BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22. The opening of the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically important issue in light of new geopolitical realities, said Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
Speaking at the international conference titled “Guardians of Sovereignty: Constitutional Status of the Prosecutor's Office” in Baku, Aliyev highlighted that Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories resulted in thousands of deaths and caused massive damage to the economy, environment, and cultural and historical sites.
He recalled that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the historic victory achieved during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and subsequent anti-terror operations carried out by Azerbaijani forces against the separatist regime in Karabakh on September 19-20, 2023, led to the liberation of lands that had been occupied for nearly three decades. This restored full sovereignty across Azerbaijani territory and reaffirmed the authority of the Constitution.
To commemorate this historical significance, September 20 has been designated as State Sovereignty Day, according to a presidential decree issued in 2024.
Following the liberation of these territories, extensive reconstruction and development projects were launched under the direct supervision of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. Smart villages and cities have been built, new jobs and industrial and educational institutions established, including Karabakh University in Khankendi. Over 15,000 former internally displaced persons have returned to their native lands as part of the First State Program for the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Aliyev stressed that all reconstruction has been carried out independently by the Azerbaijani state without support from any foreign country or organization. He noted that through effective governance and human capital management, the Azerbaijani economy continues to grow, with significant development in non-oil sectors despite the country’s status as an oil producer.
The Prosecutor General emphasized that Azerbaijan has consistently supported peace. Despite Armenia’s occupation and the existence of four UN resolutions recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Armenia failed to withdraw its forces. The recent signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, D.C., serves as a historic milestone for sustainable peace, security, and economic development in the South Caucasus and formally recognizes Azerbaijan’s sovereignty on the global stage.
Aliyev concluded that, in the context of these new geopolitical realities, the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically significant project. It will provide a land connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, reshape the region’s transportation map, and contribute significantly to economic and political integration.
The Prosecutor General emphasized that Azerbaijan has consistently supported peace. Despite Armenia’s occupation and the existence of four UN resolutions recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Armenia failed to withdraw its forces. The recent signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, D.C., serves as a historic milestone for sustainable peace, security, and economic development in the South Caucasus and formally recognizes Azerbaijan’s sovereignty on the global stage.
Aliyev concluded that, in the context of these new geopolitical realities, the Zangezur Corridor is a strategically significant project. It will provide a land connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, reshape the region’s transportation map, and contribute significantly to economic and political integration.
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