can you talk a little bit about what your assessment is of whether they are making progress and whether you see the potential and what the United States can do to help with that effort?

I appreciate the close relationship that America and Georgia have had, and their contributions to our efforts in Afghanistan have been significant.

If confirmed, I would certainly seek to promote both of those objectives--the LNG terminal, the creation of the regional energy hub--but also to support Croatia's advocacy and its emphasis on making all of the countries of the Balkans…

I think we should be very proud of that.

Protecting the Serbian orthodox heritage in Kosovo is certainly one of the key elements of this normalization dialogue.

We are considering your nominations and our relations with these countries against the backdrop of an aggressive Russia in Europe's east and growing instability in its south, in the Middle East and in North Africa.

My hope would be that the VA, frankly, can be a leader nationally in bringing a bend in the curve on this opiate crisis.

the first person I heard raise it in Congress was Senator McCain, the Chairman of this committee.

I was told that there was concern that this might be viewed as a partisan issue.

this is a hearing that we ought to undertake because it's important to our American democracy.