Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration ceremony of a newly built residential complex in Sugovushan village in the Aghdara district

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration ceremony of a residential complex built in the village of Sugovushan, Aghdara district on March 18 and presented the keys to villagers who moved into the new apartments.

The head of state and the First Lady were informed about the completed project. A total of 180 families (591 people) were registered for relocation to the village. The complex, built on a 2.3-hectare area, consists of five 5-story residential buildings. These buildings contain a total of 190 apartments, including one, two, three, and four-room units.

The head of state and the First Lady were also informed about renovations in the area, including repairs to the secondary school building, which accommodates 144 students. Moreover, two small hydroelectric power stations, " Sugovushan-1" and " Sugovushan-2," with a combined capacity of 7.8 megawatts, have been put into operation. In Sugovushan, a "recreation complex project" was completed. The complex, covering an area of 6 hectares, includes 16 cottages and a two-story hotel building, all of which underwent significant refurbishment.

The head of state engaged in conversation with the residents.

President Ilham Aliyev: Hello.

Residents: Hello, you are welcome!

President Ilham Aliyev: First of all, I congratulate you on the holidays.

Residents: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Today is the Last Tuesday before the Novruz. I lit a bonfire in the village of Hasanriz and congratulate you on the upcoming Novruz holidays!

Residents: Happy holidays!

President Ilham Aliyev: I remember lighting the Novruz bonfire in Sugovushan village in 2022 and giving instructions to create the necessary conditions for the relocation of people here. These houses, your very beautiful homes, have been built from scratch, with all the amenities. I am glad that the first residents have already moved in and will now live here comfortably.

Residents: Thank you very much!

President Ilham Aliyev: All living conditions are provided here. The houses are beautiful, spacious, and bright. Of course, the natural surroundings also enhance the value of this region. Living next to this beautiful reservoir is truly a pleasure. There are ample opportunities for a good, comfortable life and work here, and I am glad that former IDPs are now also moving to Sugovushan village.

This village was liberated from the invaders in the first week of the Second Karabakh War. It was one of our first major successes, one of our great military victories. As you know, for 44 days, our Army and all our Armed Forces moved forward, and the liberation of each village, each settlement, inspired our Army and the entire nation. The liberation of a large village from the invaders held particular significance. Sugovushan was the first village to be freed from the occupiers, and its importance goes beyond just that.

As you know, this village holds tremendous strategic importance. Illegal armed formations and personnel of the Armenian army were stationed in all positions around the village and the reservoir. From a military standpoint, liberating this village from the invaders required both true heroism and self-sacrifice. Our servicemen carried out this honorable mission by risking their lives and placing themselves in the line of fire. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace.

Residents: May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace.

President Ilham Aliyev: Their dear memory will live in our hearts forever. May Allah grant health to all our heroes. We will always cherish our servicemen who fought for the Motherland and displayed unparalleled heroism. It is thanks to the bravery and courage of the younger generation that we regained our lands and expelled the invaders.

Of course, it was a long process. First and foremost, the state-building process had to take place, and a strong state was established. As a result, Azerbaijan today is one of the few countries capable of pursuing an independent policy. We had to embark on a path of economic development, as well, because no one was helping us. Today, no one helps us, and we don't need that. Therefore, relying on our own strength, we created economic opportunities that enabled us to secure financial independence. We had to build a strong Army, and we did that. We had to equip our army, and we succeeded in that too. Consistent work was carried out to enhance the combat capability of our army.

Of course, the upbringing of the younger generation has been crucial. We have raised a generation that is patriotic and committed to the state and its people. After 30 years, they fulfilled their historic mission with dignity and displayed remarkable heroism, both during the Second Karabakh War and the anti-terror operations. You are probably aware that our successful operations are now studied in many foreign universities. Wars and violent confrontations have become increasingly widespread in the world today.

Now, in the era of the internet and the freedom of information, everyone can see, know, and follow everything. It is evident that not all countries are able to secure their interests, especially their just interests. Some are fighting for their territorial integrity but fail to achieve meaningful results, or manage small-scale military successes but cannot secure a complete victory. If we examine the clashes, conflicts, and wars happening in the world today, and consider the wars of recent history, I can confidently say that no one has achieved a victory as clear and decisive as Azerbaijan's after the Second World War.

Some conflicts remained unresolved, some unfinished, as wars evolved into different forms without altering their core essence. Our victory, however, is complete, and this reflects not only the strength of our state and Armed Forces, but also the unwavering resolve of our people. You, the residents of this region and your descendants, know better than anyone that the enemy had constructed such strong fortifications during the occupation that breaking through them required both heroism and exceptional professionalism. Many even believed that we would never be able to breach those defense lines.

The natural terrain was in favor of the enemy, and the engineering fortifications they had constructed over the years worked to their advantage. Behind them stood external forces, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group, which claimed to have a mandate to address this issue. Their main objective was to make this conflict perpetual, to keep our lands under occupation, to deceive us, and to make us accept this reality through endless negotiations. All three of them shared this goal, united in their approach. However, the current state of relations between these countries reveals that this was an exceptionally rare situation.

What did this show? It revealed that all three were backing Armenia, each in different ways. One was supplying weapons, another offering political support, and the third providing economic privileges. We fought precisely against this. When the Second Karabakh War began, it was uncertain how the great powers would respond. In such a difficult political climate, amidst tough natural terrain, and in the face of heavily fortified positions, to defeat the enemy in just 44 days demonstrated the strength of our people. But even then, we knew – I am sure you knew too - the entire nation understood that this was not the end of our efforts.

For various reasons, the separatists had managed to maintain their strongholds on our land, and peacekeeping forces were deployed to our region, which, as they perceived it, gave the separatists additional confidence. They believed that in such a situation, their separatism could persist. Many other events unfolded as well. However, they failed to account for one thing: the resolve, determination, courage, and self-confidence of the Azerbaijani people and state. They underestimated this. A year and a half ago, a single-day anti-terror operation eradicated separatism, and the matter was concluded – that chapter was closed. Today, we are celebrating this beautiful holiday here. I congratulate you! Live happily here. You deserve it. You endured suffering for many years, but that suffering has now become a part of history. I congratulate you!"

Residents: Thank you very much. You have brought us to our dream. May you also achieve yours! May Allah protect your family!

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Let's present the keys now.

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A key handover ceremony was then held.

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Commemorative photos were taken.