“...We live in our own land, the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast is the territory, land of Azerbaijan, the land. Now we are with you in this land - a land liberated from occupiers. Azerbaijani citizens will live here and the flag of Azerbaijan waves.” The President Ilham Aliyev said these at the opening the new residential complex built for 1170 internally displaced families in Shikharkh settlement of Tartar region a year and half ago.
There is the monument “Maragha-150” built by Armenians in 1978, one of the historical sources proving the relocation of Armenians to Karabakh region of Azerbaijan herein. 150 years prior to that date, they moved from Iran, Maragha to Karabakh. Later, when the next territorial claims were initiated, Armenians deliberately destroyed the monument. However, this territory was liberated from the occupation and restoration work was carried out around the monument, which has important historical and political significance.
The State Committee for Refugees and IDPs held a solemn Novruz celebration in Shikharkh – the settlement which once was the administrative territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with the support of the International Mugham Center, the executive powers of Tartar and Aghdam regions. The event began with the official guests and public representatives visiting “Maraga-150” monument.
The chairman of the State Committee met with IDPs temporarily settled in the settlement and listened to their appeals. All appeals were registered. Then they visited the apartment of the resident of Aghdam region, Giyasli village Pakiza Mammadova, who lives in the settlement and cared about problems of the family on the spot. It was stated that the application for employment of P.Mammadova`s son Jahid Mammadov will be considered and appropriate measure will be taken.
The chairman of the State Committee then attended the wedding of Jeyhun Jalilov, an IDP from Hochaz village of Lachin region, and blessed the newly-wed couple.
Later, the celebration began with the pariticipation of official guests and public representatives. The State Committee administration, Director of Social Development Fund of IDPs, MP Mahir Abbaszada, MP Ganira Pashayeva, head of Tartar Region Executive Power Mustagim Mammadov and others attended the event. Novruz customs and traditions were demonstrated in the area specifically allocated in the settlement. Cultural workers of Tartar and Aghdam made speeches, Dada Gorgud gave lots of advice, festive prayers, congratulations, and Kosa and Kechal entertained people with their funny jokes.
The event participants were offered Novruz dishes and sweets of Karabakh cuisine - pilaf, samani halva, shakarbura, baklava, govurgha, etc.
Holiday bonfires were made in the liberated land.
The celebration ended with a concert of mugham masters came from Baku.
