EU offers support to further reconstruction in Nagorno-Karabakh
By Ayya Lmahamad
The European Union (EU) has voiced its support for further reconstruction and construction work in Nagorno-Karabakh region, expert of the EU Commission for Humanitarian Aid Operations and European Civil Protection Nicholas Howarth said.
Howarth made the remarks during an online meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDP) Fuad Huseynov.
“The purpose of the mission is to discuss humanitarian cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan, and to define the form of EU assistance to support future reconstruction and construction work in the Nagorno-Karabakh region,” Howarth said.
Moreover, he added that the mission will examine the needs of IDPs and civilians affected by the war and determine how the EU will support these families.
During the meeting, Huseynov briefed the participants about the counteroffensive operation carried out by the Azerbaijani Army from September 27 to November 10 to prevent Armenia's military provocation. He added that as a result of the operation, Azerbaijan had restored its territorial integrity.
Furthermore, it was noted that during the hostilities civilians, including IDPs, were killed and injured, as a result of artillery and missile attack by the Armenian armed forces on Azerbaijani settlements far from the conflict zone. In addition, he underlined that more than 300 temporary settlements, including those designed to improve the living conditions of IDPs, were partially or completely destroyed. He emphasized that IDPs who settled in Aghdam, Tartar, Goranboy, Fuzuli, Barda and Jabrayil regions, which were constantly subjected to shelling, were evacuated to other regions. He noted that these families are in need of food, non-food items, medical care and other supplies.
It was also stressed that the occupied territories had been completely destroyed for about 30 years and had become uninhabitable.
He noted that the Armenians who have to leave the Kalbajar region under the statement signed by the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders on November 10, set fire to houses, schools, forests and fell trees. Huseynov said that when the Azerbaijanis left their native land 30 years ago, they could not take anything.
Additionally, he emphasized that Azerbaijan will attract experts to assess the damage inflicted on ts occupied territories for almost 30 years, and take all necessary measures to return the IDPs to their homeland.
It should be noted that the Head of the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas also attended the online meeting.
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Ayya Lmahamad is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @AyyaLmahamad
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