On 23 July, the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs held a commemoration event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Aghdam`s occupation by Armenian armed forces. First, the martyrs who sacrificed lifes for the freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan were commemorated with a minute of silence. The Chairman of the State Committee Rovshan Rzayev spoke about the history of Aghdam, one of the most strategic administrative areas of Karabakh region, its past position in the economic and cultural life of our republic, successes of Aghdam people in different spheres and their struggle for the protection of our lands. It was noted that nearly 6 thousand Azerbaijanis were killed during the battles against Armenian armed forces. The region has 16 National Heroes. Aggressors destroyed Aghdam city and 82 settlements, historical and cultural monuments in those areas, and plundered surface and underground resources. 143 thousand Aghdam people were displaced from their homeland at that time. Currently, nearly 90 thousand people of total population of 198.600 live in that region, and 101.000 IDPs have temporarily been settled in 62 cities and regions of the republic. The UN Security Council adopted the resolution No. 853 condemning the occupation of Aghdam and requiring immediate withdrawal of the occupying army from the occupied territories. Unfortunately, like other resolutions, it still remains unfulfilled and Armenia`s policy of occupation continues in the region. The Chairman of the State Committee added that the 70-80s of the last century passed into the history of Aghdam as a period of development and progress as a result of the attention and care of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. Today renovation and reconstruction works are being carried out in the region based on the orders and instructions of the President Ilham Aliyev. According to the relevant decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 26380 people consisting of 6937 IDP families live in houses in 18 settlements built in the region in 2003-2014. The First Vice President Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva always keeps the solution of the problems of IDPs and the implementation of projects in this regard in the center of attention. In other speeches, the unity of our people, strength and power of our independent state were underlined, and deep confidence was expressed that Karabakh region, including Aghdam will soon be liberated from the occupation thanks to the determined position of the President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. The heads of the organizations of “Karabakh War Disabled, Veterans and Families of Martyrs” public union in the occupied regions, intelligentsia from Aghdam region and former warriors attended the event. At the end, a film dedicated to Aghdam region was shown.