WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan was proclaimed on May 28, 1918 and became the first secular democratic republic in the Turkic and Muslim world, among the first nation-states granting universal suffrage rights, and was recognized by other democratic nations, including Czechoslovakia; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan was an independent state from 1918 to 1920 and was a constituent state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1922 to 1991. On October 18, 1991, the Parliament of Azerbaijan adopted the Constitutional Act of State Independence from the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been unconditionally recognized and supported by the Czech Republic; and

WHEREAS, as the continuation of its founders’ guiding principles and promotion of common values of humanity and democracy, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the Czech Republic; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a crucial element of energy supplies diversification for Europe, thus enormously contributing to Europe's energy security; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan is an active member of the NATO Partnership for Peace and EU's Eastern Partnership Programmes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to honor Azerbaijan's restoration of independence on the occasion of it’s 20th anniversary.