[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 100 (Monday, June 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND THE BOND BETWEEN AMERICA AND THE 
                         REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ABRAHAM J. HAMADEH

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2026

  Mr. HAMADEH of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
  Azerbaijan stands as a historic bridge between Europe and Asia. For 
centuries, the nation served as a vital crossroads on the ancient Silk 
Road, connecting different cultures, languages, and global trade. From 
the vibrant capital of Baku on the Caspian Sea to the rich cultural 
traditions, Azerbaijan represents a long history of resilience, trade, 
and national pride.
  The admiration Americans hold for Azerbaijan is deeply rooted in our 
shared respect for the ideals of liberty and self-determination. In 
1918, the nation made history by establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic 
Republic, creating the first secular parliamentary democracy in the 
Muslim world and granting women universal suffrage well before many 
Western nations. This monumental achievement resonated deeply across 
the Atlantic, prompting U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to famously 
observe in 1919 that the leaders of Azerbaijan spoke the exact same 
language of liberty, right, and justice as the American republic.
  These shared values created the foundational roadmap for our modern 
partnership. Today, our Nations work closely together to protect global 
energy security. This strong bond began with major international energy 
projects in the 1990s that successfully connected Caspian oil and gas 
directly to Europe. Today, this cooperation lives on through secure 
global trade routes that bypass volatile regions, strong security ties, 
and an ongoing commitment to economic growth and reform.
  These historical connections serve as reminders that although our 
Nations are separated by geography, we share a deep respect for 
independence, national identity, and human progress.
  As representatives of two Nations shaped by a strong sense of 
purpose, may we continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship, mutual 
respect, and strategic cooperation between the United States of America 
and Azerbaijan.

                          ____________________