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.