HBSCA is pleased to introduce you to a very interesting and informative electronic newsletter in the English language issued by the Azerbaijan Association of New York.  If you click on "read more" you will see an actual copy of the latest edition.  Anyone who would like to be added to the electronic distribution list may contact the association president Mr. Ali Nasibov at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    Please join us in wishing Ali Nasibov and his organization success with their efforts to promote Azerbaijan here in the United States.  We look forward to future news!

On Wednesday morning January 3, 2007 an inauguration ceremony took place for Houston Mayor Bill White,  City Controller Annise Parker and the 14 member Houston City Council  at the Discovery Park in Downtown Houston.  Both Mayor Bill White and Controller Annise Parker took the oath of office for their third, and final, terms while ten of the 14 City Council members were re-elected and four City Council members took office for the first time.  (see attached photo gallery http://www.houstontx.gov/council/gallery.html)
HBSCA President Irada Akhoundova represented our association at the ceremony during which she had an opportunity to witness the inauguration.  

Houston, November 27, 2007.  Together with the Turkish organizations in Houston, including  Raindrop Turkevi, the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) and the Institute for International Commerce and Partnership (IICP), the Houston Baku Sister Cities Association (HBSCA) co-sponsored a lunch to honor Congressman Ted Poe who spoke about general issues related to the Turkish and Turkic Americans. The visit also provided an opportunity for the delegates of the hosting organizations to exchange perspectives and ideas relevant to their constituencies during face-to-face conversations with the Congressman.  

George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s (IAH) new Sister Cities display is a gleaming addition to its state-of-the-art international passenger arrivals facility.

The map and plaque serve as a modest reminder of pledges between the City of Houston and 16 international cities, as part of the Sister Cities of Houston organization. The unveiling of the display drew dozens of diplomatic, federal and aviation representatives who watched as the two year project came to fruition.

Among those at the ceremony was Ellen Goldberg, president Sister Cities of Houston. “Sister Cities is an organization that was begun by President Eisenhower in 1956, we just finished our 50th anniversary,” she explained. “Today more than 2,500 communities and 126 countries around the world participate in the Sister Cities program, strengthening the bonds of friendship and understanding between the nations, the people and businesses.”

It is the season for giving thanks....and we are going to give a special THANK YOU! you to our soccer players who worked so hard for HBSCA at the International Sister Cities Soccer Tournament.  Please join us Saturday night, November 24 from 6.00 pm until 10.00 pm.  Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm your attendance and plan your dish as you wish.  

Each fall, the Houston Mayor's International Protocol office works together with the Consular Corps of Houston to present Holidays Around the World, a colorful display of decorated trees honoring the various international holiday traditions of the participating countries. To ensure that Azerbaijan is represented, the Houston Baku Sister City Association was invited to participate in this celebration and also for this year our Art Director Saida Fagala designed a beautiful tree that will be submitted on behalf of Azerbaijan .    

On Monday, November 5, 2007, a number of our board members represented Houston Baku Sister City Association and promoted study opportunities in Azerbaijan at the 4th Annual International Extravaganza, an initiative of the World Affairs Council.  At the event, internationally minded students, teachers and Houston community organizations came together to celebrate Houston's international culture and to learn about the multitude of internationally oriented organizations in Houston.  Approximately 500 students and teachers attended the event which also included keynote speaker Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, global correspondent for the economist followed by a discussion about the transition from the "age of petroleum" to a cleaner future. 

This weekend (November 3 - 4, 2007), the Houston Baku Sister City soccer team had an opportunity to demonstrate some excellent young soccer talent from Baku during the 3rd Sister Cities Annual Soccer Tournament.  In total six teams from Houston's other international sister cities, including Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Luanda, Tampico, Tyumen and Baku, competed against eachother for the winning position.  Our Houston-Baku team won in the first round with 5-2 from Istanbul but unfortunately lost in the 2nd round from Abu Dhabi with 5-1.  The annual Sister Cities tournament, is a multi-national event and the number of participating teams has been growing steadily since 2005, the year of implementation.