A large diplomatic delegation is touring Azerbaijan’s Garabagh and East Zangezur regions, observing reconstruction projects and memorial sites tied to recent conflicts. The visit highlights both infrastructure development and unresolved humanitarian issues raised by officials.
More than 150 ambassadors, diplomats, and military attachés from 62 countries and international organisations are currently visiting Garabagh and East Zangezur as part of a two-day mission.
The delegation is accompanied by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department.
The programme covers Khankendi, Khojaly, Shusha, and Lachin, focusing on post-conflict reconstruction, educational initiatives and sites linked to the region’s recent history.
The visit began in Khojaly, where participants paid tribute at the memorial complex dedicated to victims of the tragedy.
Officials noted that the memorial, established by presidential order in 2025 and based on a concept by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, aims to preserve historical memory and pass documented facts to future generations.
The delegation continued to Khankendi, where they visited Victory Park, reflecting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the outcome of the 44-day Patriotic War.
The 9-hectare park includes 44 steps symbolising the duration of the war, leading to a 44-metre Victory Arch.
The site also features informational panels covering liberated territories and the 2023 anti-terror operations.
Another key stop was Karabakh University in Khankendi, where guests were briefed on upcoming educational and socio-economic initiatives.
"For 30 years, Garabagh was associated with war, conflict, and bloodshed. However, while preserving the memory of past tragedies, including the Khojaly genocide, we look to the future, the peaceful future of Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus as a whole," Hikmat Hajiyev stated.
The presidential aide added that Azerbaijan has consistently prioritised good neighbourly and peaceful relations in its foreign policy.
"However, because we were in a state of conflict with Armenia, it was not possible to fully realise this priority. But today I can say that friendly and good neighborly relations have been established between Azerbaijan and all its neighbors, including Armenia," he emphasised.
Missing persons issue highlighted
During the visit, Hikmat Hajiyev highlighted ongoing humanitarian issues, stating that the fate of around 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens remains unknown.
“For nearly three decades, Azerbaijan has been awaiting clarification on the fate of thousands of missing persons, whose families continue to seek answers,” said Hajiyev.
He noted that while the International Committee of the Red Cross has gathered some information, the issue remains unresolved.
Hajiyev also stated that cases related to persons of Armenian origin detained in Azerbaijan are handled in accordance with national legislation and judicial procedures.
Addressing post-conflict risks, he emphasised that mine contamination continues to pose a serious threat, with more than 420 Azerbaijani citizens killed or injured in mine explosions since 2020.
Criticism of European Parliament
Hikmat Hajiyev also commented on the European Parliament’s recent resolution on Azerbaijan, calling it a “diplomatic disgrace.”
The resolution criticised Azerbaijan over the alleged detention of Armenian prisoners and reiterated support for Armenians from “Nagorno-Karabakh,” as well as calls for accountability regarding cultural heritage.
Rejecting the resolution, Hajiyev stated: "The resolution adopted by the European Parliament is not legally binding for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is undertaking steps to ensure peace and security in the region, and advance the normalisation process with Armenia."
He warned that such actions risk undermining diplomatic efforts: “destructive, provocative, and a step toward dragging the region back into war.”
The second day of the mission will include visits to Shusha and Lachin districts, where ongoing reconstruction and restoration projects will be showcased.
India's Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigned on Saturday, marking a significant victory for youth protesters who had been demanding that h...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Mid...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Sat...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. strikes on Iran entered a 12th consecutive night, while Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, urging President Donald Trump to warn Tehran it would be held responsible for any future Houthi attacks.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Spain has declared a national emergency and evacuated more than 10,000 people after uncontrolled wildfires reached the outskirts of Madrid. Emergency crews have rescued residents as multiple blazes continue to spread across the region.
Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, warning that threats to Pakistani maritime interests could justify the lawful use of force.
A new state agency wants the world to take Georgian food as seriously as Georgians already do.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have signed regional and commercial agreements worth more than 80 billion tenge ($146 million). The deals aim to expand cooperation between the two Central Asian neighbors in trade, transport, industry and cross-border development.
UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for the first trip to Syria by a serving United Nations' chief since 2009, before the start of a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
More than 100 Afghan business representatives travelled to Uzbekistan this week for a business forum aimed at expanding trade and investment, as Uzbek investors also expressed interest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Kazakhstan's grain sector faces a difficult season as drought reduces harvest prospects while mounting security risks in the Black Sea threaten to redirect cheaper Russian grain into Central Asian markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment