House Concurrent Resolution 85

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING TWENTY YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN.

WHEREAS, on February 28, 2012, the United States of America and the Republic of Azerbaijan will mark the Twentieth Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two great nations; and

WHEREAS, on the occasion of this milestone, it is important that this nation remember and commemorate this important relationship; and

WHEREAS, over the last twenty years, Azerbaijan has consolidated its sovereignty and political independence and has become an important strategic partner of the United States, both regionally and globally; and

WHEREAS, the election of Azerbaijan to the nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in October 2011 is a testament to the growing role and increased capabilities of this nation in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, these two sovereign nations have developed a strong relationship based on mutual cooperation regarding issues that are vital to the survival of democracy in the United States, Azerbaijan and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, the location of Azerbaijan is of strategic importance to our nation; its South Caucasus region bordering Russia, the Middle East and Central Asia, that has allowed this great friend of the United States to become one of our nation's key security partners; and

WHEREAS, the United States and Azerbaijan are cooperating in counterterrorism efforts and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which is of particular importance, given that Azerbaijan is an ally nation located between the nations of Iran and Russia; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan also provides a multi-faceted support for the United States troops and NATO operations currently stationed in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan contributes to the energy security of the United States and European nations and is a critical element of the "Southern Corridor," which will further enhance diversification of energy supplies to our European allies; and

WHEREAS, bilateral trade between the United States and Azerbaijan is expanding, and as the biggest trade partner of the United States in the South Caucasus, this partnership has allowed Azerbaijan to further develop its economy and increasingly contribute to the economic growth of the United States, while simultaneously increasing Azerbaijan's ability to compete in the global market; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan has a tradition of peaceful co-existence, spanning centuries, between various ethnic and religious communities and is a critical relationship for the United States government in its outreach to the Muslim world, as Azerbaijan is one of the few secular countries in the Middle East with a predominately Muslim population that maintains close, friendly ties with Israel; and

WHEREAS, of noteworthy importance in supporting the continued relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel, is that roughly a third of the crude oil supplied to Israel, an industrious nation dependent upon this supply, comes from Azerbaijan; and

WHEREAS, there is broad, bipartisan consensus on the need to maintain the strategic partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan, to actively engage Azerbaijan in its progression in building a market-based economy and vibrant civil society; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to reach out to the Office of the President of the United States to work together to further strengthen the relationship between our nation and its allies, such as Azerbaijan, to advance the interests of democracy here in this nation and in the Middle East, presently and in the future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize twenty years of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Azerbaijan on February 28, 2012, and trust that our mutual desire for contentment will be achieved by ensuring the longevity of democracy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.