Great Return
On 27 September 2020, after the Patriotic War ended with the historic victory of the Azerbaijani people, restoration and extensive construction work began in these areas.
On 24 November 2020, by President Ilham Aliyev’s order, the Coordination Headquarters for the centralised resolution of issues in the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established. At the same time, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan were established to organise special administration in the liberated territories.
By the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated 7 July 2021, the division of the country into economic regions was revised and Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions were created with the aim of effectively using the rich economic potential, natural resources and wide tourism opportunities of the liberated regions, ensuring their equal development and carrying out all work in this direction on the basis of a single programme.
"Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for socio-economic development" was approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated February 2, 2021 to achieve the goals set in the new stage. On the basis of these priorities, the State Programme was prepared to ensure the implementation of the National Priority "Great Return to the territories freed from occupation" reflected in the “Strategy for the socio-economic development of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026” approved by the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 22 July 2022.
The decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on November 16, the Action Plan of the "I State Program on the Great Return to the territories freed from occupation of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was approved. According to the State Program, the most important strategic directions for the reconstruction, restoration and sustainable development of the liberated territories have been identified.
The overall objective of the State Program is to eliminate the consequences of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, to reconstruct and restore the territories freed from occupation, to ensure the return of the population to the region, to raise the level of well-being of the population, and ultimately to create a favorable environment in order to achieve a balanced and sustainable development of the region.
The State Program aims at the rapid reconstruction and revitalisation of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, sustainable settlement of the population and sustainable economic development.
According to the State Program, by the end of 2026, a total of 280 thousand hectares of territory freed from occupation is planned to be cleared of mines. Under the program 34,500 apartments and private houses will be buil. 197 pre-school and general education institutions, 8 vocational education institutions and 1 secondary specialised education institution are planned to be constructed and renovated. The establishment of mechanisms conducive to entrepreneurial activity and the increase of employment in this area is one of the key tasks set out in the " I State Programme on the Great Return". A total of 26 highway projects will be completed in the liberated areas by the end of 2026. Providing stable employment and social protection for the returning population is one of the activities of the Programme.
Currently, Agdam Industrial Park, "Araz Valley Economic Zone" in Jabrayil district, "Dost Agricultural Park" in Zangilan, etc. are operating in the liberated territories. Within the framework of the programme, Olympic Sports Complexes and Youth Houses are planned to be built in the region. "ASAN Service" and "DOST" centers will be established in settlements in the area. In total, 49 Family Health Centres and 39 medical centres will be built. A total of 34,500 families are planned to be gradually resettled in liberated areas.
By the end of 2026, it is planned to complete the first phase of the "Great Return" programme, and 140,000 internally displaced persons will return to Karabakh and East Zangezur suring this stage. In total, in the first phase of the "Great Return" program, the reconstruction and resettlement of a total of 100 settlements is planned, including in all liberated cities. The implementation of the "I State Program for the Great Turning" in 2022-26 will require more than 32 billion manat.
On the basis of the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated August 12, 2021 "On urban planning issues in the liberated areas", the establishment of the Karabakh Regional General Department of Architecture and Urban Planning under the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic has ensured the systematic and consistent implementation of restoration and reconstruction work in Azerbaijan. Currently, Azerbaijan is implementing modern urban planning in the liberated regions, applying the concepts of "green energy". One of the main objectives of rapid reconstruction is to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and villages in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Living and working conditions in the new cities and villages will be unified.
From 2022, the "Great Return" of internally displaced persons to the liberated territories, to their ancestral lands, has began. The local counter-terrorism measures, which lasted less than 24 hours on September 19-20, 2023, resulted in the full assurance of the sovereignty of our state in every corner of Karabakh, which created conditions for expanding the geography of the Return process.
Today, Karabakh and East Zangezur, where modern infrastructure projects are being implemented and "smart villages and cities" are being created, have literally become a wonder of the world. Under the leadership of the head of state, restoration and construction work is being carried out rapidly in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. According to the planned migration schedule, the population is returned to the relevant settlements.
At the same time, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation contributes to the construction work in the liberated areas. Especially in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, important projects are being implemented by the Foundation for the restoration of our historical, cultural and religious heritage.
Currently, Azerbaijan is successfully implementing the "Great Return" project of former internally displaced persons. The second phase of the "Great Return" program, which consists of 3 parts will cover the years 2026-2040, and the process will be completed by 2040.
After the end of the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan showed the world that it could single-handedly realize large projects that many other countries could not. Azerbaijan confirms that it is a strong state by reviving destroyed cities, towns and villages without any help from any country.