28 May announced as Azerbaijan National Day in Washington

Below is the text of Williams's order:

Republic of Azerbaijan National Day

May 28, 2005

A proclamation by the mayor of the District of Columbia

Whereas, the Republic of Azerbaijan an area of 33,440 square miles, includes the Naxichevan Republic and Karabakh region, situated in the South Caucasian region, southeastern Europe; and

Whereas, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is unconditionally supported by the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Azerbaijan was proclaimed on May 28, 1918, become the first Muslim democratic republic in the history of the world, was recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America, and every year for the last 87 years, Azerbaijan around the globe, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in the world with estimated 45 millions people, observe May 28th as a National Day and remember the contribution of the their forefathers to the spread of democracy in the Caucasus and the greater region, and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan is an active member of the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) and the US led War on Terrorism, sending its peacekeeping troops to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, THE MAYOR OF THE DISRICT OF COLUMBIA, do hereby proclaim May 28, 2005, as “Republic of Azerbaijan National Day” in Washington, DC, and call upon all the residents of this great city to join me in observing this day.

Anthony A. Williams
Mayor, District of Columbia