27 September 2020… This day can be considered a new starting point in Azerbaijan’s recent history since September 20, 1994 (the Contract of the Century - the agreement on the joint exploration, development and production sharing for the Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli fields - signed under the leadership of Azerbaijan’s National Leader Heydar Aliyev). The 44-day Patriotic War began precisely a year ago from now, which allowed Azerbaijan to restore its territorial integrity, as well as to bring peace and tranquility back to the region.
Over almost a 30-year period of occupation of Karabakh, Armenia has destroyed practically everything in these territories, especially where Armenians have never lived. Therefore, the restoration of the liberated territories has begun since January 2021 after the occupiers had been expulsed. There is a huge range of work which has to be carried out in this direction. According to preliminary estimates, the rehabilitation of Karabakh and East Zangezur is valued at $60 billion!
Moreover, it is important to bear in mind that Azerbaijan, on the whole, will have to count on itself in financing the restoration of the freed territories. There will certainly be foreign and private investments attracted to projects in these territories, but the bulk of expenditures in the early stage, especially those meant for infrastructure projects, will be defrayed by the state.
In the state budget for 2021, the Azerbaijani authorities have provided funds in the amount of 2.2 billion AZN or $1.3 billion to finance the restoration work in the liberated territories. About $400 million of this sum has not been distributed yet, as relevant tender and other procedures are underway. But looking at the list of operations which are already running in the liberated territories, one can imagine their scale. Moreover, let’s not forget that this work was carried out in a very short period of time (only 9 months) and in difficult conditions. The entire territory was mined by the Armenians, which complicates the restoration work. Nevertheless, the work in Karabakh and East Zangazur is in full swing and will gain momentum. Thus, through the work it is carrying out, Azerbaijan is restoring the infrastructure and laying the foundation for the return of internally displaced persons, and in the meantime, it is expressing its readiness for the negotiations with Armenia with the aim to restore the geopolitical balance, economic and investment stability in the region, as was said by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. «Karabakh is Azerbaijan» and the true owners of this land now have to spend money and time to clear this territory from the consequences of almost a 30-year presence of uninvited guests whom we sheltered against our will 200 years ago.
