Aghdam, December 24, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the second residential complex in the city of Aghdam on December 24 and met with residents relocating there.

Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, briefed the head of state on the facilities provided in the complex.

The complex, covering more than 13 hectares, consists of 11 quarters with 60 buildings and a total of 1,268 apartments: 114 one-room, 464 two-room, 536 three-room, and 154 four-room units. In December, 104 families (426 people) are scheduled to relocate, with an additional 1,164 families (4,772 people) expected in January–February 2026.

The buildings are equipped with permanent water, electricity, and high-speed internet lines, while the apartments have heating and hot water. Extensive landscaping and construction works have been completed on the grounds, including nearly 5 kilometers of internal roads, sports and children’s playgrounds, bicycle lanes, surface parking areas, and a 1,218-car underground parking lot.

President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for this complex in 2023. The head of state and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the progress of construction in the complex in February of this year.

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President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then met with residents who had relocated to the city of Aghdam.

The head of state delivered a speech at the meeting.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- I sincerely welcome you. Today is a very significant day in the history of the city of Aghdam. It is a historic day. After a long break, the natives of Aghdam are returning to their city, and I sincerely congratulate you on this occasion. I am sure that you will live comfortably, in peace and security, here. This is well deserved. New and modern cities, villages, and settlements are currently under construction in Aghdam and in all other territories liberated from occupation for those who lived as refugees for many years. Everyone can already see clear evidence of the “Great Return” Program.

It is possible to say that Aghdam was subjected to urbicide during the years of occupation. In other words, the city was razed to the ground by the Armenian state. This was a clear example of a deliberate policy by Armenia and an expression of its hostility toward us. Their goals were also clear. First and foremost, it was looting, as the stones of all the buildings were dismantled one by one and sold in various places in Armenia. On the other hand, the Armenian state sought to fully erase the historical heritage of the Azerbaijani people in these regions. A third goal was to render the city uninhabitable, so that Azerbaijanis could never think of returning. But they made a mistake. We, the people of Azerbaijan, lived all these painful years with only one goal in mind: to return to our native ancestral land and restore these territories, cities, and villages. The people of Azerbaijan never came to terms with the occupation.

I am sure that all our people, including the formerly displaced persons, knew and believed that historical justice would be restored. However, the institutions dealing with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, including those empowered by international organizations, held a different opinion. They were often in solidarity with Armenia, the occupying and plundering state. I would like to specifically note the incompetent and anti-Azerbaijani activities of the OSCE Minsk Group. This group was established in 1992, coinciding with the first stage of the occupation of our lands. Instead of resolving the issue, the goal of the group and its co-chairs was to make the occupation permanent, justify Armenia, and coerce the Azerbaijani people and state into accepting it. I had been in contact with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs for 17 years, holding numerous meetings. Over the years, I observed that their goal was not to resolve the issue, end the occupation, or implement UN Security Council resolutions, but to make the occupation permanent. It seemed as though Armenia and the Minsk Group co-chairs were on one side of the negotiating table, and Azerbaijan was on the other. This was the conclusion of the countless meetings I had over these 17 years. They thought they could succeed, that they could convince us to give up our ancestral lands. But they were mistaken, just like the Armenian state. I repeatedly stated during the occupation that our people and state would never accept it and that we would return to our native lands at any cost. I stated this in my first swearing-in speech and throughout my presidency. Over the years, we were united around a single goal: leading our people forward in this sacred mission.

Five years ago, the glorious Second Karabakh War and its results paved the way for the restoration of justice, our rights, international law, and national dignity. Our people shed blood to restore territorial integrity. The Armenian state did not intend to vacate an inch, a centimeter of our land. None of the leaders of Armenia, none of those who led Armenia in the years of independence, intended to return an inch of land. We forced them to do so. Our people showed the world their strength, power, and strong will. The people of Azerbaijan united like a fist. Our Armed Forces displayed true heroism and selflessness. May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs. In just 44 days, we brought Armenia to its knees. Those days are reflected on the steps of the Victory Arch that I opened in Khankendi today. I am sure you and all the people of Azerbaijan will go and see it. Today, the second Victory Arch has been opened in our country, after Baku. Every day of our glorious Victory March is recorded on its steps. We advanced daily, liberating cities and villages, and no force could stop us. However, those who repeatedly wanted to stop us in our tracks during the 44 days tried to, and even did, exert all kinds of pressure on us, voicing various threats and staging provocations. To scare us, to stop us in our tracks, to cut our glorious Victory March short, and to make the conflict eternal – these were the goals of the forces acting against us. Of course, after five years and after we fully restored our sovereignty in 2023 as a result of the anti-terrorist operation, the forces that acted against us were forced to come to terms with the new reality. We forced them to do so, including those who could not accept our Victory, those who could not digest it; the pro-Armenian forces were forced to come to terms with today's realities. The Armenian state had to come to terms with this situation. Those who once said, “Garabagh is Armenia, full stop,” at the stadium in the city of Khankendi not far from here were then forced to say, “Garabagh is Azerbaijan!” In other words, they did not say this of their own free will. We forced them – our people and our state did. So we must never forget this history. Of course, the older generation that lived through those bitter days will never forget that. The younger generation should not forget it either. The generations that will follow them, the future generations, should not forget it either. They should know it. This history should be memorized in schools, universities, and families. In other words, this is our glorious Victory. At the same time, in order to live in peace and security from now on, we must never forget this history.

