Nearly nine cities in Azerbaijan were almost completely destroyed as a result of the occupation, with more than 300 settlements and villages suffering severe damage. We are continuing the restoration work, and Garabagh is being rebuilt using modern urban planning methods.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that these remarks were made by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, during his speech at a panel session titled "Housing in Global Hub Coalitions."
Stating that these territories are being restored from scratch, and sometimes even from "minus" due to heavy landmine contamination, the Presidential Assistant emphasized: "The presence of approximately 1.5 million mines and other explosive devices poses a serious risk to safety. Therefore, large-scale demining operations are being conducted. In the post-conflict restoration process, the issues of security and living conditions are extremely important. At the same time, opportunities to utilize international experience and knowledge in the restoration of the liberated territories are being explored."
The restoration of the liberated territories remains a top national priority for Azerbaijan following the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020. The government has launched the "Great Return" program, which focuses on the construction of "smart cities" and "smart villages," the restoration of historical monuments, and the establishment of modern transport infrastructure, including international airports in Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Lachin. These efforts aim to ensure the safe and sustainable repatriation of internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands.
