President Ilham Aliyev has visited the city of Aghdam

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Official news 10 MAY, 2025

Ilham Aliyev attended opening of Aghdam Railway and Bus Station Complex

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the Aghdam Railway and Bus Terminal Complex.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev and Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Rovshan Rustamov briefed the head of state on the “Barda–Aghdam Railway Line” project, including the construction of the Barda–Aghdam–Khankendi railway and the Khankendi Railway and Bus Terminal Complex.

The foundation stone for the Aghdam Railway and Bus Terminal Complex—a strategic infrastructure project aimed at supporting Aghdam’s development as a modern city—was laid on October 4, 2022, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

The railway station is designed to handle between 800 and 1,000 passengers daily, while the bus terminal is expected to serve 1,300 to 1,500 passengers per day. The facility will function as an integrated transportation hub.

Situated on approximately 8 hectares, the complex includes all necessary amenities such as waiting halls, ticket offices, a library, shops, entertainment zones, a restaurant, and relaxation areas. Convenient access has been ensured to both the train platforms and designated bus stops.

Additional infrastructure includes service buildings for various types of vehicles, a passenger platform, above-ground parking lots for small to large-capacity vehicles, platforms for intercity and intra-district bus routes, bicycle stands, a park, and electric charging stations for electric vehicles.

Following the inauguration, the first symbolic passenger train departed along the Barda–Aghdam railway line.

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Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of first phase of Kangarli village in Aghdam district

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the first phase of Kangarli village in Aghdam district on May 10.

Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, briefed the head of state on the developments implemented in the area.

As in other liberated territories, large-scale construction work is underway in the Aghdam district. One of the key development projects is the village of Kangarli. Located six kilometers from the city center, the foundation of the village was laid by President Ilham Aliyev on October 4, 2022.

Kangarli village is designed to accommodate 2,544 residents across a total area of more than 177 hectares. A total of 632 individual houses are planned to be built in two phases. The village has been equipped with all necessary conditions to support employment and includes economic, educational, social, cultural, and public facilities. Internal roads, electricity, communication and water lines have been laid, and a gas supply has been provided.

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Ilham Aliyev inspected multifunctional administrative building constructed for local executive bodies in Aghdam’s Kangarli village

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the multifunctional administrative building constructed for local executive bodies in Kangarli village, Aghdam district.

The facility is designed to provide public services to residents from a single location. It includes a conference hall for hosting various events, as well as offices equipped to ensure the efficient operation of staff.

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Ilham Aliyev examined conditions at club-community center in Aghdam’s Kangarli village

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev reviewed the conditions at the club-community center in Kangarli village, Aghdam district.

The two-story facility features designated rooms for dance and other hobby groups. Its hall is fully equipped to host events celebrating special occasions, as well as gatherings and meetings for young people.

***

Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Kangarli village secondary school in Aghdam

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Kangarli village secondary school in Aghdam district.

Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev briefed the President on the facilities at the school.

The 484-seat school, featuring 30 classrooms, is fully equipped to organize the educational process at a modern standard. The classrooms are furnished with essential teaching materials. The school also includes biology, chemistry, and physics laboratories, a computer science room, pre-conscription military preparation classrooms, a library, an assembly hall, a sports hall, and a canteen.

A sports field has been constructed within the school grounds, accessible not only to students but also to villagers during after-school hours. Play and recreation areas, along with landscaped greenery, further enhance the environment.

To provide electricity, solar panels have been installed on the roofs of several non-residential buildings, including the school.

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Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a nursery-kindergarten in the village of Kangarli.

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a nursery-kindergarten in the village of Kangarli.

The President was informed that the facility, built to modern standards, can accommodate 120 children and provides a healthy, nurturing environment for their development. All rooms are fully equipped, and the kindergarten will operate six groups.

The kindergarten also features a playground with various attractions and sports equipment, all set within a beautifully landscaped area.

***

Ilham Aliyev examined newly built individual houses in Aghdam’s Kangarli village

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the newly built individual houses in Kangarli village, Aghdam district.

The first phase of resettlement will see 1,279 people move to Kangarli. A total of 292 houses, ranging from two to five rooms, have already been completed.

The first phase of the village’s development spans 72.5 hectares of land, accounting for future population growth.

***

Ilham Aliyev met with residents who moved to Kangarli village in Aghdam and presented them with keys to their new homes

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the residents who moved to Kangarli village in Aghdam district and presented them with the keys to their new homes.

