On May 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inspected the progress of restoration work on individual houses and infrastructure in Boyuk Galaderesi village of the Shusha district and met with residents who had returned to the village.

Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, briefed the head of state on the restoration of houses and the development of village infrastructure.

Boyuk Galaderesi is located within the Galaderesi village administrative territorial district of the Shusha district.

The village was occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992. Boyuk Galaderesi was liberated from occupation in 2023 during the anti-terror operations conducted by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.

It was reported that a number of projects have been implemented in the village to create the necessary living conditions and address social issues. A transformer has been installed, new power lines have been laid, and existing lines have been restored. Individual houses to be inhabited during the initial phase have been equipped with meters. In addition, a new gas pipeline has been laid in the village, and the installation of meters has commenced. Work has also been carried out to provide residents with drinking water, including the laying of distribution water lines and the installation of meters. The installation of communication lines in the village is currently underway. Internal village roads have also been upgraded. Furthermore, a park has been built for residents’ recreation, and a Flag Square has been established in Boyuk Galaderesi.

There are a total of 50 individual houses in the village. Of these, 13 are unusable, while 37 are partially usable.

During the first phase, 17 houses have already been restored. The restoration of 20 more houses is planned for the next phase.

Initially, 64 people, comprising 14 families, have returned to the village.

x x x

The head of state visited the home of village resident, Akif Gahramanov.

x x x

The head of state then met with residents who had returned to Boyuk Galaderesi village.

President Ilham Aliyev: First of all, I congratulate you on the holidays—both Eid al-Adha and Independence Day. You are celebrating both Independence Day and Eid al-Adha on your native Garabagh soil. This is a great joy. I sincerely congratulate you on this occasion. Returning to one’s native homeland after a long separation is a profound happiness.

Local resident: It is an honor for us.

President Ilham Aliyev: Indeed. Excellent conditions have been created for you here. Almost all of the houses here had been destroyed. Seventeen houses are ready, twenty more will be completed during the second phase, and additional houses will be built afterward. Work is also underway in the surrounding areas—Kichik Galaderesi, Turshsu, and Saribaba. Lachin is close, and Shusha is nearby as well. A new road is being built, and travel will become much more convenient. You have probably seen that we are expanding the Shusha–Lachin road, and tunnels are also under construction. Everything is being done so that people can live comfortably here, on the soil of their native homeland.

Independence is a great blessing and a great achievement. But true independence exists only when a country is able to pursue an independent policy. Azerbaijan is one of those countries. Today, there are nearly 200 independent countries in the world, but it cannot be said that each of them is truly independent. We are an independent state in the true sense of the word, because we determine our own destiny, conduct our policy free from external influence, and act in the interests of our people and state on the basis of protecting national interests. For this reason, we have earned great respect throughout the world. Although our lands were under Armenian occupation for many years, even during that period, by pursuing an independent policy, we gained considerable international respect. Of course, the Second Garabagh War and, three years later, the anti-terror operation—our glorious Victory—have further elevated the prestige of our country and our people worldwide.

When independence was achieved in October 1991, those who were in power at the time were unable to protect our territorial integrity. Those striving for power had, in fact, effectively surrendered Shusha, Lachin, and this beautiful village to Armenia. At that time, a struggle for power was underway. The government of the time sought to remain in power, while the PFA–Musavat forces seeking power attempted to come to power by any means. As a result of these provocations, this beautiful region was handed over to Armenia, and Azerbaijan once again faced this catastrophe. You also remember the subsequent period: civil war and the loss of our lands. After the occupation of Shusha and Lachin, this village was also occupied. A geographical link was established between Armenia and the former Nagorno-Karabakh region, and unfortunately, the occupation lasted for 30 years thereafter.

We were building up our strength, consolidating our power—economically, militarily, and on the international stage. When the time was right, we acted, and we acted in such a way that our Glorious Victory resonated across the entire world. Both 2020 and 2023 represent our Glorious Victory, and we will forever take pride in this Victory. Today, every inch of Azerbaijan’s territory is under our control. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan have been fully restored. The peace achieved was on our terms.

