05/12/10 - Attended Assembly of Turkic American Associations dinner at Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.

11/17/09 - Remarks submitted for the Congressional Record - Madam Speaker, for almost two decades, the Republics of Turkey and Armenia have been meeting to discuss a pathway for normalization of relations. These diplomatic discussions were not easy and often involved complicated multi-dimensional implications. However, on October 10th, the two neighbors signed a historic rapprochement, a ceremony which was followed around the globe.

In the two protocols signed, the two nations agreed to establish diplomatic relations, normalize their bilateral relations in all aspects, open their border and create a framework to determine their joint history. This agreement would not only bring stability to the region, it will also provide an example for other nations to come together to resolve their past disputes.

At their signing ceremony, the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers were joined by foreign dignitaries from the United States, France, Switzerland, Russia, the European Union, and the Council of Europe. While each country's parliament must now ratify these protocols, we should acknowledge the significant progress for these two neighbors.

The U.S. administrations of the past, as well as the current Obama administration, all support the diplomatic discussions between Turkey and Armenia . I want to commend both countries as they move this historic agreement through their respective parliaments.

01/15/09 - Remarks submitted for the Congressional Record - Madam Speaker, few Americans have heard the term 'Black January,' yet it is imbedded in the memory of all Azerbaijanis. Black January marks the evening of January 19, 1990, when at midnight 26,000 Russian troops stormed the capital city of Baku with tanks. Armed with a state of emergency declared by the U.S.S.R. Supreme Soviet Presidium and signed by then President Mikhail Gorbachev, the incursion was intended to suppress a growing independence movement. The net result was the opposite. This incident inflamed Azerbaijan nationalism and contributed to the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Leading up to Black January, the national independence movement had reached a remarkable momentum with hundreds of thousands demonstrating for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Emerging democratic groups were leading the political agenda and were projected to succeed in upcoming Parliament elections in March 1990. The Soviet Union sought to 'restore order' by indiscriminately firing on peaceful demonstrators in Baku, including women and children. The protesters were calling for independence from the Soviet Union and the removal of Communist officials. More than 130 people died that night and in subsequent violence, 611 were injured, 841 were arrested, and 5 went missing.

According to a report by Human Rights Watch entitled 'Black January in Azerbaijan,' 'among the most heinous violations of human rights during the Baku incursion were the numerous attacks on medical personnel, ambulances and even hospitals.' The report concluded that 'indeed the violence used by the Soviet Army on the night of January 19-20 . . . constitutes an exercise in collective punishment . . . The punishment inflicted on Baku by Soviet soldiers may have been intended as a warning to nationalists, not only in Azerbaijan, but in other Republics of the Soviet Union.'

In the days after the invasion, thousands of Azerbaijanis surrounded Communist Party headquarters demanding the resignation of the republic's leadership. The Baku City Council demanded that Soviet troops be withdrawn. The Soviet legislature in Azerbaijan condemned the occupation as 'unconstitutional' and threatened to call a referendum on secession unless Soviet troops were withdrawn within 48 hours. And, Azerbaijani oil tankers blocked Soviet naval vessels from reaching the Baku harbor.

Soviet troops were eventually withdrawn from Baku, but political control was maintained for almost another 2 years until Azerbaijan's parliament declared independence in October 1991. The Republic of Azerbaijan has maintained its independence for more than 17 years, despite lingering economic and social problems from the Soviet era and the military occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan by Armenia. Today, Azerbaijan has developed into a thriving country with double digit growth, in large part due to a freely elected president and parliament, free market reforms led by the energy sector, and, most importantly, no foreign troops on its soil.

While January 20 has been inauguration day in the United States every 4 years since 1937, in Azerbaijan it is the day on which Azerbaijani citizens stood up to Soviet equipment and martyrs gave up their lives for freedom from communism and dictatorship. Indeed, January 20, 1990, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the fate of the Soviet empire was sealed.

5/22/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Marilyn Dillihay regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

5/29/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Marilyn Dillihay regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

6/1/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Marilyn Dillihay regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

6/3/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Rep. Steve Cohen regarding US-Turkish relations.

7/16/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC called and emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

7/16/2009 - Michael Messmer of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding a Thank You note.

7/16/2009 - Michael Messmer of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding an inquiry if member would contact Rep. Whitfield's office and sign Whitfield letter to Secretary Clinton on Cyprus .

7/20/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC called and emailed Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

7/23/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC emailed Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

9/30/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Rep. Steve Cohen and Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

10/11/2009 - Janice O'Connell of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Legislative Assistant) regarding signing of Armenia Turkey normalization protocols.

11/5/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

11/9/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

11/12/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

11/16/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

12/10/2009 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

1/5/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

1/7/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

1/19/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

1/27/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US Turkish relations.

2/5/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC emailed Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

2/11/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

2/16/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Rep. Steve Cohen regarding US-Turkish relations.

2/23/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Rep. Steve Cohen and Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

3/9/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP met with Marilyn Dillihay Turkish Caucus.

3/9/2010 - Michael Messmer of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC met with Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff), James Robertson (Senior Legislative Assistant), Heri Abbasi (Legislative Assistant), Rachel Carter (Legislative Assistant) meeting with a few of the congressmen regarding US-Turkey relations.

3/10/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Marylin Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

4/20/2010 - Michael Messmer of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) following up on an e-mail sent on 4/20/2010.

4/20/2010 - Michael Messmer of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding Carnahan Dear Colleague on Turkey-Armenia Protocols.

4/26/2010 - Janice O'Connell of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Marilyn Dillihay (Chief of Staff) regarding a Turkey Caucus Dear Colleague.