mr. steinberg. your time has run out. mr. i think you made your point quite clear and we would appreciate if you could get back to mr. burton about dhaka, about energy independence and the at minister's plan. thank you. >> thank you madame chair i also want to welcome our guests and things you for being here. and thank you, mr. sick carry the co -- mr. secretary. to follow mr. burton steve question, with the constitutional provision in the constitution with respect to the religious parties that it's possible to repeal the provision but haven't sufficiently -- a government that is sufficiently tolerant to satisfy you or satisfy the department that it will protect the interests of the egyptian people and our international interest or is it the administration position that that prohibition ought to remain as a part of the egyptian constitution? because it sounded as if you were not committed or the administration was not committed at least advocate for the preservation of that. >> but we are committed to advocating for the princ

mr. steinberg served as deputy national security adviser to president bill clinton. mr. eld numerous other posts in the state department and on capitol hill. deputy secretary steinberg, thank you for attending, and i would kindly remind you to keep your oral testimony to no more than be five minutes. and without objection, your written statement will be inserted into the record. welcome. >> thank you, madam chairman. and let me begin on behalf of secretary clinton to congratulate you on taking the gavel here and to express how much we look forward to working with you and ranking member berman and all the members of the committee and to express appreciation for holding this timely hearing. last month in doha secretary clinton challenged the leaders of the middle east to give greater voice to their people as the region confronts a potent combination of technological changes, rampant unemployment and in too many cases the denial of universal rights of freedoms. and in recent weeks this dynamic has given rise to demonstrations across the region and changes in tunisia, jordan,