Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Representatives of diplomatic missions of foreign countries and heads of international organizations accredited in Azerbaijan visited the liberated Jojug Marjanli village in the country's Jabrayil region on February 15.

The village was fully liberated from the Armenian occupation in April 2016, when Azerbaijani Armed Forces prevented an Armenian provocation on the contact line. To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani army launched counter attacks and as a result, the Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Leletepe hill located in the direction of Fizuli region.

The State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs informed that the delegation got acquainted with the ongoing reconstruction work in Jojug Marjanli. Besides, the diplomats visited the Hajiyevs, the only family living in the village.

Deputy Prime Minister, Committee Chairman Ali Hasanov briefed the delegation members about the atrocities committed by Armenians while the Jojug Marjanli was under the occupation, as well as about the reconstruction work, which is carried out in the village in compliance with the presidential decree.

In late January, President Ilham Aliyev ordered to restore Jojug Marjanli. Under the order, 4 million manats were allocated for the construction of 50 private houses, a school building and relevant infrastructure at the first stage.

Moreover, President Aliyev signed an order on additional measures to construct the road leading to the liberated Jojug Marjanli village and allocated 4.3 million manats from the state budget for the construction of 9 km long highway in the village.

Ali Hasanov further added that a new residential settlement consisting of 150 houses will be built in the Jojug Marjanli village, along with educational, medical and cultural centers.

“In Azerbaijan, people are already returning to the liberated villages, while the Armenians are leaving Karabakh in large numbers,” Ali Hasanov said.

Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan are under the control of the Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Negotiations lasting for about 30 years have brought little progress in resolving the conflict, though a fragile truce has been in place.

Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin, who was among the visitors, said that the visit to Jojug Marjanli was a very enlightening experience

“We came here with a professional goal to obtain information about what is happening here and we, of course, reached this goal,” he said.

“We saw with our own eyes how hard and complex this conflict is. It's one thing when you read, listen about it, and another thing – when you see yourself, talk to people.”

The diplomat added that Russia has been engaged in a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and should continue its efforts.

Russia along with the U.S. and France is a co-chairing country at the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh problem. However, the Minsk Group could not gain significant progress in finding solution to the problem for more than twenty years.

“I was very impressed by what I saw in Jojug Marjanli. This visit is of great importance,” French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurélia Bouchez told reporters.

The Ambassador stressed that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be found. ‘France as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group supports peaceful solution of the problem,” Azertac quoted the envoy as saying.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Maya Khristova, in turn, said that the organization of the visit to the liberated Jojug Marjanli was a good idea.

She added that the ambassadors were impressed with the spirit of that place. “The family that never left this place for so much time shows the love of the Azerbaijani people to their land. This is the spirit of patriotism that we felt,” she told local media.

The ambassador wished all the best to Azerbaijan and expressed hope to see more people and houses in the village in future.

Ali Hasanov said that all the ambassadors invited by the Committee joined the visit to Jojug Marjanli, and only 5-6 ambassadors could not come.

“Some of them are absent for legitimate reasons. The U.S. Ambassador and the Head of Baku office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) did not come. I'm sorry that they are not here,” Hasanov said, noting that the aim of the visit was to show the real face of the conflict.

Hasanov mentioned that the Azerbaijani sides wants the foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations – the Council of Europe, EU and OSCE – see firsthand what atrocities the Armenians committed in the settlement during the occupation.

“It's one thing to have it on paper, and another – to see with your own eyes,” he said.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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