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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
19-322
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 16, 2012
To recognize the importance of Azerbaijan Independence Day for the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan was re-established on October 18, 1991, after 70 years of being part of the USSR;
WHEREAS, Azerbaijan stretches from the Caucasus Mountains in the north to the Araxes River in the south, Karabakh in the center, and the Caspian Sea in the east to Karki, Naxcivan in the west, and was quickly recognized by the United States of America;
WHEREAS, modern Republic of Azerbaijan has an area of 33,440 square miles, includes the exclave of Naxcivan and the Karabakh region, and is situated in the South Caucasus region, southeastern Europe;
WHEREAS, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty, and independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is unconditionally supported by the United States;
WHEREAS, Azerbaijan has been a strategic ally of the U.S., sending troops to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, combating proliferation of nuclear technologies, fighting international terrorism, cooperating with NATO, contributing to energy security, supplying U.S. and European allies with its oil and gas, and seeing eye to eye as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council; and
WHEREAS, every year for the last 21 years, an estimated 40 million Azerbaijanis around the globe, including 400,000 Azerbaijani-Americans, and their organizations such as the U.S. Azeris Network , observe October 18 as the Independence Day of Azerbaijan and remember the contribution of their forefathers to the spread of freedom and democracy in the Caucasus and the greater region.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution be cited as the "Azerbaijan Independence Day Celebration Recognition Resolution of 2012”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby honors the contributions of the Azerbaijan community to our city and calls upon all residents of this great city to join in observing this day.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
