The number of international sister city partnerships for Shusha is set to reach 10 following the upcoming signing of a memorandum with the Turkish city of Trabzon. This expansion highlights the growing global diplomatic and cultural footprint of Azerbaijan's cultural capital as it undergoes extensive post-conflict reconstruction.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, these remarks were made by Aydin Karimov, the Special Representative of the President in Shusha, during an event titled "Post-Conflict Urban Planning: Restoring Destroyed Identity and Rebuilding an Integrated Future." The session was held at the Azerbaijan pavilion within the framework of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Karimov noted that Shusha has already established sister city relations with Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), Veszprém (Hungary), Novi Pazar (Serbia), Isfara (Tajikistan), Khiva (Uzbekistan), Turkistan (Kazakhstan), Erzurum and Kayseri (Turkiye), and Andong (South Korea). The addition of Trabzon will further solidify the city's international network.
Providing updates on the city's tourism and commercial infrastructure, the Special Representative stated that 10 buildings designated for commercial purposes have been constructed on Garabagh Street through public-private partnerships. "Interior renovation work is currently ongoing. Additionally, the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center Complex has been built, the 'Kharybulbul' and 'Garabagh' hotels have been reconstructed, the 'Yasamen' hotel has been commissioned, the 'Isa Bulag' Recreation Complex has been restored, and a tourist trail toward the 'Chetir' waterfall has been created," Karimov added.
Shusha, often referred to as the cradle of Azerbaijani culture, was declared the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan following its liberation in 2020. The city is currently the focus of a massive state-led restoration project aimed at preserving its historical identity while integrating modern urban infrastructure. The World Urban Forum (WUF), established by the United Nations, serves as the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, providing a platform for Azerbaijan to showcase its rapid redevelopment efforts in the liberated territories of Garabagh.
