New Mexico marks May 28 as Azerbaijan National Day
By Sara Rajabova
The American state of New Mexico declared May 28 "Azerbaijan National Day".
New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez signed a resolution declaring May 28 Azerbaijan National Day in the whole territory of New Mexico.
Martinez noted that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) -the first democratic and secular republic in the history of the Muslim world- was established on May 28, 1918, and was recognized by other democratic countries, including the United States.
She stressed that although it did not exit for long, the ADR was the first state which conferred the voting right to all citizens regardless of their race, gender, ethnic belonging, and religion, and the first country in the Muslim world that gave voting rights to women.
In the past two decades since its independence, Azerbaijan has strengthened its sovereignty and independence and turned into a strong ally and strategic partner for the United States in the strategic Caspian region, Martinez added.
Noting that millions of Azerbaijanis in the world mark May 28 as a national day, Martinez declared it the Azerbaijan National Day in the entire area of the New Mexico State, and called on all residents to celebrate the date.