[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 74 (Thursday, May 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATONS TO AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, in October, 2011, Azerbaijan will celebrate 
20 years of independence as a democratic republic, since the collapse 
of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, Azerbaijan's desire for 
independence dates back much further to the collapse of Imperial Russia 
in 1918. On May 28, 2011, Azerbaijan will be celebrating the 93rd 
anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, 
the first Muslim democracy. Azerbaijan also gave women the right to 
vote in 1918, over 2 years before the ratification of the 19th 
Amendment to the United States Constitution made women's suffrage a 
reality in our country.
  Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's independence was short-lived, and was 
snuffed out by the Bolshevik Revolution and the crushing takeover by 
Soviet Russia. Many Azerbaijanis lost their lives in 1920, trying to 
keep their independence alive. After years of living under Soviet rule, 
in 1991, Azerbaijan regained its independence following the collapse of 
the Soviet Union.
  Azerbaijan is a secular, modern, Muslim, country, which practices 
broad religious tolerance. Religion does not play any role in the 
Government. The capital city of Baku has five Jewish synagogues and 
Christian churches abound. The country has a close relationship with 
Israel. Azerbaijani teams, this year, flew to Israel and helped the 
Israelis fight large wildfires. State visits, back and forth between 
the two countries, are common. They are strong trading partners.
  Azerbaijan is a strong ally of the United States in a very important 
and very uncertain region of the world with Russia to the north and 
Iran to the south. Yet, not only is Azerbaijan stable, politically and 
economically, it was also the first Muslim nation to offer troops to 
support the United States in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Air 
fields in Azerbaijan continue to provide logistics support for American 
troops in both theatres.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Azerbaijan as it moves forward on the path to 
democracy and thank them for their strong support of the United States. 
My congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan on the anniversary of 
Republic Day, which symbolizes the universal quest for freedom and 
democracy.

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