President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his address to the nation on Friday announced the transfer of the Agdam district under the control of Baku.
"I heartily congratulate all Agdam residents. Dear citizens of Agdam, you are no longer refugees," Aliyev said in an address that is aired by local TV channels.
According to the President, the Agdam district was the most populated district among the territories affected by the Karabakh conflict - previously 143 thousand people lived there. "Now a new period is beginning for Agdam. We have big plans", Aliyev added, emphasizing that the city of Agdam would be restored.
"General plan will be prepared, specialists will be involved, infrastructure projects will be implemented as planned, administrative buildings, social facilities, roads will be built and other necessary works will be done. The state will provide assistance to citizens to return there," Aliyev said.
According to Aliyev, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is left behind.
"The Armenian-Azerbaijani Karabakh conflict is already behind us, and this is also noted by international experts," Aliyev said and added that Baku "managed to achieve its goals" both on the battlefield and in the political arena.
According to him, first of all, demining works will start in the Agdam district that has passed under Baku's control. "It takes a lot of time," Aliyev added and emphasized that upon completion of these works implementation of infrastructure projects would begin.
The Agdam district is administratively part of Azerbaijan. In July 1993, most of the district's territory passed under the control of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and was later included in its Askeran district.
The Leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on November 10 on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh that began at the end of September. According to the agreement, Armenia and Azerbaijan stop at their occupied positions, then a number of districts, including Agdam, are placed under Baku's control.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS