House Resolution 38

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION WELCOMING AND RECOGNIZING VISITING DIGNITARIES FROM THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN.

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the largest country connecting Europe and the Middle East, is located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, bounded by the Caspian Sea, and the nations of Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran and Turkey; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan is a nation of ancient and historic cultural heritage and is located at the heart of ancient civilizations that have gazed upon the majesty of beautiful mountain ridges and plentiful rivers and lakes; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan is a democratic, secular and constitutional republic that is governed by the National Assembly, a unicameral legislature known as Parliament, composed of 125 members, who are elected for five-year terms; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan is a country that is among the most progressive in Islamic societies, where support for secularism and tolerance is high; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives is honored on February 21, 2012, by a visit from two dignitaries from the Nation of Azerbaijan, namely, Chairwoman Sevinj Fataliyeva and Congressman Asim Mollazade; and

WHEREAS, Chairwoman Sevinj Fataliyeva of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations Committee is a member of the Azerbaijan Parliament where she serves on several committees, and she currently serves as a delegate to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Asim Mollazade is a doctor and former director of the Centre of Psychogenic, Neurological and Psychosomatic Diseases in Baku, Azerbaijan; he cofounded the Democracy Development Foundation in 1994, as well as the Euro-Atlantic Centre of Azerbaijan in 1998; he has been a member of the Azerbaijan Parliament since 2000 and currently serves as a delegate to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to welcome and recognize distinguished legislative counterparts and dignitaries from other democratic countries:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby welcome and recognize these visiting legislators and dignitaries from the Republic of Azerbaijan and extend best wishes for their continued success in leading the people of the Nation of Azerbaijan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to each of the visiting legislators and dignitaries, to the Republic of Azerbaijan and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.