The Honorable Andrew Kim

United States Senate

Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Kim;

Congratulations on your election to represent the great state of New Jersey in the Senate!  Our community was overjoyed with happiness to learn of your election. This victory clearly acknowledges your outstanding service to the community, it reconfirms the trust and pride of your constituents.

I represent the Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), the first Azerbaijani cultural organization established in New Jersey in 1957. Founded by our immigrant fathers, our members are now comprised of first- and second-generation community leaders who adhere to strong ethical values and principles of tolerance, respect, empathy and a sincere appreciation for our traditions. Our membership composition has always included people of many different ethnic backgrounds, faiths and nationalities as this is how our founding fathers wanted it to be. I, myself also grew up in this organization with such a proud background.

Our membership is growing rapidly due to the many young Azerbaijanis who are coming to the US to continue their education at top American institutions and end up finding excellent opportunities for work and research and eventually become US citizens. I am confident that these highly educated and engaged young Azerbaijani-Americans will bring a better understanding to our rich and diverse communities while making significant contributions to all facet of our society.

We welcome the opportunity to make you and your staff aware of the importance of Azerbaijan and

its natural resources to America.  Many do not know that Azerbaijan was one of the very first countries to join the "coalition of the willing", protecting assets in Iraq so coalition soldiers could focus on ending one of the cruelest regimes in that part of the world.

There has been a lot of misinformation about Azerbaijan circulating in the media which we feel needs to be addressed, and we want you and your staff to have access to the facts as we know them.  Please let us know when and where we can meet, in New Jersey and in Washington DC.  Best of luck in your new position; we are confident that going forward, the politics of international relations will be better than ever.

Once again, we-congratulate you on your victory and wish for your every success.

Sincerely,

Tomris Azeri

Azerbaijan Society of America