ENROLLED SENATE
RESOLUTION NO. 34	By:	Branan, Adelson, Aldridge, Allen, Anderson, Ballenger, Barrington, Bass, Bingman, Brecheen, Brinkley, Brown, Burrage, Childers, Coates, Crain, David, Eason McIntyre, Ellis, Fields, Ford, Garrison, Halligan, Holt, Ivester, Johnson (Constance), Johnson (Rob), Jolley, Justice, Laster, Lerblance, Marlatt, Mazzei, McAffrey, Newberry, Nichols, Paddack, Russell, Schulz, Shortey, Simpson, Sparks, Stanislawski, Sykes, Treat, Wilson and Wyrick

A Resolution welcoming and recognizing visiting dignitaries from the Republic of Azerbaijan; and directing distribution.

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 among the most progressive in Islamic societies, where support for secularism and tolerance is high; and

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma State Legislature is honored on February 29, 2012, by a visit from two dignitaries from the Republic 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 for 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 Oklahoma State Senate to welcome and recognize distinguished legislative counterparts and dignitaries from other democratic countries.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate welcomes and recognizes these visiting legislators and dignitaries from the Republic of Azerbaijan and extends best wishes for their continued success in leading the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to each of the visiting legislators and dignitaries, to the Republic of Azerbaijan and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.

Adopted by the Senate the 29th day of February, 2012.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate