(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Sabina Mammadli
The return of Azerbaijanis to their hometown of Aghdam will
commence from 2025, Special Representative of the President in the
liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except for
Shusha district) Emin Huseynov said.
The remarks were made on the sidelines of the Azerbaijani
National Urban Forum in Aghdam.
'The major construction projects of Azerbaijan will kick off at
the end of 2023 and wrap up by the end of 2024. The residential
areas, cultural institutions, administrative centers, social
institutions, kindergartens, parks – everything required for a
fulfilling life, are supposed to be ready and be put into service
by the end of 2024,' he added.
He noted that the major infrastructure projects will be
completed by the end of 2022.
According to him, the reconstruction activities in the city
center and nearby villages are to begin next year.
'The key projects speeding up the 'Great Return', as well as the
return to a normal life on liberated lands will be launched in the
foreseeable future. Hopefully, we will be able to witness the
resettlement of our compatriots in Aghdam and its surrounding
villages, as well as in liberated Fuzuli, Khojavand, and Tartar
districts in the next three years,” he stressed.
Further, Huseynov stated that Azerbaijan plans to resettle about
10,000 people in Aghdam city at the initial stage.
'Currently, the resettlement is based on the overall maximum
potential forecasts and in accordance with living space. Alongside
this, work is underway to create new workplaces. The new workplaces
that will be created in the ongoing recovery processes will be
potential jobs. In addition, certain jobs will be created both in
the agriculture and light and food industries. In general, at the
initial stage, it's planned to resettle about 10,000 people in
Aghdam city,' he said
Construction & restoration
Speaking at the forum, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban
Planning and Architecture Anar Guliyev said that Azerbaijan is
successfully carrying out unprecedented comprehensive restoration
and construction work on its liberated territories in accordance
with advanced urban planning standards.
He noted that the parallel implementation of such large-scale
works in a short period of time, along with the involvement of a
large number of highly qualified designers, architects, engineers,
and builders, also increased the relevance of applying new
effective institutional management methods.
'In accordance with the presidential order dated November 24,
2020, on the liberated territories, in order to centrally resolve
issues and coordinate the activities of all organizations involved
in the restoration work, a Coordination Headquarters was created,
which includes members of all government agencies,” Guliyev
said.
He added that the State Committee for Urban Planning and
Architecture, along with many other ministries and state
committees, ensures the preparation of basic documents for
territorial planning of settlements liberated from occupation.
Similarly, Director of Chapman Taylor British Company Marcelina
Zielinska noted that the progress that is seen today in the
liberated territories of Azerbaijan is impressive.
'Today we got acquainted with the plan for the reconstruction of
Aghdam city. We are very impressed by the ambitious plans of the
Azerbaijani government to revive these lands,' she said.
According to Zielinska, the work that has already been done in
Shusha is amazing.
'We will continue to implement various projects. We will also
work in the city of Jabrayil. This work will be different from what
we did in Shusha. There will be more social infrastructure in
Jabrayil,' she added.
At the same time, she noted that one of the primary tasks is the
preservation of the natural environment.
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlement
Programme (UN‐Habitat) Maimunah Mohd Sharif expressed appreciation
for the work that Azerbaijan is doing to populate its liberated
territories.
'Azerbaijan's government is intensively working to restore lands
and return former internally displaced persons,' she said.
Sharif noted that factors such as climate change, and COVID-19
create problems for the urban process and transformational
changes.
'Today's forum is important from the point of view of studying
the work done by Azerbaijan in its liberated territories, studying
the country's technical experience,' she added.
Green energy
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka
Andreeva added that the UN will begin a needs assessment for the
reconstruction of Aghdam city.
'The research mission together with the EU, the World Bank was
carried out back in March, including in Aghdam, and UN thinks that
in a few weeks, an assessment of the needs for the restoration of
these territories will begin,' she said.
She stressed that the UN is supporting Azerbaijan in such an
important issue as mine clearance, as well as in the transition to
a 'green' economy.
'The post-conflict period provides an opportunity for Azerbaijan
to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals and
generally improve the quality of life of the population. UN is
developing the strategy together with the Azerbaijani government
based on such areas as a competitive economy, inclusive growth,
building human capital, and, of course, a clean environment,' she
noted.
Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and
Architecture Anar Guliyev stressed that the committee provided
preparation for the General Plan for the entire region liberated
from occupation, the development of general plans for Aghdam and
many other cities and villages were completed, and the design of
hundreds of settlements continues.
He noted that during the development of master plans, modern
approaches to' smart city', 'green energy, such factors as a clean
environment, the integrated development of industry and
agriculture, and the wide realization of tourism potential were
taken as the basis.
Additionally, Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Elnur Aliyev
pointed out that the country aims at long-term inclusive and
sustainable economic development of liberated territories.
'In accordance with the long-term inclusive development model of
Azerbaijan, the main goal is to create a modern production
infrastructure in the liberated territories, attract investments
aimed at introducing modern technologies, and effectively realize
the potential of the region,' Aliyev said.
He emphasized that for this purpose, all conditions for
entrepreneurs have been created in the industrial parks created in
the liberated territories.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
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