President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized that brotherly nations continue to stand by Azerbaijan in the restoration and reconstruction of Garabagh and East Zangilan. The head of state made these remarks while receiving the participants of the meeting of heads of government and vice presidents of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Baku.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his deep gratitude for the support provided by OTS member states in rebuilding the liberated territories. "I would like to express special gratitude for the support of brotherly countries in the restoration of Garabagh. Your support, both in restoration work and in the creation of new enterprises in Garabagh, is very important to us. As you know, the Mirza Ulugbek school, gifted by Uzbekistan, is already operating. The Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center, a gift from Kazakhstan, is also functional. The Manas school, a gift from Kyrgyzstan, is operational as well. These are located in the Fuzuli and Aghdam districts. Many companies from Türkiye are participating in important infrastructure projects—roads, bridges, tunnels, and railway projects," the President stated.
President Ilham Aliyev further noted that the creation of jobs in Garabagh is a top priority for Azerbaijan, highlighting that the first foreign investments in the region came from brotherly nations. "A large garment factory has started operating in Khankendi with the support of Uzbekistan, and together with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, we celebrated the opening of that factory. All this shows once again that in the issue that is most essential for us today—the restoration of Garabagh and East Zangilan—brotherly countries are by our side. In turn, we are always ready to provide the necessary support and we do so. After the devastating earthquake in Türkiye, Azerbaijan showed its brotherly support, and the 'Azerbaijan Quarter' worth 100 million US dollars was built in Kahramanmaraş at the expense of Azerbaijan's financial resources. Together with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, we celebrated the opening of this 'Azerbaijan Quarter'," the head of state added.
The restoration of the liberated territories remains the cornerstone of Azerbaijan's national development strategy following the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020. The "Great Return" program aims to resettle internally displaced persons into modern, sustainable "smart villages" and cities. The Organization of Turkic States, which includes Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, has played an increasingly vital role in regional integration, focusing on economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and cultural ties among Turkic-speaking nations.
