[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 96TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC DAY OF AZERBAIJAN

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to the 
people of Azerbaijan as they celebrate Republic Day. This year marks 
the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of 
Azerbaijan, when the people of Azerbaijan first gained their 
independence from the Russian Empire on May 28, 1918. Although 
Azerbaijan's independence was ended by Soviet forces in 1920, it is 
noteworthy that the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was the world's 
first secular parliamentary democratic republic in a predominantly 
Muslim nation--earning diplomatic recognition from the United States 
during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. We also recall 
with admiration that the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan granted 
universal suffrage to its citizens in 1918, making it the first Muslim 
country to give women the right to vote.
   Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan restored its 
independence in 1991. Parliament adopted the Constitution Act on the 
Restoration of the State of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan 
on October 18, 1991.
   For the people of Azerbaijan, these last two decades of independence 
have not been without challenges. At the top of the list would be the 
ongoing conflict with Armenia. Although a cease fire was signed in 
1994, more than 20% of Azerbaijan's territory--including Nagorno-
Karabakh and seven surrounding districts--remains under Armenian 
occupation, leaving Azerbaijan to cope with hundreds of thousands of 
refugees and internally displaced persons. In 1993, the U.N. Security 
Council adopted four resolutions demanding complete, unconditional and 
immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories 
of Azerbaijan. I am happy that Azerbaijan is committed to a peaceful 
resolution of the conflict with Armenia, and I support a swift and 
peaceful resolution to this conflict as well.
   Azerbaijan is a key global security partner for the United States. 
Azerbaijan and the United States cooperate in countering terrorism, 
nuclear proliferation, and narcotics trafficking. Azerbaijani troops 
serve shoulder to shoulder with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, as they 
previously did in Kosovo and Iraq. In support of the International 
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan has extended 
important over-flight clearances for U.S. and NATO flights as well as 
regularly providing landing and refueling operations at its airports 
for U.S. and NATO forces. Azerbaijan also plays an important role in 
the Northern Distribution Network, a supply route to Afghanistan, by 
making available its ground and Caspian naval transportation 
facilities.
   Azerbaijan has emerged as a key player for enhancing global energy 
security, at a particularly critical time in light of ongoing events in 
Ukraine. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-
Erzerum gas pipeline are the main arteries delivering Caspian Sea 
energy resources to global markets, and completion of the Southern Gas 
Corridor--which will run from the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, 
Georgia, Turkey, Greece, and Albania into Italy--will increase the 
energy security of key American allies by increasing the amount of 
natural gas from the Caspian Sea to European markets.
   Notably, Azerbaijan also provides roughly 40% of Israel's oil 
consumption. What may be more surprising to some is that Azerbaijan--a 
predominantly Muslim country--enjoys friendly ties with Israel beyond 
oil sales. Jews have resided in Azerbaijan for 2,500 years without 
persecution and today, the Jewish community in Azerbaijan numbers as 
high as 35,000. Azerbaijan is also home to Christian communities and 
has been praised for its religious tolerance by the European 
Parliament.
   As a co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I congratulate 
the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Republic Day. I hope the 
United States and Azerbaijan will continue to work together to advance 
a partnership that benefits both of our nations.

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