[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 170 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF INDEPENDENCE FOR 
                       THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 28, 2022

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of the 
Republic of Azerbaijan and the 31st anniversary of the Day of 
Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 
18th.
  It has been 31 years since Azerbaijan restored the country's 
independence on October 18, 1991, with the Constitutional Act of State 
Independence of Azerbaijan--an event that ended more than seven decades 
of Soviet rule.
  Azerbaijan is a key global security partner for the United States, 
cooperating on multiple fronts from fighting against terrorism and drug 
trafficking, to preventing nuclear proliferation, to working towards 
stabilization in the region. It is also worth noting that Azerbaijani 
troops were among the last partner militaries to leave Kabul airport, 
facilitating the evacuation until the very end. Azerbaijan has also 
been a key player in providing global energy security in the wake of 
Russian aggression against Ukraine and continues to be a major energy 
supplier for our mutual ally, Israel.
  Furthermore, as the world watches the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it 
is worth noting that Azerbaijan has provided significant humanitarian 
aid to Ukraine, 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.
  As a co-chair of Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I congratulate the 
Republic of Azerbaijan on the Day of Restoration of Independence of the 
Republic of Azerbaijan. I believe we will continue to work with them to 
advance our partnership which benefits both the U.S. and Azerbaijan. I 
look forward to further collaboration between our two nations.

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