Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic Visits Karabakh on a Familiarization Trip for COP29

At Fuzuli International Airport, the guests were provided with detailed information about the city of Fuzuli, which has been restored under the “Great Return” program, and about the large-scale infrastructure projects and resettlement initiatives in the region.

Traveling to Shusha via the “Victory Road,” Ms. Cvijanović and her delegation were warmly welcomed in the Shusha District by the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aydin Karimov. During their visit to Shusha, the guests toured the “Heydar Aliyev and Karabakh” exhibition, visited Jidir Duzu, the central square with bullet-ridden sculptures of Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Khurshidbanu Natavan, and Bulbul, the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, the Gazanchetsots Church, and notable architectural landmarks of Shusha such as the house of Karim bey Mehmandarov. They also visited the under-construction Victory Mosque. The delegation was shown the iconic Ganja Gates of Shusha Fortress, the palace of Natavan, daughter of the Karabakh Khan, destroyed during the Armenian occupation, and the new residential complex where local residents have started to return. Aydin Karimov highlighted that the extensive reconstruction works in Shusha are being carried out under the direct supervision and personal attention of President Ilham Aliyev. He provided a detailed overview of the history of the Karabakh Khanate and Shusha, their significance in the development of Azerbaijani culture, the nearly three decades of Armenian occupation and its devastating consequences, the remarkable bravery of Azerbaijani soldiers during the liberation of the city, and future plans for the region. Mr. Karimov also answered numerous questions from the guests.

At the end of the visit, the delegation expressed gratitude for the comprehensive information provided not only about the city of Shusha but also about Karabakh as a whole and the modern Republic of Azerbaijan, its complex history of struggle, and its current achievements. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vilayat Guliyev, accompanied Ms. Zeljka Cvijanovic during her visit to Shusha.