Greeting the villagers, President Ilham Aliyev said: Welcome to Kangarli!

Residents: Thank you. You are the hero of the day. You are welcome too!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. I congratulate you. Life is returning to Kangarli, the natives of Kangarli are already returning here. It is a great happiness and a historic event. Living in the land of our ancestors after a long break is a huge happiness, of course. I congratulate you on this occasion.

Residents: Thank you very much, we are grateful to you.

President Ilham Aliyev: You lived in difficult conditions for many years - in dilapidated houses, dormitories, kindergartens, and for a certain period in tent camps in various parts of our country. Today, in this beautiful village, we are seeing a renewed Azerbaijan, we are seeing a restored Karabakh. We are demonstrating that we have always been the owners of these lands, and it is the case today. Only the owner of this land can build and create here. The contemptible enemy devastated this entire region. Not a single building remained intact in Aghdam district. The entire city and all surrounding villages were completely razed to the ground. Not only in Aghdam, but almost in all the territories occupied at the time, the Armenian state was pursuing a consistent policy so that Azerbaijanis could never return to this region. They wanted to keep these lands under occupation forever. Some countries that provided them with moral and material support also stood in solidarity with them. But they had forgotten one thing: the Azerbaijani people will never come to terms with the occupation, the people of Azerbaijan will never give up on their native lands, the Azerbaijani state will rise up, gather strength, and expel the enemy from its land. They failed to calculate this.

Those painful years are now in the past. You are now returning to your native land, where wonderful conditions have been created for you. The village of Kangarli is beautiful. This is the first stage of the restoration and reconstruction of the village. A total of 292 houses are ready and will be made available to you. More houses will be built in the second stage. All conditions are available here. There are beautiful houses, there is electricity, gas, water, sewage, a school, a kindergarten, a market, a medical center, and even a market complex – everything is available. Land will be allocated for planting. Demining work has already been completed on some lands. I have given instructions so that residents can also be given plots of land. Land parcels are 12 acres. It is possible to plant and cultivate there too. In other words, life is returning, and justice has prevailed. This is a celebration of justice. We are witnessing that.

The city of Aghdam is also coming back to life. This morning I inaugurated the Aghdam railway station complex. After this event, the Aghdam Mugham Center will also be opened. The fact that we have built the Mugham Center as one of our first projects in Aghdam is evidence of our attachment to our spiritual roots. In other words, it was our music, language, and unyielding spirit that kept us together as a nation, as a people.

The displaced people lived in the most difficult conditions. You know that I had numerous meetings with the displaced people during the occupation, including those in tent cities. I had promised to them that not a single tent city would remain standing during my first presidential term, and in 2007 there was not a single one left. We also met in the newly built settlements, at the inauguration of those settlements. We provided nearly 300,000 displaced people with beautiful homes. During those meetings, I was saying that this is your temporary residence, and that after the lands are liberated, we will create even better conditions for you in Karabakh.

Resident: Thank you very much for this day.

President Ilham Aliyev: Today's ceremony is, as they say, the seal of those words. I know that neither you nor we, the entire Azerbaijani people, had any doubts that we would return to our lands. But we have returned magnificently. We defeated the enemy in a matter of 44 days. And then, within 23 hours, perhaps even faster, we completely eradicated the separatists. You, representatives of the older generation, remember the Soviet era. Back then, the Armenians who lived next to you, those who were resettled to our lands by Tsarist Russia, had a negative attitude towards us, our people, especially the Azerbaijanis who lived in the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Both Khojaly and Shusha – they were under tremendous moral pressure.

Today, Azerbaijani citizens are the owners of every inch of land here. They live and will live everywhere. The rapid restoration work shows that all former displaced persons will soon return to their lands.

The village of Kangarli is the 14th settlement we have restored. It is second in Aghdam district. First Sarijali and now Kangarli. The village of Khidirli is almost ready for opening. In the coming months, life will be bustling there too. So you will not be bored here. Together with your relatives, friends, and acquaintances, you will rebuild this region, Karabakh. We will all build it together.

I congratulate you and wish you good health. Live happily here.

Residents: Thank you very much.

x x x

Then, a ceremony for the presentation of the keys took place.

x x x

Commemorative photos were taken.

***

Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended opening of Aghdam Mugham Center

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the Aghdam Mugham Center.

