Recognizing the 31st Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence for the Republic of Azerbaijan

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the 31st anniversary of the Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 18th.

It has been 31 years since Azerbaijan restored the country's independence on October 18, 1991, with the Constitutional Act of State Independence of Azerbaijan--an event that ended more than seven decades of Soviet rule.

Azerbaijan is a key global security partner for the United States, cooperating on multiple fronts from fighting against terrorism and drug trafficking, to preventing nuclear proliferation, to working towards stabilization in the region. It is also worth noting that Azerbaijani troops were among the last partner militaries to leave Kabul airport, facilitating the evacuation until the very end. Azerbaijan has also been a key player in providing global energy security in the wake of Russian aggression against Ukraine and continues to be a major energy supplier for our mutual ally, Israel.

Furthermore, as the world watches the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is worth noting that Azerbaijan has provided significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine, an exception among former Soviet non-NATO countries that led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to publicly thank the President of Azerbaijan for this courageous step.

As a co-chair of Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I congratulate the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I believe we will continue to work with them to advance our partnership which benefits both the U.S. and Azerbaijan. I look forward to further collaboration between our two nations.

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