[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8357-8358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ON ITS 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF 
                            ``REPUBLIC DAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAN BOREN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, as the co-chairman of the Congressional 
Azerbaijan Caucus, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the 
Republic of Azerbaijan as it celebrates its 93rd Republic Day on May 
28, 2011. Later this year, Azerbaijan will also celebrate the 20th 
anniversary of its freedom from the Soviet Union and the establishment 
of diplomatic relations with the United States. These events both 
represent important milestones in Azerbaijan's history.
  Azerbaijan has progressed over twenty years to become a key ally to 
the United States in a strategically important region. Azerbaijan is 
located between Russia and Iran in the geopolitically dynamic region 
between

[[Page 8358]]

Europe and Asia. It is a secular democracy with a predominantly Muslim 
population that has been home to vibrant Christian and Jewish 
communities for over a millennium.
  Azerbaijan continues to offer multi-faceted support for U.S. and NATO 
operations in Afghanistan, in part by providing medical services for 
injured Afghanis and training for Afghan Security Forces. As 
highlighted by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Azerbaijan plays a 
key role in supporting the Northern Distribution Network, which 
provides passage for Coalition supplies bound for Afghanistan. Finally, 
Azerbaijan provides vital support to U.S. nonproliferation efforts.
  In addition to supporting U.S. security interests in the region, 
Azerbaijan serves a paramount role in supplying the United States and 
Europe with oil and gas. It is the only secular Muslim country that 
maintains close ties with Israel, supplying roughly a quarter of 
Israel's oil.
  Again, as the co-chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, it 
is my pleasure to honor the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of 
its 93rd Republic Day. For my colleagues who are interested in 
supporting Azerbaijan, I encourage them to consider joining the 
Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, which works to strengthen and grow the 
valuable partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan.

                          ____________________