Title
Expressing support for the new American Airlines Philadelphia to Dubrovnik non-stop flight and naming June 6, 2019 as Philadelphia Dubrovnik Friendship Day.
Body
WHEREAS,The “Old City of Dubrovnik” has been considered a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site since 1979, and UNESCO’s mission is to encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world’s cultural and natural heritage; and
WHEREAS, On November 6, 2015, Philadelphia became a full member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) and thus, the first World Heritage City in the United States, and Independence Hall has been a celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979; and
WHEREAS, This maiden flight will start a new and unprecedented connection from our two cities-this American Airlines flight will be the only direct flight to Dubrovnik from any city in North America; and
WHEREAS, The Republic of Croatia became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2009, which has only strengthened its partnership with the United States and within the NATO alliance which exits to deter mutual security threats; and
WHEREAS,The United States has had one of the longest foreign affairs relationships with Croatia-the city of Dubrovnik (previously called the Republic of Ragusa) was one of the first states to recognize the independent United States when on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, declared the independence of “the United States of America” in the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Croatian Americans have always held a significant place in United States history: Croatian Americans helped to propel the steel industry as workers in Western Pennsylvania during the Second Industrial Revolution, to present day, when the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, will celebrate its 125th Anniversary this fall; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has historically been a land of opportunity for European immigrants for hundreds of years; and
WHEREAS, A significant population of Philadelphians can trace their roots to the Republic of Croatia-thirty percent of Philadelphia’s citizens come from Europe, and many are Eastern Europeans that arrived after the end of the cold war; and
WHEREAS, Croatia will start their Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2020, and the City of Philadelphia hopes to continue fostering commercial relations with foreign countries in support of economic and business interests abroad in the conduct of foreign policy; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia endorses the new Philadelphia to Dubrovnik non-stop flight and applauds the direct access from one proud UNESCO World Heritage Site to another; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the City Council of Philadelphia that June 6, 2019 is Philadelphia Dubrovnik Friendship Day.
End