110 HRES 769 IH: Congratulating the government and people of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-10-23 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 769 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 23, 2007 Ms. Foxx (for herself, Mr. Kuhl of New York, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Gutierrez, and Mr. Cohen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Congratulating the government and people of Turkey as they celebrate Republic Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas every year on October 29, Turkey celebrates Republic Day, commemorating the day when Turkey became a republic; Whereas on October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey was formally established and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the visionary leader of modern Turkey, became its first President; Whereas Turkey is the only secular, pluralistic, westward-looking democracy with a predominantly Muslim population; Whereas Turkey has a significant and constructive physical and influential reach into the Balkans, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia; Whereas the United States and Turkey share common values of democracy, diversity, tolerance, social mobility, and the separation of religious and civic life; Whereas Anatolia, home of the Republic of Turkey, has been a cradle of civilizations for millennia; Whereas the city states of the Lycian Federation, located in Patara, Turkey, inspired the Founding Fathers of the United States as they wrote the Constitution of the United States; Whereas the United States and Turkey have been close friends and allies for more than half a century; Whereas Turkish Americans, leaders in many walks of life ranging from the arts, science, academia, and business, are a proud heritage community; Whereas Turkish Americans are goodwill ambassadors of the friendship between the United States and Turkey and in celebrating their rich cultural heritage, Turkish Americans enrich society in the United States and the United States’ understanding of that part of the world; Whereas Turkey is becoming a reliable energy hub for the Western World in a highly volatile region, completing the East-West Energy Corridor; Whereas for decades Turkey stood as the bulwark of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the southeastern flank of the Alliance and guarded a long common border with the Soviet Union; Whereas since the end of the Cold War, Turkey has become an important partner of the United States in facing new major challenges such as international terrorism, ethnic and religious extremism and fundamentalism, energy security and diversity, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and international organized crime including drug and human trafficking; Whereas in 1999 President Clinton announced that the United States and Turkey had a strategic partnership, further defining and reinforcing a relationship based on common interests and mutual values; Whereas in July 2006, the United States and Turkey signed a Shared Vision Document, outlining a strategic vision for bilateral cooperation and coordination on a wide range of international matters of common concern; Whereas in 2006, Turkey was the 30th largest market for United States exports, totaling $5,723,000,000 and the 44th largest source of imports, totaling $5,359,000,000, resulting in a $364,000,000 trade surplus for the United States; Whereas from January to July of 2007, Turkey remained the 30th largest market for United States exports, reaching $3,771,000,000 and the 45th largest source of imports, reaching $2,703,000,000, resulting in a $1,068,000,000 trade surplus for the United States, nearly three times more than during the same period in 2006; Whereas Turkey continues to play an important role in Afghanistan, having twice commanded the International Security Assistance Force, and maintains a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, that builds schools, hospitals, and roads; and Whereas Turkey plays a crucial role in helping supply services and equipment to United States forces in Iraq: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes Turkey as one of the most important strategic partners of the United States; (2)commends the government and people of Turkey for strengthening its democracy and becoming a source of stability in its region; (3)expresses appreciation for Turkey’s efforts in the global war on terrorism; and (4)congratulates the government and people of Turkey as they celebrate Republic Day.