“No serious investment was made in the city of Khankendi and the districts of Aghdara and Khojaly during the period of occupation; for long years, these territories were merely exploited and left in a state of ruin,” said Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, during his speech at an event titled “Post-Conflict Urban Planning: Restoring Destroyed Identity and Rebuilding an Integrated Future,” held at the Azerbaijan Pavilion on the sidelines of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The Special Representative noted that modern urban planning standards and innovative approaches are taken as the baseline for reconstruction works in the liberated territories. He stated that implementing “Green City” principles, utilizing alternative energy sources, harmonizing the preservation of national architectural heritage with modern architectural styles, and establishing logistical networks to support regional economic development are among the top priorities.
He also pointed out that structures reflecting Azerbaijan’s architectural style were destroyed during the occupation, natural resources and forests were subjected to illegal exploitation, and severe damage was inflicted on biodiversity. “Currently, vital projects are being implemented in those territories to restore the ecological balance,” Elchin Yusubov added.
