[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E929-E930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           94TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC DAY OF AZERBAIJAN

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                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in 
tribute to the 94th Anniversary of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan this 
week.
  Republic Day celebrates Azerbaijan's declaration of its independence 
from the Russian Empire in 1918, becoming the region's first Muslim 
democratic secular republic in Central Asia.
  While that independence was short lived, from 1918 1920, the young 
Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan made tremendous strides, granting 
women the right to vote and laying the foundation for architecture and 
formal education for future Azeris.
  But the new Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was soon occupied by 
the Soviet Union, losing the hard-won independence, and forced to 
become a republic in the U.S.S.R.
  In 1990, as the U.S.S.R. crumbled, Azerbaijan regained its 
independence from the Soviets, ending a 70 year nightmare, but the 
journey to freedom was a bloody one.
  In January 1990, referred to as ``Black January'' by Azeris, the 
Soviet army crushed peaceful demonstrations in the streets of the 
capital Baku.
  On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan's Parliament restored its country's 
independence for the second time in a century and weeks later adopted 
their Constitution.
  A valuable international ally, Azerbaijan was among the first nations 
offering unconditional support to the United States in the war against 
al Qaeda, providing a safe transit route to resupply our troops in 
Afghanistan.
  Azerbaijan leads the Central Asian area in regional economic 
cooperation and is a key player in European energy security matters.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in thanking the people of 
Azerbaijan for their friendship and in congratulating Azerbaijanis 
around the world on the anniversary of Republic Day.

[[Page E930]]



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