President Aliyev sees Zangazur corridor as a reality

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has described as a reality the Zangazur corridor, which aims to connect the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the rest of Azerbaijan and expand transport integration in the South Caucasus.

He made the remarks in an online meeting with the president's newly-appointed special representative to Zangilan region, Vahid Hajiyev.

“The establishment in Zangilan of the second airport in the liberated lands after Fuzuli, of course, is based on the geographical situation, and it will be an important tool in addressing our economic, transport and security issues. As for the Zangazur corridor, it is already a reality. Both the railway and the highway passing through the territory of Zangilan district will not only connect the main part of Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic but will also be a new road for international cargo transportation, an international road. At the same time, for the convenience of former IDPs, we are rapidly building a four- and six-lane highway. The stage-by-stage commissioning of this road will begin next year,” he said.

The head of state added that Azerbaijan’s main part will be connected with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the Zangazur corridor.

“A completely new transport corridor will be opened. Considering that Azerbaijan has recently received a number of requests from the eastern part of the Caspian Sea, as well as the fact that both the number of those interested in sending cargo across the territory of Azerbaijan and the volume of cargo are growing, the Zangazur corridor will create additional opportunities for us and neighboring countries, of course,” he noted.

The president said that major infrastructure projects are currently being implemented in Zangilan region. He mentioned the transport infrastructure in the region, which is part of the Zangazur corridor.

He noted that Zangilan International Airport will be commissioned in 2022.

“I am sure that this airport will have extensive functionality. Because we envisage Zangilan as an international transport and logistical center in the future. The location of the district, its proximity to international markets and other factors will contribute to that,” he said.

The head of state recalled that during the occupation, Armenia’s leaders wanted to build a road from Armenia to Jabrayil, due to pass through Zangilan, but they failed. He stressed that Azerbaijan is building a four- and six-lane highway from Horadiz to Zangilan.

“At the same time, the existing road, the road leftover from the Soviet era, which we are using now, will be overhauled. In other words, the new road will follow a completely new and more convenient route, and the road infrastructure along the road will be more convenient in terms of distance. Of course, citizens will be able to travel along this road and international freight issues will be resolved,” Aliyev added.

He said that a multi-lane road is simultaneously being built from Zangilan to Gubadli and from Gubadli to Lachin. This road will provide a connection between regions of the East Zangazur economic zone.

“As for the railway, our station in this direction, which is currently the last link of the railway infrastructure, is Horadiz. The construction of the railway from Horadiz to Aghband is already underway, and I am confident that it will be fully operational next year. This will be a very convenient infrastructure for both citizens and international shippers,” he underlined.

Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan has attached great importance to the transport sector over about the past 10-15 years and that the country’s capabilities will further increase.

"Zangilan is a border region, very close to Iran, Armenia and Nakhchivan. As a result of the launch of the Zangazur corridor, at the same time, given the roads stretching from Zangilan district to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the produce cultivated in Zangilan will have great access to export markets, and we must make the most of that. Because the railway and the highway from Zangilan to Ordubad pass through the territory of Iran as well – a relevant memorandum was signed in March. At the same time, it must pass through the territory of Armenia, and I am sure it will. Therefore, the proximity to export markets, of course, creates additional opportunities for both exports and imports. In order to expand local production, of course, we need to export goods and apply the latest technologies," he said.

IDPs

The president said that Azerbaijan will restore all the liberated lands, and Zangilan is the first district to which the former IDPs will return in the near future. He noted that all factors – security, comfort, well-being, employment and future development - will be taken into account for their return.

He described employment as one of the important factors. The president said that new enterprises are to be established in Zangilan’s Aghali village in 2022 and that there will be jobs in agriculture, as well as in enterprises established by public and private companies.

Aliyev underlined that the country has very ambitious plans for agricultural development in liberated lands.

“Everyone can see and knows perfectly well that food security is coming to the fore. A lot has been done in this direction in recent years. However, we are still not able to fully provide ourselves with wheat and grains as a whole. I am confident that as a result of the additional measures, dependence on imports will be significantly reduced. The main issue here is both productivity and proper use of water, as well as the correct selection of arable land in the liberated lands and provision of agro-technical services there,” he said.

