IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 769 

Congratulating the government and people of Turkey as they celebrate 

Republic Day, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 23, 2007 

Ms. FOXX (for herself, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. 

GUTIERREZ, and Mr. COHEN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the government and people of Turkey as they 

celebrate Republic Day, and for other purposes. 

Whereas every year on October 29, Turkey celebrates Republic Day, commemorating the day when Turkey became a 

republic; 

Whereas on October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey was 

formally established and Mustafa Kemal Atatu ̈rk, the visionary leader of modern Turkey, became its first President; 

Whereas Turkey is the only secular, pluralistic, westwardlooking democracy with a predominantly Muslim population; 


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•HRES 769 IH 

Whereas Turkey has a significant and constructive physical 

and influential reach into the Balkans, the Middle East, 

the Caucasus, and Central Asia; 

Whereas the United States and Turkey share common values 

of democracy, diversity, tolerance, social mobility, and the 

separation of religious and civic life; 

Whereas Anatolia, home of the Republic of Turkey, has been 

a cradle of civilizations for millennia; 

Whereas the city states of the Lycian Federation, located in 

Patara, Turkey, inspired the Founding Fathers of the 

United States as they wrote the Constitution of the 

United States; 

Whereas the United States and Turkey have been close 

friends and allies for more than half a century; 

Whereas Turkish Americans, leaders in many walks of life 

ranging from the arts, science, academia, and business, 

are a proud heritage community; 

Whereas Turkish Americans are goodwill ambassadors of the 

friendship between the United States and Turkey and in 

celebrating their rich cultural heritage, Turkish Americans enrich society in the United States and the United 

States’ understanding of that part of the world; 

Whereas Turkey is becoming a reliable energy hub for the 

Western World in a highly volatile region, completing the 

East-West Energy Corridor; 

Whereas for decades Turkey stood as the bulwark of the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the 

southeastern flank of the Alliance and guarded a long 

common border with the Soviet Union; 


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•HRES 769 IH 

Whereas since the end of the Cold War, Turkey has become 

an important partner of the United States in facing new 

major challenges such as international terrorism, ethnic 

and religious extremism and fundamentalism, energy security and diversity, the proliferation of weapons of mass 

destruction, and international organized crime including 

drug and human trafficking; 

Whereas in 1999 President Clinton announced that the 

United States and Turkey had a ‘‘strategic partnership’’, 

further defining and reinforcing a relationship based on 

common interests and mutual values; 

Whereas in July 2006, the United States and Turkey signed 

a ‘‘Shared Vision Document’’, outlining a strategic vision 

for bilateral cooperation and coordination on a wide 

range of international matters of common concern; 

Whereas in 2006, Turkey was the 30th largest market for 

United States exports, totaling $5,723,000,000 and the 

44th largest source of imports, totaling $5,359,000,000, 

resulting in a $364,000,000 trade surplus for the United 

States; 

Whereas from January to July of 2007, Turkey remained the 

30th largest market for United States exports, reaching 

$3,771,000,000 and the 45th largest source of imports, 

reaching $2,703,000,000, resulting in a $1,068,000,000 

trade surplus for the United States, nearly three times 

more than during the same period in 2006; 

Whereas Turkey continues to play an important role in Afghanistan, having twice commanded the International Security Assistance Force, and maintains a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, that builds schools, 

hospitals, and roads; and 


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•HRES 769 IH 

Whereas Turkey plays a crucial role in helping supply services and equipment to United States forces in Iraq: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes Turkey as one of the most im3 portant strategic partners of the United States; 

4 (2) commends the government and people of 

5 Turkey for strengthening its democracy and becom6 ing a source of stability in its region; 

7 (3) expresses appreciation for Turkey’s efforts 

8 in the global war on terrorism; and 

9 (4) congratulates the government and people of 

10 Turkey as they celebrate Republic Day. 

Æ 


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