We know who our friends and who our enemies were. Unfortunately, our enemies were several times more numerous than our friends. But today, our strong determination, political steps, and the strength of our Armed Forces have created a completely new picture. The Victory we won on the battlefield five years ago was fully secured by the anti-terrorist operation two years ago. Over the past two years, we have confirmed this in all international organizations. The fact that the loathsome Minsk Group has been consigned to the archives of history was also achieved as a result of our persistent efforts. Earlier this month, the Minsk Group and all the institutions affiliated with it were officially dissolved. This was also our demand, but the Armenian side had been resisting that for almost five years. However, I can say again that no one can stand in the way of our will.

The new realities of the present day were reaffirmed and sealed with the participation of the President of the world's leading country in August. A very large and imposing seal of our Victory was also affixed, and with it came the end of separatism and territorial claims against us, the open “cold war” of anti-Azerbaijani forces against us. The book of separatism has been closed, and the people of Azerbaijan have been living in peace for several months now.

Our people were left face to face with a huge disaster. I don't know if there are nations in the world that would have faced similar injustices or not. Maybe there are, but we were the ones faced with the biggest injustices in the history of recent years. Because our lands were occupied. Such situations do occur in the world. We were neither the first nor the last, but while all such situations exist, international organizations, major powers, and political circles of various countries condemn the fact of occupation, use various methods to coerce the occupier, or impose sanctions on it. We are seeing this. Recent history shows this. Although international organizations made the right decisions during the Armenia-Azerbaijan war and during the ceasefire after the war, they did not take a single step to have these decisions implemented. This is where the hypocrisy of these organizations and great powers is on full display, so to speak. The primary goal of the great powers was to make us come to terms with the occupation. The only country that was on our side was Türkiye. We are infinitely grateful to our Turkish brothers for that, as they always provided us with political and moral support both during the occupation and during the war.

Muslim countries always responded positively to our proposals within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and adopted the necessary decisions and resolutions. However, if taken as a whole, our war and the history of occupation of our lands are quite different from all other similar situations. Because, let me repeat, no sanctions were imposed against the occupier. Today, wars, clashes, and conflicts are taking place in different places around the world. What do either international organizations or large influential countries do immediately? They impose sanctions. Sanctions also have a huge impact, of course. In particular, if sanctions had been imposed on a small and almost poor country like Armenia, Armenia would have certainly ended the occupation. But not only were sanctions not imposed, on the contrary, some countries were giving Armenia free weapons – and not just a million dollars’ worth, but billions of dollars. The monetary value of the weapons we took over from Armenia as spoils and destroyed as a result of both the Second Karabakh War and the anti-terrorist operation is approximately 5–6 billion dollars. Some of their destroyed weaponry is exhibited in the Military Trophy Park in Baku, including the “Iskander M” ballistic missile, which Armenia should not have had at all because the export of the “Iskander M” missiles is prohibited. If it is possible to say so, “Iskander E” is the one open for exports, i.e., it is the export type. How could the “Iskander M” missile strike Shusha? This is a key question. In other words, they received free weapons and financial assistance. Money-raising marathons were held in America and France every year. Separatists and their leaders – those being tried in court in Baku today – were getting visas there. How could that be possible? How could separatists go to the Minsk Group co-chair countries? After all, there are other breakaway territories. Can someone give them a visa to America or France? Take a look at how many breakaway administrative territories there are today! There are separatist nests in the territory of Ukraine, in the territory of Moldova, in the territory of Georgia. Can America, France, or European countries give visas to their leaders? No. But why did they give them to Armenian separatists? So this is further evidence of what I have just said. They were holding telethons, raising hundreds of millions of dollars. They were also receiving money from secret sources, with the aim of keeping these lands under occupation permanently, oppressing the Azerbaijani people, and keeping these cities and villages under constant control. So these are the ones we went to war with. Notice the background of support Armenia was receiving, and yet we managed to secure Victory in the Second Karabakh War. So all of this, as they say, must be communicated properly and accurately in our educational institutions and public spaces. In other words, this must not be forgotten! We must never forget it.

