Honor Argentina's 207th Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 2935 BY: Senator PERALTA COMMEMORATING the 207th Anniversary of Argentina's First National Government WHEREAS, Argentina and the Buenos Aires province were part of the former Territory of the Rio de la Plata which became the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata in 1776; and WHEREAS, The Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata was of significant economic and political importance to Spain; and WHEREAS, In May of 1810 while Napoleon led an invasion of Spain under Ferdinand VII, the Buenos Aires Province garnered the power to call for a convention to establish sovereign governance; and WHEREAS, During the week of May 18 through 27, thousands of revolutionaries in Buenos Aires gathered in the Plaza de Mayo demanding an open dialogue with their government; and WHEREAS, This week became known as May Week - the week that a revolutionary Junta established significant authority thus becoming the focal point of Argentine history; and WHEREAS, In what the Argentine people call an Open Cabildo, Argentina's first national sovereign government was created by the Ruling of May 25, established in 1810 by the Cabildo; and WHEREAS, Just as importantly, the Junta adopted the Ruling of May 28th; and WHEREAS, The aforementioned rulings jointly established the authority of the First Junta which evolved into a larger Junta governing all the provinces and created a Triumvirate which established the Provisional Statute of the Superior Government of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata; and WHEREAS, A Second Triumvirate in October of 1812, called for a general constitutional assembly first meeting as the Assembly of 1813 the first legislative meeting of its kind in what would become Argentina; and WHEREAS, The Assembly of 1813 did not establish a constitution, which was the main objective for its creation, but did establish a coat of arms, an anthem, a currency, and most importantly, the national holiday of May 25th - representing the single most recognized act toward independence; and WHEREAS, Though Argentina did not become fully independent of Spain until July 9, 1816, the initial creation of a government with distinctive executive, legislative and judicial functions was necessary for the well-being of the Argentine people; and WHEREAS, Many Argentine people have made New York their home, and this Legislative Body, representing the people of the State of New York, is pleased to thank the Argentine people for their contributions to this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 207th Anniversary of Argentina's First National Government; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Ambassador Jose Luis Perez Gabilondo, Consul General of Argentina in New York.