Minister of Culture Adil Karimli briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the facilities at the center.

The foundation of the Aghdam Mugham Center was laid in May 2023 by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

The center features a café, a cinema hall, a library, and two dance studios. Its 474-seat concert hall is fully equipped to host various cultural events, including mugham performances. Additional facilities include 15 classrooms, an exhibition hall, a conference room, and other amenities.

An open-air amphitheater with a seating capacity of 615 has also been built on the center’s premises.

The Mugham Center is expected to play a key role in reviving the cultural heritage of the Karabakh region as it was before the occupation - promoting the ancient art of mugham, fostering its teaching and appreciation, and inspiring a love for this unique musical tradition among younger generations.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, has made significant contributions to the development and global recognition of mugham. Thanks to the Foundation’s initiatives, numerous national and international projects have been implemented in this field. As a result, Azerbaijani mugham has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

President Ilham Aliyev then addressed the event.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear friends, dear residents of Aghdam. It is a great day in the history of our country today. The opening of the Mugham Center in the revitalized city of Aghdam is a historic event. I sincerely congratulate you and the Azerbaijani people on this occasion.

The fact that this wonderful event is held on May 10 carries a lot of symbolism, of course. It is the birthday of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. For me - and indeed for every patriotic citizen - holding such an event on a day so dear to my heart carries deep significance. The entire life and work of the National Leader were devoted to the Azerbaijani people and state, and today’s Azerbaijan stands as a testament to his legacy. It was after he assumed leadership in 1993 that the country truly embarked on a path of development.

The situation was very difficult. People who lived through those days remember it perfectly well. The country was in an almost uncontrollable state. Arbitrariness, chaos and anarchy were raging across the country. The economy was in a paralyzed state, our lands were under occupation and the occupation was ongoing. Armenia was pursuing an aggressive policy against Azerbaijan with foreign support. The regular army was almost non-existent. In a time of internal strife and unrest across various regions of the country, the National Leader’s rise to power - at the request of the people - paved the way for national salvation, setting Azerbaijan on a lasting path of development.

Much has happened over the past thirty-two years. Yet despite all the challenges and hardships, we have remained steadfast on our path of development. At that time, halting the war was the only way to save our newly independent state. It was a difficult decision - most of our lands were under occupation, and more than a million people had been displaced. However, had the war continued, we could have faced an even greater tragedy.

It was a wise, though difficult, decision—one that gave Azerbaijan the opportunity to embark on a path of development. It enabled the restoration of stability, the establishment of a regular army, and the creation of initial conditions for economic growth. In hindsight, we can clearly see how many deliberate and well-considered steps were taken - steps that have shaped the realities of present-day Azerbaijan.

Of course, life does not stand still. Much has changed over the past 22 years—both in the world and in our country. However, the strategic course set by the National Leader remained unchanged, and we have not strayed from it.

It is a tremendous joy to address you today from a liberated Karabakh. Today, Karabakh is being revived and rebuilt. The construction work carried out over the past four and a half years since the Second Karabakh War is clearly visible - especially here in the city of Aghdam. Extensive reconstruction and restoration efforts are underway across all our liberated lands. During the occupation, the Armenian state pursued a systematic policy of reducing our cities and villages to ruins. Foreign visitors to this and other liberated regions are often shocked - and in many cases outraged - by what they see. When they learn that this destruction occurred not during the war, but during the ceasefire period, the true face of Armenian fascism becomes unmistakably clear.

We were subjected to genocide, urbanicide, and ecocide. Armenian fascism sought to keep this region under permanent occupation—and, regrettably, certain foreign states stood in solidarity with them. Though not always openly, messages conveyed through back channels assured them that Azerbaijan would never dare to launch a war of liberation: “We are behind you. We will support you. We will provide weapons. We will offer moral backing. We are your moral support.” All of these factors emboldened Armenia in its policy of occupation. However, they overlooked one crucial element: the determination of the Azerbaijani people - their national pride, unbreakable spirit, and deep-rooted connection to this land.

