WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan restored its independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, proclaiming itself the heir to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which, established in 1918, was the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world, among the first nation-states granting right to vote to women, and was recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the United States of America was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Azerbaijan and establish full-fledged diplomatic relations with it; and

WHEREAS, the United States of America along with the United Nations recognize and support Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity;

WHEREAS, since 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has consolidated its freedom and independence, and has become one of the world’s fastest developing and modernizing countries in the world, the largest economy of the region and the biggest U.S. trade partner in the South Caucasus; and

WHEREAS, over the past 23 years, the United States of America and the Republic of Azerbaijan have expanded their partnership and developed multi-faceted cooperation ranging from energy security, fight against international terrorism, drug and human trafficking to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to render comprehensive and unconditional assistance to the United States immediately after the terror attacks of 9/11, opening its airspace and airports for the use by coalition troops in Afghanistan and sending its soldiers to serve there shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. troops; and

WHEREAS, since 2001, the Republic of Azerbaijan has been providing a vital transportation route for over 40% of all supplies for American and coalition troops based in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, possessing vast oil and gas resources, the Republic of Azerbaijan contributes to the energy security of the United States, Europe and Israel, and is a critical element of the “Southern Corridor,” which will further enhance diversification of energy supplies to our European allies; and

WHEREAS, Azerbaijan has a long-standing tradition of peaceful co-existence and interfaith harmony between various religions, and is one of the few secular countries with a predominately Muslim population that maintains close strategic relationship with the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, it is critical for the United States of America to continue to further support the freedom and independence of its allies, such as Azerbaijan, and strengthen our relations with them in order to advance our common interests, presently and in the future:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the state of [INSERT STATE] hereby calls on the Government of the United States to support and deepen strategic partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and trust that our relations must be further enhanced through mutual efforts over the years to come; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United States Secretary of State, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Approved by ALEC’s International Relations and Federalism Task Force at the ALEC Annual Meeting on Thursday July 23, 2015 and Friday, July 24, 2015. Approved by ALEC Board of Directors on September 4, 2015.

Approved by ALEC Board of Directors December 20, 2019