Azerbaijan’s National Flag Day marked in Houston
Washington, November 11 (AZERTAC). On November 9, Azerbaijani Center of Houston, TX held an official reception on the occasion of National Flag Day, a public holiday held in Azerbaijan to honor state flag of Azerbaijan. Among the dignitaries attending the event were U.S. congressmen Al Green, Steve Stockman, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, State Senator and President of New Mexico Mary K. Papen, Texas state congressmen Sylvester Turner, Jessica Farrar, Alma Allen, Joe Deshotel, acting Consul General of Turkey, consuls of Greece, Croatia and Italy in Houston, delegation of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic led by its Vice-President Khalik Mammadov. The evening program was opened by the Director of Azerbaijan Center and President of Houston-Baku Sister City Association (HBSCA) Irada Akhundova, who welcomed and thanked the guests for honoring Azerbaijani Flag by their attendance. Taking the stage next, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States Elin Suleymanov expressed gratitude to all participants on behalf of Azerbaijani government and told the audience about the history of the flag of Azerbaijan and the significance the occasion bears for the Azerbaijani statehood. Members of U.S. Congress Sheila Jackson Lee, Al Green, Steve Stockman spoke to the audience about the strategic alliance between the United States and Azerbaijanб and congratulated the Azerbaijani community on the occasion of National Flag Day. The congressmen remarked about the political prestige of Azerbaijan and rapid economic growth it has achieved in the last decade, and congratulated the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with re-election on October 9, 2013. Then the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov and the head of Azerbaijan Center Irada Akhundova were presented with certificates of recognition and the flags flown over the United States Capitol in memory of Azerbaijani Center and in honor of National Flag of Azerbaijan.
The event was enriched by Azerbaijani food and music. The reception was co-organized by Azerbaijan Center of Houston and Assembly of Friends of Azerbaijan.
The tri-color flag of Azerbaijan was adopted as the state flag on November 9, 1918 by the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. According to the executive order of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated November 18, 2009, November 9 was declared the National Flag Day.
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