During the occupation, for 30 years, we brought this sacred day of liberation closer every day. Every one of us, each in their own place of work united around a single cause and worked tirelessly for this liberation, for the war of liberation. When the whole society rallies around for a cause, that society is capable of doing great things. No force can stand against such a people. This is precisely what makes our nation great. We understood clearly which forces supported Armenia, which ones stood behind them, and which we could - and did - confront. But this did not deter us. We were already living by the motto, “We would rather die than retreat,” and the 44-day Patriotic War stands as a testament to our professionalism, heroism, and unwavering national spirit. It showed the whole world how great the Azerbaijani people are. It showed that the Azerbaijani people are ready to sacrifice their lives to achieve absolute and complete victory. Many factors contributed to our victory. Over the past four and a half years, we have repeatedly talked about this and shared our views.

All of this has already been clearly embraced by our society: political will, economic strength, an independent policy, a strong army, patriotism, and a young generation - one raised in the national spirit. The majority of those who fought in the war, many of whom had never seen these lands before, were born during the occupation. The deep historical bonds that drew them to their homeland - along with many other factors - laid the foundation for our victory. And we achieved an absolute and complete victory.

Neither in the decades before us, nor in the four and a half years since the war, has anyone else won such an absolute and complete Victory, and it seems that they will not. I am not saying this for the sake of comparison. After all, everything in the world is measured by comparison. We were moving forward every single day for 44 days. We suffered losses every day; we had martyrs. May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs! Every day we achieved new successes; every day we liberated more villages. This boosted our spirit and gave us further strength. Our people were fully united. This gave me extra moral spirit as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. This is the Victory for all of us. The Azerbaijani people demonstrated their historic greatness to the whole world by achieving the Victory. It is no coincidence that, despite the hostility shown toward Azerbaijan by certain circles, forces, and countries, they recognize that we are a worthy nation - deserving of respect and impossible to ignore, at least within our region. Those who fail to reckon with us today will regret it tomorrow.

On my way here, I remembered the opening of the Mugham Center in the Guzanli settlement seven years ago. Since the city of Aghdam and a large part of the district were under occupation at the time, we had designated Guzanli settlement as the administrative center of Aghdam district. With my participation, the foundation of the Mugham Center was laid there and it was opened in November 2018. I said during a meeting with art figures back then there that we demand justice. I said that if Armenia does not vacate our lands of its own free will, we are ready for any option. The Armenian leadership ignored this. The circles that supported them gave them poor advice. There was a wrong impression about the Azerbaijani people. Now they regret it. Two years later, the Patriotic War began, and in a matter of 44 days we won a historic Victory. Armenia was forced to sign the act of capitulation, and the main part of Karabakh, a large part of it, was liberated from occupation.

However, we were fully aware that despite this historic victory, the country’s sovereignty had not yet been fully restored. For understandable reasons, we did not yet control the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in the Lachin direction. From November 10, 2020, to September 20, 2023, we worked tirelessly - through political, diplomatic, military, and other means - bringing that day ever closer with each passing hour. Finally, on September 20, 2023, Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty was fully restored, and the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” which had operated illegally for 30 years, was consigned to the dustbin of history.

Today, we live freely in a free Karabakh. Aghdam, along with all our other cities, is undergoing extensive restoration. This morning, we marked the opening of the Aghdam railway station. There are now excellent transport links connecting Aghdam with Baku, Ganja, and other regions. At the same time, work has begun on restoring the Aghdam–Khankendi railway line, and a new station complex is expected to be built in the city of Khankendi within the next year and a half - two years at most.

As you may know, Garabagh University is already operating in Khankendi, and more than 8,000 people now live in the city. At the same time, the road from the new station complex in Khankendi to Shusha is being upgraded and shortened. Our goal is to make it possible to travel from Khankendi to Shusha in no more than 10 minutes. We are expanding and realigning the road to achieve this.

I would also like to share a new idea with the public for the first time: we are working on a cable car project that will connect Shusha and Khankendi. Additionally, construction of a cable car in the city of Lachin is expected to begin later this year, and a similar project is planned for Kalbajar. These developments will provide excellent transportation options for both tourists and local residents.

The Aghdam–Barda highway - used by those traveling from Baku - is a magnificent road, far better than anything that existed during Soviet times. Major infrastructure projects like the Aghdam–Khankendi–Shusha Road and railway are underway, along with the restoration of historical monuments. Notably, the first building to be restored was the Aghdam Juma Mosque.

Restoration work is now underway at the Giyasli Mosque. Residential complexes and two hotels are under construction. The Imarat Complex has been restored. The Khachinchay Reservoir is starting to operate to provide arable land with irrigation water. Many other projects are in progress. These relate only to Aghdam district.

