AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, August 16. While Azerbaijan is building new roads, Armenians continue to install barriers on them, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told reporters, Trend reports.
He made the remark during a visit of the members of the diplomatic corps and military representatives accredited in Azerbaijan, to Aghdam.
"The place where we are now is the road from Barda to Khankendi, which the Azerbaijani side offers for use by residents of Karabakh of Armenian origin,” Hajiyev said. “There was no such road before, the Armenians destroyed it. The Aghdam-Khankendi road was used as the most convenient route from a geographical point of view in Soviet times. Using this road will also significantly reduce transportation costs. It will be possible to deliver everything necessary for the Armenian residents of Karabakh. In addition, they will have the opportunity to use it to promote their products to the markets of Azerbaijan."
Hajiyev also noted that the Armenians have turned this issue into political propaganda.
"Azerbaijan's proposal is to make this road a starting point for the reintegration of the Armenian residents of Karabakh into the political, economic and social spheres of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Armenia refuses to accept this proposal and is engaged in propaganda,” Hajiyev said.
According to him, parallel to the road lies the railway. In fact, all this has been done in order to make life easier for Armenians, solve the problem by political means and create better economic and social opportunities. In order to avoid using this road, they installed barriers at the other end of the road.
The visit of members of the diplomatic corps and military representatives accredited in Azerbaijan to Aghdam kicked off today.
The main purpose of the visit is to get acquainted with the current potential of the road infrastructure of the Karabakh Economic Zone, primarily the Aghdam-Khankendi highway, as well as the Barda-Aghdam railway.
In addition, the visitors will be informed about the destruction committed in Aghdam during the Armenian occupation, which lasted almost 30 years. Guests will also have a chance to get acquainted with the large-scale construction works that are currently being carried out in the city.