This demonstrates once again that our nation is a great nation. Despite the hardships it endured, it did not bend; it preserved its will and lived with the hope that the day would come when we would return to these lands. Over recent years, in my numerous meetings with former internally displaced persons since 2003—both during the occupation and after the Victory—I have become even more convinced of how great, dignified, and unyielding our people are. You were deprived of your native land for 30 years, but you did not lose hope, you did not break your will, and you believed that this day would come—and it has come.

Local resident: Yes, we believed in the “Iron Fist.”

President Ilham Aliyev: Thanks to the “Iron Fist,” the unity of our people, the strength of our Army, and the blood and sacrifice of our martyrs, we are here today, and from now on no one can displace us from here. On the contrary, our strength grows and our opportunities expand with each passing day. We are the leading voice of authority in the region.

We have been restoring these lands, towns, and villages devastated by the Armenians for five years now. And how are we doing it? It is unparalleled in the world. To accomplish this volume of work in just five years—only a strong state can do it. The foundation of this strong state is the unity between the people and the government.

As for you, I wish you nothing but good health from now on. Breathe this beautiful air, drink this pure water, and take in these beautiful landscapes so that your hearts may find comfort and your souls may find joy.

Local resident: Mr. President, they are now looking at us from over there, and they regret it, whereas at one time we were the ones looking at them. Now they themselves say that the fault lies with them. They used to live there, and everything was beautiful. May Allah protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: When I met with the people of Lachin, when we returned the first group of former internally displaced persons to the city of Lachin, I was sitting in such a way that this scenery was right in front of me. I said, you know, we can see you from here—behave yourselves.

Local resident: May Allah protect you. Welcome. Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: I congratulate you. Come, let us take a picture together, here, in this beautiful scenery.

Local resident: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: I congratulate you.

Residents: May Allah grant you a long life.

Local resident: I congratulate you on today’s Eid al-Adha and on our Independence Day. I would like to sincerely thank you for spending your valuable time today on this beautiful land to meet with these citizens. On behalf of the residents of Galaderesi, I also extend my sincere gratitude to you. I would like you to convey our greetings to dear Mehriban khanum. Thank you very much for meeting with us in this beautiful homeland. May Allah rest the souls of our martyrs in peace. I wish you good health and a long life. Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. Since our glorious Victory, I have been celebrating this beautiful holiday—May 28, Independence Day—in the liberated lands, and this has already become a tradition. I believe this is the most appropriate choice. This Independence Day is very dear to each of us. However, it is also a fact that the independence achieved in 1918 lasted only two years. We were unable to preserve it at that time; it was taken away from us. After that, for 70 years, we did not live as an independent nation.

Independence was restored in 1991, but it was still under threat. As I said, the Armenian occupation, internal chaos, confrontation, civil war, and the struggle for power were effectively driving our country toward ruin. If National Leader Heydar Aliyev had not come to power at that time, it is difficult to say what the fate of our people and our state would have been. Azerbaijan was facing a great catastrophe. At that time, the war was stopped, development began, and strength was built up.

During my time, we wished for the day of liberation every day, and we brought it closer every day. You, the people who lived in these territories, also know very well how difficult the terrain is, both here and in Lachin, Kalbajar, Fuzuli, and Jabrayil; there were seven lines of defense and minefields. Our heroic sons, advancing with determination and sacrificing themselves, broke through those lines, and in just 44 days we forced Armenia to sign the act of capitulation.

There has never been such an absolute victory, either before or since. Now everything is in plain sight. Wars have surrounded our region—whether in the north, the south, or elsewhere. In other words, will there be an end to these wars? No one knows. What will they result in? No one knows. Who is the winner of these wars? It is also difficult to say; everyone claims, “I am the winner.”

Local resident: May Allah protect our state, and protect you.

President Ilham Aliyev: But our Victory was such an absolute victory that no doubt remained. Our flag was raised in Shusha, and after that in Khankendi, and the enemy was expelled from our lands. The Armenian army was completely destroyed. Today we live comfortably as a victorious people and a victorious state. This is a source of great pride. Carrying out such restoration and construction work in a short period of time is also being done for the people—so that they can return quickly, live comfortably, and feel safe here; to build and create, raise children, care for village elders, and enjoy life. You deserve this. You lived in hardship for 30 years; from now on, there should only be a happy life.

Residents: Thank you very much.

President Ilham Aliyev: I congratulate you.

x x x

The meeting concluded with the taking of commemorative photographs.