[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1764]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2013

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I recently returned from a visit to the 
nation of Azerbaijan, the tiny democracy in Central Asia located 
between Russia and Iran. They are our friends, and they live in one of 
the world's most dangerous neighborhoods.
  They celebrate a culture of diplomacy, which they credit with 
surviving as a nation since humans began walking the Earth. A 
population of mostly Muslims, Azeris have long welcomed other faiths. 
They have a large Christian community, and a proud Jewish community * * 
* as well as dozens of ethnic minorities.
  Even before the United States gave women the right to vote, 
Azerbaijan gave women the right to vote. Women serve in their 
legislature. As the father of daughters, I wanted to see a Muslim 
country that was not the stereotype of how Americans often see a Muslim 
nation.
  Azerbaijan really does offer a remarkably different look at how 
developing democracies in the republics of the former Soviet Union can 
welcome people of all faiths, and institute the organs of civil 
society. They are a model for other developing democracies.
  In the famous ``Old City,'' ancient walls surround the old city of 
the 12th Century. This walk through history, mind you, is in the midst 
of a modern capitol city--a bustling city where infrastructure is 
constantly improving.
  Here's something Azeris have in common with Texans: they are a rich 
oil producing nation. As we do in Texas, Azeris have a long history 
with oil. Today, they supply the pipeline that moves Caspian oil to the 
west, via Turkey, without running the oil supply through Russia or 
Iran. That greatly increases the security of the pipeline.
  Azeris have an interesting way of investing their oil profits in 
future generations, using the money they make from oil to build roads, 
bridges, tunnels, city parks, and public buildings. They also use it 
for overseas scholarships * * * and to build alternative energy sources 
in Azerbaijan. They know oil is a finite resource.
  But their present day energy supply feeds a large part of the energy 
needed in Europe and Turkey, our NATO allies. Azerbaijan supplies close 
to half of the energy needs of Israel.
  I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to learn 
more about Azerbaijan and their evolving economy.

                          ____________________