If we take into account the scale of all the work done, to be honest, I do not know any country where construction and development projects of such proportions are progressing. In other words, this is another achievement accomplished through the hard work of our people. We are doing all this at our own expense. We plan all the work ourselves. Everyone is working with great enthusiasm and pride. We are building beautiful cultural centers, and today, our renowned performers - who will take the stage after me - will showcase their talents. I hope this magnificent hall will regularly host outstanding mugham festivals, including mugham competitions. I am confident that it will.

I congratulate all of you from the bottom of my heart, both on the opening of this magnificent Mugham Center and on all our successes, all our current and future achievements. We are a victorious people; a victorious nation. We live on our own land. We have proven once again that we are the owners of these lands, because we are not destroyers but builders, and from now on we will live on these lands forever.

Long live Aghdam! Long live Azerbaijan!

x x x

After the address, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended a concert program celebrating the occasion.

x x x

On May 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the residents who moved to Kangarli village in Aghdam district and presented them with the keys to their new homes.

Greeting the villagers, President Ilham Aliyev said: Welcome to Kangarli!

Residents: Thank you. You are the hero of the day. You are welcome too!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you, and congratulations. Life is returning to Kangarli, and its native residents are already coming back. This is a great joy and a truly historic moment. To live once again on the land of our ancestors after such a long absence is a profound happiness. I sincerely congratulate you on this occasion.

Residents: Thank you very much, we are grateful to you.

They intended to keep these lands under permanent occupation. Some countries that offered them both moral and material support stood in solidarity with them. But they overlooked one crucial truth: the Azerbaijani people would never accept occupation. The people of Azerbaijan would never abandon their ancestral lands. The Azerbaijani state would rise, grow stronger, and ultimately drive the enemy from our soil. That is what they failed to foresee.

Those painful years are now in the past. You are now returning to your native land, where wonderful conditions have been created for you. The village of Kangarli is beautiful. This is the first stage of the restoration and reconstruction of the village. A total of 292 houses are ready and will be made available to you. More houses will be built in the second stage. All conditions are available here. There are beautiful houses, there is electricity, gas, water, sewage, a school, a kindergarten, a medical center, and a market complex – everything is here. Land will be allocated for cultivation. Demining work has already been completed on some lands. I have given instructions so that residents can also be given plots of land - parcels of 12 acres each. It is possible to plant and cultivate here once again. In other words, life is returning, and justice has been restored. This is a celebration of justice, and we are witnessing it today.

The city of Aghdam is also coming back to life. This morning, I inaugurated the Aghdam railway station complex. Later, following this event, the Aghdam Mugham Center will also be inaugurated. The fact that we have built the Mugham Center as one of our first projects in Aghdam is evidence of our attachment to our spiritual roots. In other words, it was our music, language, and unyielding spirit that kept us together as a nation, as a people.

The displaced people lived in the most difficult conditions. You may recall that I had numerous meetings with the displaced people during the occupation, including those in tent cities. I had promised to them that not a single tent city would remain during my first presidential term, and in 2007 there was not a single one left. We also met in the newly built settlements, at the inauguration of those settlements. We provided nearly 300,000 displaced people with beautiful homes. During those meetings, I was saying that this is was their temporary residence, and that after the lands are liberated, we will create even better conditions for you in Karabakh.

Resident: Thank you very much for this day.

President Ilham Aliyev: Today's ceremony is the culmination of those words. I know that neither you nor we, indeed, the entire Azerbaijani people, ever had any doubt that we would return to our lands. But we have returned with great pride and strength. We defeated the enemy in just 44 days. Then, within 23 hours - perhaps even faster - we completely eradicated the separatists.

You, the representatives of the older generation, remember the Soviet era. Back then, the Armenians who lived next to you - those who were resettled to our lands by Tsarist Russia - held a negative attitude towards us, our people, especially the Azerbaijanis who lived in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. Both Khojaly and Shusha were subjected to immense moral pressure during that time.

The village of Kangarli is the 14th settlement we have restored—and the second in the Aghdam district. First came Sarijali, and now Kangarli. The village of Khidirli is also nearly ready for opening, and in the coming months, life will begin to flourish there as well. So, you won’t be bored here. Together with your families and friends, you will help rebuild this region—Karabakh. We will build it together, all of us.

I congratulate you and wish you good health. Live happily here.

Residents: Thank you very much.

x x x

Then, a ceremony for the presentation of the keys took place.