It is true that there is a peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan now, and we were the ones who initiated this peace process. Everyone knows and should know that. We were the first to put forward the proposal, we are the authors of the peace treaty, and we are the authors of all the articles included in it. But how can we ever forget the occupation? How can we ever forget our martyrs? How can we ever forget the Khojaly victims and the deaths of other innocent people? We can never forget and should never forget that. Because this historical memory should always be in our hearts. The dear memory of our martyrs should always live in our hearts. We should never be misguided by sweet words. Let me say this again. I am not saying this for the first time. We must be vigilant. We must always be strong. That is why we have significantly strengthened our army in the last five years. And the whole world could see a part of this potential at the military parade last month. In order to achieve eternal peace, we must always be several times stronger than our potential enemies. We are doing and will continue to do it.

Life is already being restored in Aghdam district today. People live in three villages. I have participated in the ceremonies of re-commissioning these villages – Kangarli, Sarijali, and Khidirli. Several thousand people already live there now, and this relocation process continues. Today, people have already settled in the city of Aghdam, and 1,268 apartments in this residential neighborhood will accommodate the people of Aghdam. Construction work is underway in two more neighborhoods. There are 60 multi-storey buildings in this neighborhood alone. All conditions have been created, the necessary infrastructure has been built, and there are all the opportunities for a comfortable life here. Of course, it will take time to build the city of Aghdam exactly the way we want.

Everyone is well aware that large-scale construction work is underway not only in Aghdam but also in all other liberated territories. The Great Return Program is in full swing. In Aghdam district, several important infrastructure and cultural facilities have already been put into operation. Yesterday, I got acquainted with new enterprises in the Aghdam Industrial District. More than 30 residents have already been registered. Some of them have already started operating, and some will start operating in the near future. Aghdam will be a major industrial city of our country. It will probably be the fourth industrial center after Baku, Sumgayit, and Ganja.

Transport-related issues are being resolved here too. The first project was the Barda-Aghdam highway and the Barda-Aghdam railway. The railway station has been put into operation. Currently, we are engaged in the construction of the Aghdam-Khankendi railway, which was once built on the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Residents: May Allah rest his soul in peace.

President Ilham Aliyev: May Allah have mercy on your loved ones as well. We are also rebuilding this railway. The Aghdam Juma Mosque is our first restored historical and religious site. The Giyasli Mosque, which was completely destroyed and, like the Aghdam Juma Mosque, was used by the Armenian state to keep animals in an insult to all Muslims, has also been reopened. Irrigation work is about to be completed. The Khachinchay reservoir has been rebuilt. Another cultural site that is important for both Aghdam and our entire country is the Imaret complex. It has also been completely restored. A replica of the statue of Natavan destroyed by the Armenians has been installed. The school has been put into operation. There is a very beautiful and large school, a Mugham Center, and there are also two hotels. In other words, so much has been done that I may have forgotten some of it. But everything is in plain sight. All this was created in a matter of five years. Do you know what it shows? It is not only about the fact that we have adopted a program, and, of course, there is control. I personally monitor things myself when I travel to the liberated territories many times. It shows that all our people are doing this work with tremendous enthusiasm. If it were not for this factor, we would not have been able to do so much work in such a short period of time. For example, I attended the opening of the new building of Garabagh University in Khankendi yesterday. It is a new and beautiful building, which was constructed completely from scratch. I enquired about how the new educational process was going here, about students and teachers. Some of the teachers come here from abroad, and some from different parts of Azerbaijan. I enquired about people’s motivation and about what brings these people here. They tell me that it is Garabagh that attracts us.

Congratulations again! I wish you good health.

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The residents also addressed the gathering.

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Afterward, a ceremony was held to hand over the keys to the residents’ new homes.

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Following the ceremony, commemorative photos were taken.