LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 204th 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 revolu-
tionaries 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 revolu-
tionary 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 inde-
pendence; and
WHEREAS, Though Argentina did not become fully independent of Spain
until July 9, 1816, the initial creation of a government with distinc-
tive 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 204th Anniversary of Argentina's First National Govern-
ment; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ambassador Jose Luis Perez Gabilondo, Consul General of
Argentina in New York.