[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ON ``REPUBLIC DAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2011

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the Republic of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 93rd anniversary of 
Republic Day on May 28th. Later this year, Azerbaijan will also 
celebrate the 20th anniversary of its freedom from the Soviet Union and 
the start of diplomatic relations with the United States.
  Located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia 
and sandwiched between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is a secular county 
with a predominantly Muslim population that has also been home for more 
than a millennia for vibrant Christian and Jewish communities.
  Azerbaijan has opened Caspian energy resources to development by U.S. 
companies and has emerged as a key player for global energy security. 
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project is the most successful project 
contributing to the development of the South Caucuses region and has 
become the main artery delivering Caspian Sea hydrocarbons to the U.S. 
and our partners in Europe. Notably, in 2009 Azerbaijan provided nearly 
one quarter of all crude oil supplies to Israel and is considered a 
leading potential natural gas provider for the U.S. supported Nabucco 
pipeline.
  On the security front, immediately after 9/11 Azerbaijan was among 
the first to offer strong support and assistance to the United States. 
Azerbaijan participated in operations in Kosovo and Iraq and is 
actively engaged in Afghanistan, having recently doubled its military 
presence there. Azerbaijan has extended important over-flight 
clearances for U.S. and NATO flights to support ISAF and has regularly 
provided landing and refueling operations at its airports for U.S. and 
NATO forces. Also, Azerbaijan, as highlighted by Secretary of Defense 
Robert Gates, plays an important role in the Northern Distribution 
Network, a supply route to Afghanistan by making available its ground 
and Caspian naval transportation facilities. Moreover, Azerbaijan 
provides vital support for U.S. nonproliferation efforts.
  Again, as the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, it 
is my distinct pleasure to honor the Republic of Azerbaijan in 
celebration of the 93rd anniversary of Republic Day and to recognize 
the valuable bilateral relationship between the United States and 
Azerbaijan. I also encourage my colleagues who are interested in 
supporting Azerbaijan to join me as a member of Congressional 
Azerbaijan Caucus, a bipartisan group of nearly 40 Members of Congress 
working to help foster the growing partnership between the United 
States and Azerbaijan and to advance U.S. interests in this pivotal 
region.

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