Congressman: Azerbaijan is a reliable ally of US

A member of the Working Group on Azerbaijan in the US Congress and a Republican representing Oklahoma in the House of Representatives, Kevin Hern made a statement on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of Azerbaijan's national holiday - Republic Day, Report says, citing Azerbaijani Embassy in the US.

In his statement, Kevin Hern said that Azerbaijan established the first independent, secular democratic republic in the East in 1918.

The member of Congress stressed that Azerbaijan, which had been under Soviet control for many years, regained its independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the United States established diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan in 1992.

The statement also said that Azerbaijan is a reliable ally of the United States. Azerbaijani soldiers served side by side with US troops in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Iraq in the fight against international terrorism. According to Hern, Azerbaijan plays an essential role in the diversification of energy routes and ensures US allies' energy security through the Southern Gas Corridor project.

Hern stressed that Azerbaijan is a friendly country of Israel, and the state provides 40 % of Israel's oil consumption. The member of Congress praised the religious pluralism in Azerbaijan, noting that the Christian and Jewish communities live together in Azerbaijan, a secular state with a majority Muslim population.

In the end, the member of Congress highlighted the partnership between Azerbaijan and the Oklahoma National Guard. Hern expressed satisfaction with being a member of Congressional Working Group on Azerbaijan and the friendly relations between the United States and Azerbaijan. He once again showed his sincere congratulations to the Azerbaijan people.