The president said that the liberated lands’ natural climate and geography facilitate engaging in large-scale livestock breeding, especially in Lachin, Kalbajar, Gubadli and Zangilan regions and that agriculture can be developed in Aghdam, Fuzuli, Khojavand, Jabrayil, as well as Zangilan and Gubadli regions.

He spoke about the first agropark currently being established in Zangilan.

“Last year, together with my brother, President of the Republic of Turkey, we laid the foundation of an agro-park called 'DOST Agropark'. I was recently updated about the agro-park. I am very delighted that everything is going according to plan. This will be the first and exemplary agro-park. I am sure that there will be a large number of agro-parks in liberated lands – just as industrial estates are being established in both Jabrayil and Aghdam districts,” he said.

The president stressed that the construction of liberated villages should be carried out in a planned manner, not spontaneously, but systematically and that every new village to be created and restored must have a master plan. He added that the master plans of cities, including the master plans of Zangilan and the villages, will be prepared.

He described the speedy return of former IDPs to the liberated lands as one of the major tasks. He noted last year and this year, AZN 2.2 billion were allocated for these purposes, making up a total of AZN 4.4 billion. The head of state said that additional funds must be allocated for the restoration of liberated lands. The government has been instructed on this issue.

“Probably in the near future, we will officially confirm this so that we can do more this year. Four months of the year have now passed and there is a lot to be done. Therefore, the first project on the return of former IDPs, as I said, will be implemented soon. It is necessary to start other projects,” he said.

Ecological terror

Speaking about Armenia’s ecological terror inflicted on the liberated lands, the president said that 50,000 to 60,000 hectares of land had been completely destroyed. He said that deliberate deforestation was underway, especially in Kalbajar, Lachin, Zangilan and Gubadli regions.

The president spoke about Armenians’ acts of vandalism in Zangilan’s Basitchay Nature Reserve, Kalbajar and Lachin regions immediately after the war. He noted that Azerbaijan started restoring the reserve.

“When I first visited Zangilan after the historic Victory, I planted trees there. This instruction has been issued, of course, and we will restore the Basitchay Nature Reserve. Of course, it will take a long time,” he added.

Aliyev recalled that Armenia exploited gold and other precious metal deposits in Zangilan and other regions and that the Vejnali gold deposit area turned into an ecological disaster zone.

The president said that Azerbaijan started all legal procedures and that not a single crime will go unanswered.

“First, we are calculating all the damage, the process of passportization of all our cities and villages is underway. Video and photos of each building or the ruins of that building are being taken. This is proof, and we intend to appeal to international courts. Preparations are underway. Also, the illegal exploitation of the Vejnali gold deposit by foreigners, including foreigners of Armenian origin, will cost them dearly. We know the names of those people. We will expose them to the world and they will compensate us. They will definitely pay compensation for the damage,” he stated.

He also described the Okhchuchay River passing through Zangilan as a zone of natural disaster. He regretted that a foreign company was also the author of this environmental terror together with the Armenians.

“So all effluents from the copper plant operating in Armenia were discharged into the Okhchuchay without prior treatment. This is a crime, this is environmental terror. Who did this? The former Armenian leadership! Because the shareholders of that copper plant are close to the former Armenian leadership, are close and related to the former leadership. We know that the development of this copper plant was based on corruption schemes. Unfortunately, a foreign company, which is the subject of international audit, also participated in these acts of corruption,” he said.

The president said if an internationally audited company commits such ugly acts, then it should be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies of the country the company is located in.

“We have mentioned that company several times, and I can name it again today – Cronimet. Why is there no reaction so far? Why don't German law enforcement agencies investigate the company's actions? After all, we have made an official appeal. We also appealed to this company, to “Cronimet”: come and clean up the consequences of this environmental terror. No reply. There is no response from law enforcement agencies. After all, we know how much attention is being paid to the environment in Europe. We know that warming by a halfdegree is now considered a major problem for the whole world, for Europe. The problem of climate change is very much on the global agenda now,” he said.