A year after victory Learn about the most prominent projects announced by Baku for the reconstruction of Nagorno-Karabakh

When the Karabakh region and the seven surrounding provinces were liberated from the Armenian occupation, they looked like ghost areas due to the damage inflicted on them by the practices of Armenia. Baku embarked on a comprehensive reconstruction campaign for these areas, based on the foundations of modern urban planning.

On September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani army launched an operation to liberate its occupied lands in the region, following an attack by the Armenian army on populated civilian areas.

After fierce battles that lasted 44 days, Russia announced on November 10, 2020, that Azerbaijan and Armenia had reached a ceasefire agreement, providing for Baku to regain control of its occupied provinces.

The region of Karabakh and the seven surrounding provinces when it was liberated from the Armenian occupation seemed like ghost areas as a result of the damage inflicted on them by the practices of Armenia, and its deliberate looting, theft and demolition of everything in it, as is the case in the cities of Aghdam, Fuzuli, Gabriel and Zangilan.

Baku embarked on a comprehensive reconstruction campaign for the cities that it liberated in Karabakh after 30 years of Armenian occupation, relying on the foundations of modern urban planning.

Bringing life back to Nagorno-Karabakh

Baku initiated the reconstruction projects of Nagorno-Karabakh with the inauguration of an international airport in Fuzuli, followed by the construction of a road linking the cities of Fuzuli and Shusha.

During the liberation of the region, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that his country intends to build smart cities and villages in Karabakh, while preserving the historical and cultural identity of the region.

Hikmat Hajiyev, advisor to the Azerbaijani President, toured the region with representatives of diplomatic missions in Baku, where they were briefed on the extent of the destruction inflicted on the cities of Nagorno-Karabakh and on the reconstruction projects launched by Azerbaijan.

By introducing new legislative amendments, the Azerbaijani government plans to encourage foreign investors and facilitate the reconstruction process, as bureaucratic obstacles are removed during bidding and the price list of basic building materials required by companies is updated.

Currently, Azerbaijan is working to provide electricity to the entire liberated region by the end of this year.

To facilitate the return of displaced people to Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku is preparing various roads in the region, and the Azerbaijani government plans to open the first model village in the southwestern province of Zanglan by the end of the year or early next year, Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani administration is implementing the strategy of reconstruction of the liberated territory without any exclusionary practices for the Armenian population already in the region, as the Azerbaijani president noted that his country seeks to "accept all Armenians living in Khankendi as Azerbaijani citizens, because they live on our lands."

Baku looks to the future from a strategic perspective based on peace and reconstruction, which Aliyev emphasized, saying: "We do not want more war."

Unprecedented partnership and cooperation with Ankara

Observers believe that Ankara has become the most important regional strategic ally for Baku, following the prominent Turkish role and the huge support it provided to Azerbaijan during and after the war to liberate the Karabakh region.

The Azerbaijani president had previously indicated that this war showed the depth of the ties between his country and Turkey.

Aliyev and several important parties in the Azerbaijani administration stressed in many forums that their country gives Turkish companies a priority in tenders related to the reconstruction process with the aim of improving the quality of construction projects in its liberated region.

For his part, Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Muş said that Turkish contractors are ready to enhance their role in the reconstruction of the liberated areas in the Azerbaijani Karabakh region, noting that Ankara and Baku aim to raise the volume of trade exchange between them to $15 billion.

Cenk Inihan, Executive Director of "Pasha Bank" in Istanbul and headquartered in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, said that the latter wants to work with Turkish contractors known for their long experience in construction, stressing that Turkish contractors are committed to a pivotal role in the reconstruction of the liberated Azerbaijani lands, noting that It happens across a comprehensive process from infrastructure to roads and hospitals.

Nearly 1.5 million Azerbaijanis will return to the region, "where we seek to start projects in infrastructure, roads, agriculture, energy, education and health," Inihan said.

Ankara exported mine-clearing mechanisms to Baku, and the Turkish Armed Forces sent teams specialized in searching for and removing mines, starting in December 2020. The Turkish teams have been carrying out their tasks accurately, responsibly and patiently to support Azerbaijan for nearly a year.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during an official visit during the last week of October at the invitation of his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, participated in the opening ceremony of Fuzuli International Airport, followed by laying the foundation stone for a highway in Fuzuli city liberated from Armenian occupation .

After the opening of the Fuzuli International Airport, Erdogan and Aliyev headed to the city of Zangilan and toured the agricultural areas.