BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 23. A delegation of
Finnish public and political figures, visiting Azerbaijan at the
invitation of the Finland-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, has
recently toured Shusha and Lachin, Trend reports.
According to the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora, the
delegation included Finnish MP Mikko Polvinen, Markku Kangaspuro,
Director of the Aleksanteri Institute’s Center for Research on
Finland, Russia, and Eastern Europe, a journalist and Deputy Editor
of “Hymy” magazine, former Chairman of the Parliamentary Group
(2021), former member of the Vantaa-Kerava City Council (2022), and
former member of the Vantaa-Kerava Regional Government Antero
Eerola, former Finnish Minister of Defense and Chairman of the
Board of consulting firm “J-E Enestam AB” Jan-Erik Enestam, former
Deputy Head of the Finnish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Western European Union Jaakko Laakso, and Tarana Nazarova,
Chairman of the Finland-Azerbaijan Friendship Society.
During the visit, the delegation had a meeting with the Special
Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha
district. They got the whole nine yards about the history of
Shusha, the damage to monuments, Jydyr Duzu, Armenian vandalism
against Azerbaijani historical sites in Shusha, and the ongoing
restoration efforts.
The delegation also paid a visit to the Shusha fortress, where
they witnessed the restoration and construction work happening at
lightning speed and commended the tremendous efforts being put in.
They denounced the occupation-era destruction committed by
Armenians against Shusha’s cultural landmarks and mosques.
The Finnish delegation then hit the road to Lachin.
In Lachin, they visited the Special Representation of the
President, where they were briefed on the conditions, job
opportunities, and social support for resettled residents, as well
as the ongoing reconstruction and restoration projects. They also
learned about the villages of Sus and Zabukh.
The delegation toured one of the first 22 restored houses in
Lachin, met with the families living there, and conducted
interviews. The homeowners expressed their happiness at returning
to their homeland after 30 years, highlighting the high-quality
living conditions provided. They thanked Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani army. The delegation left with
positive impressions.
They also visited the Hakari fish farm and the villages of
Zabukh and Sus, where they were warmly welcomed by local residents.
The beauty of Azerbaijani nature and the hospitality of the people
left a favorable impression on the delegation.