A meeting was held with the students of BHOS on the topic of "The Role of Solidarity in the Revival of Karabakh"

On October 13th, a discussion was held with the students of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) on the topic of "The Role of Solidarity in the Revival of Karabakh".

During the discussion, the participants included Elmar Gasimov the Rector of Baku Higher Oil School, Rahman Hajiyev the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund and a member of the Milli Majlis elected from the 122nd constituency of Khankendi Tural Ganjaliyev,  as well as the professor-teaching staff and over 500 students of BHOS.

During his presentation, Rahman Hajiyev, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund, provided detailed information about the Fund, which was established by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated January 4, 2021.

Rahman Hajiyev drew attention to the extensive damage caused by Armenians in the liberated territories, emphasizing that the scale of the damage inflicted on our country as a result of the occupation far exceeds expectations:

"With the leadership of our victorious Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, our resolute army not only liberated our lands from occupation but also revealed the extent of the devastation in Karabakh. The Armenian occupiers have practically razed to the ground hundreds of residential areas and thousands of buildings, alongside humanitarian catastrophes. The damage inflicted is not limited to material objects, historical monuments, and architectural landmarks. The ruthless exploitation of natural resources, deforestation, and pollution of rivers and lakes have also caused significant harm to the surrounding environment of the region".

The Chairman of the Executive Board emphasized the necessity of demonstrating solidarity to swiftly eliminate the consequences of the inflicted damage and transform Karabakh into a prosperous region. He stressed that joint efforts would not only alleviate the burden on the state in the restoration process but also expedite the reconstruction and revival initiatives:

"In accordance with the directives of the state leadership, significant construction and infrastructure development works are currently underway in the liberated territories. New roads, airports, and infrastructure are being built. However, the removal of debris, and restoration of residential areas, and infrastructure require substantial resources and time. It is important to emphasize that Azerbaijan is financing all these activities from its own resources. Therefore, each of us should support the government and actively participate in the reconstruction of Karabakh by demonstrating solidarity.

History shows us that unity and collective efforts enable people to achieve their goals in a short period. For example, during the First and Second World Wars, many cities in Europe suffered severe damage, with some almost completely obliterated. Nevertheless, people united around common cultural values and quickly rebuilt those cities".

Rahman Hajiyev provided information about the projects implemented with the support of the Fund in the liberated territories:

"Since the beginning of its operations, our Fund has been dedicated to mobilizing all available resources to fulfil its goals and tasks in the liberated territories. Over the past period, numerous projects have been implemented to restore and rebuild the liberated territories, mitigate the consequences of environmental damage, promote donation culture, and provide objective information to the public about the significant damage inflicted by Armenian occupation forces on our country. Some projects are still ongoing. As an example, I can mention that, upon the request of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the preparation of the monument dedicated to the world-renowned composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli in Shusha has been completed. The restoration work on the buildings of the Creativity Center in Shusha and the Shusha Carpet Museum is still underway.

Furthermore, the Fund is also implementing projects aimed at restoring ecological balance in the liberated territories. Within the framework of these projects, plans are in place for afforestation in Zangilan and the creation of Central Park in Fuzuli".

The Chairman of the Executive Board also addressed the role of students and young people in the restoration process:

"The students of today are the entrepreneurs and investors of tomorrow. They will play an active role in the socio-economic life of the country by taking on important responsibilities and contributing to the restoration of the liberated territories. Therefore, as a Fund, it is crucial for us to regularly engage with students and young people, learn about their ideas and suggestions, and involve them in the decision-making process. This is why we place great importance on holding regular meetings with students and young people".

Later, a video presentation titled "Urbicide in Karabakh" was showcased, based on materials from the "Karabakh.Center" online resource (https://karabakh.center/en), with the concept originated by Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Tural Ganjaliyev, a member of the Supervisory Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund and a deputy of the Milli Majlis, shared his thoughts on the restoration of the liberated territories, the return of Azerbaijanis to those lands, and other related issues:

"The liberated territories have been practically destroyed and laid to waste. However, I believe that by joining forces, we will restore our cities, villages and historical monuments. We frequently visit these territories and each time we witness the rapid progress of restoration and reconstruction works. I can confidently say that once all these efforts are completed, Karabakh will be transformed into one of the most beautiful regions in the world".

Tural Ganjaliyev emphasized the importance of conducting a series of meetings similar to the one with the youth, stating that they are confident the younger generation will contribute their gifts to the restoration of Karabakh.

The rector of BHOS, Elmar Gasimov, expressed his satisfaction with the organization of such an important event at the leading higher education institution. He noted that the role of youth and students is crucial in sacred endeavors like the restoration of Karabakh.

"The victory we achieved in the Patriotic War is one of the most glorious pages in our history. Currently, we face the crucial task of restoring the territories liberated from occupation. Just as our people demonstrated unity in the struggle to liberate Karabakh, I am confident they will also unite for the sacred task of restoring our lands. I believe that the youth will also contribute their efforts to the process of restoring the lands that the enemy has devastated. Such awareness-raising events are essential for the active participation of youth in this process".

Elmar Gasimov, speaking about the collaboration between BHOS and the Karabakh Revival Fund, stated that this collaboration would play a significant role in informing students about the activities of the Fund, as well as the restoration and reconstruction work being carried out in the liberated territories. Following the speeches, the meeting continued with discussions and a question-and-answer session.

It is worth noting that during the nearly three-hour-long meeting, participants answered a wide range of questions posed by students.

It should be noted that the Karabakh Revival Fund plans to hold informative meetings with young people and students in other educational institutions as well.