[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6812-6813]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 95TH REPUBLIC DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the 
Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan as it celebrates its 95th Republic 
Day on May 28, 2013. Later this year, Azerbaijan will also celebrate 
the 22nd anniversary of its freedom from the Soviet Union and the 
establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States.
  Azerbaijan's initial independence was short-lived, and was overtaken 
by the Bolshevik Revolution and the force of Soviet Russia. Many 
Azerbaijanis lost their lives in 1920, trying to retain their 
independence. After decades of living under Soviet rule, in 1991, 
Azerbaijan once again regained its independence after the fall of the 
Soviet Union.

[[Page 6813]]

  Over the last two decades Azerbaijan has become an increasingly 
important partner to the U.S., with Russia as a neighbor on its' 
northern border and an extensive border with Iran in the south, 
Azerbaijan is located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe 
and Asia. It is a predominately Muslim secular democracy noted for 
religious tolerance that is also home to Christian and Jewish 
communities.
  As highlighted by former 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. In addition to supporting U.S. security interests in the 
region, Azerbaijan serves a paramount role in supplying world markets 
with oil and gas. It is the only secular Muslim country that maintains 
close ties with Israel, supplying roughly forty percent of Israel's 
energy needs.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan 
on the occasion of its 95th Republic Day. I also encourage my 
colleagues to join the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus to show support 
for the important partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan.

                          ____________________