[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H8895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WELCOMING THE FIRST LADY OF AZERBAIJAN

  (Ms. SEKULA GIBBS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SEKULA GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the distinct pleasure 
of meeting the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Dr. Mehriban Aliyev, and 
several individuals of her Parliament who were traveling with her. They 
were received in the office of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who hosted 
a reception for the First Lady of Azerbaijan.
  Azerbaijan is a growing democracy and one that has a strategic 
relationship with the United States, in that it shares troops with the 
United States and other countries in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and 
they support the efforts to work combating global terrorism. They also 
help to play a key role in securing dependable energy supplies to 
countries, including the United States.
  The Caspian Sea Republic of Azerbaijan is rapidly modernizing and 
developing its offshore energy sector, including gas pipelines, which 
have been very beneficial to its economic growth.
  Here in the United States, I would add that my district in Houston, 
Sugar Land is particularly aware of the importance of developing new 
sources of energy and expanding our global reach for energy production 
for our country.
  We also recognize that as an emerging democracy, Azerbaijan would 
like to be a member of NATO and EU and is a current member of the 
Council of Europe, which seeks to harmonize human rights and the goals 
of all humans.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that the First Lady of 
Azerbaijan is also a physician, and we share the greater good. It was 
an honor to receive her as well as to welcome Melanne Verveer and Vital 
Voices at that reception.

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