AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL DAY
WHEREAS, the Republic of Azerbaijan was proclaimed on May 28, 1918, stretching from the Caucasus mountains in the north to the Araxes river in the south, Caspian Sea in the east to Kerki in the west, and became the first secular Muslim parliamentary democratic republic in the history of the world, and was recognized as such by other democratic nations of the time, including the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, modern Republic Azerbaijan has an area of 33,440 square miles, includes the exclave of Naxcivan and the Karabakh region, is situated in the South Caucasus region, southeastern Europe; and
WHEREAS, the territorial integrity, state sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is supported by the United States; and
WHEREAS, every year for the last 91 years, an estimated 40 million Azerbaijanis around the globe, observe May 28 as the National Day of Azerbaijan and remember the contribution of their forefathers to the spread of freedom and democracy in the Caucasus and the greater region;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GOVERNER DAVE FREUDENTHAL, Governor of Wyoming do hereby proclaim May 28, 2009, to be
AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL DAY
in Wyoming.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Executive Seal of the Governor of Wyoming to be affixed this 11th day of May, 2009.