German ambassador to Azerbaijan visits Shusha

Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Rovshan Rzayev, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan, Wolfgang Manig, have visited Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, Report informs.

According to the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Shusha's special envoy Aydin Karimov accompanied the guest during the visit.

The guest was informed in detail about the state policy in work with refugees and IDPs. The critical services of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva in implementing this policy were especially stressed.

It was noted that Azerbaijan ended the Armenian occupation during the 44-day war, the IDPs were allowed to return to their homes, and necessary measures were taken to ensure their voluntary, dignified and safe return on the instructions of the president. Ambassador Manig expressed hope that the return of all IDPs would open the door to peaceful and productive coexistence for all residents of the region.

During the visit, the German ambassador was informed in detail about Shusha and its history. It was noted that historical buildings, mosques and monuments in Shusha were subjected to Armenian vandalism during the occupation for about 30 years. After the liberation, large-scale reconstruction work began in Shusha. It was noted that along with the reconstruction of infrastructure, the city's historical image and cultural monuments are being restored. The German envoy also got acquainted with the reconstruction of school No. 1, where Irma Weber, an ethnic German from Shusha, worked as a teacher.

The chairman of the State Committee presented a book by German scientist Michael Hessink "The legacy of Shusha. History and way of development of the cultural capital of Azerbaijan" to the ambassador. The ambassador noted the cultural similarities between Shusha and the German city of Weimar in the book and promised to support the establishment of relations between Shusha and Weimar.

Wolfgang Manig visited the central square where the statues of famous Azerbaijani public figures - Natavan, Bulbul and Uzeyir Hajibeyli were placed. The guest then got acquainted with the house of Khurshidbanu Natavan, Khan gizi garden, Khan gizi spring, Khan palace, Uzeyir Hajibeyli's statue and house in Shusha, as well as Yukhari Govhar Agha mosque and Holy Savior Cathedral.

The ambassador thanked for the Shusha trip, said he liked the city, the Jidir plain, and said he would visit the city again.