[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE 104TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF 
                               AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE COHEN-

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2022

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 104th 
anniversary of the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, and to extend my best 
wishes to all Azerbaijanis. May 28th marked the founding of the 
Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, when the people of Azerbaijan first 
gained their independence from the Russian Empire in 1918. Although 
Soviet forces ended Azerbaijan's independence in 1920, 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 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 on October 18, 1991, when its Parliament adopted the 
Constitution Act on the Restoration of the State of Independence of the 
Republic of Azerbaijan.
  Azerbaijan has emerged as a key partner for enhancing global energy 
security, especially as the U.S. and European countries look for 
alternatives to Russian energy in the wake of Putin's unjustified war 
against Ukraine. Azerbaijan provides roughly 40 percent of Israel's oil 
consumption and 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 over 12,000. 
Azerbaijan is also home to Christian communities and has been praised 
for its religious tolerance by the European Parliament.
  It is also worth noting that Azerbaijan has provided significant 
humanitarian aid to Ukraine during this trying time, an exception among 
former Soviet non-NATO countries that led Ukrainian President Volodymyr 
Zelenskyy to publicly thank the President of Azerbaijan for this 
courageous step.
  Azerbaijan is a key global security partner for the United States. As 
an active member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program, Azerbaijan 
cooperates with the United States in countering terrorism, nuclear 
proliferation, and narcotics trafficking. Azerbaijani troops were among 
the last partner militaries to leave Kabul airport, facilitating the 
evacuation until the very end.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I stand with the 
Azerbaijani people as they continue to work towards independence and 
security as well as to embrace human rights and democratic values. I 
congratulate the people of Azerbaijan on the centennial of their 
Republic Day. May the partnership between the United States and 
Azerbaijan progress and continue to benefit both of our nations.

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