[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23248]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 19, 2005

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere 
congratulations to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan as they 
celebrate the 14th anniversary of their Independence from the Soviet 
Union. On October 18, 1991, Azerbaijan adopted its Constitutional Act 
on Independence declaring their independence as a sovereign state.
  Having lived under Soviet rule, the people of Azerbaijan have a great 
appreciation of living in a democratic civil society and understand 
that they need to continue to democratize and hold free and fair 
elections in order to develop and integrate into western structures.
  On November 6, 2005, Azerbaijan will hold important parliamentary 
elections. As a sign of his commitment to ensuring free and fair 
elections, President Ilham Aliyev issued an Executive Order earlier 
this year outlining important steps that will be taken prior to the 
election. Since then great progress has been made to: allow all 
political parties to organize rallies free from violence and 
intimidation, welcome domestic and international election observers, 
provide appropriate access to media, and ensure central and regional 
authorities create the necessary conditions for exit polls.
  Azerbaijan has come forward as a strong strategic partner and ally 
not only to the United States but also among the democratic societies 
in our world. I congratulate Azerbaijan on this important day and look 
forward to them having free and fair elections next month.

                          ____________________