Azerbaijan's first couple mark milestone with inauguration of Sarijali village in Aghdam UPDATED / PHOTO

On March 27, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva took part in the inauguration of the first phase of the village of Sarijali in the Aghdam district. 

During the visit, the leaders reviewed the completed work and officially opened a multifunctional administrative building designed for local executive authorities, Caliber.Az reports via Azertag.

Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the newly created living conditions in the village.

Sarijali village, one of the major reconstruction sites in Aghdam, was occupied by Armenian armed forces on July 23, 1993, during the First Karabakh War. During the occupation, the village was completely destroyed, including residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, and commercial establishments. Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War, Aghdam was returned to Azerbaijan on November 20, 2020, under the Trilateral Statement. After the liberation of Sarijali, a mass grave belonging to Azerbaijanis was discovered in the village. Prior to the occupation, the village had a population of 1,024 people (239 families).

Located six kilometers from Aghdam city center, the foundation of Sarijali village was laid by President Ilham Aliyev on October 4, 2022. The village is designed to accommodate 1,873 residents (425 families) across a total area exceeding 123 hectares. The construction plan includes 425 individual houses to be built in two phases.

To ensure employment opportunities for residents, various educational, economic, social, and public service institutions, as well as cultural and community centers, have been established. Infrastructure work, including internal roads, electricity, telecommunications, water and gas supply has also been completed.

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President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of a newly constructed multifunctional administrative building for local executive structures in Sarijali.

The administrative center, located at the village entrance, will house multiple government services, ensuring efficient and centralized service delivery for residents. The building is equipped with various offices and meeting rooms, providing modern working conditions for staff.

All non-residential buildings in the village, including the administrative facility, have been equipped with rooftop solar panels to meet their electricity needs.

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited newly built individual residential houses in Sarijali village to inspect the living conditions provided for returning residents.

As part of the first phase, 203 families (895 people) are set to relocate to the village. A total of 203 houses have been constructed, offering two, three, four, and five-room layouts. Considering the future population growth, 54 hectares of land have been allocated for the first phase of the village’s construction.

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Following this, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the newly built Sarijali village nursery-kindergarten.

The head of state and the First Lady were informed that the modern 100-seat facility is fully equipped to provide a high-quality learning and nurturing environment for young children. The kindergarten features well-equipped rooms designed to support the intellectual, physical, and mental development of children, as well as foster their talents, social skills, and well-being. Five educational groups will operate within the facility.

The kindergarten’s outdoor area includes a playground with various attractions and sports equipment, along with extensive landscaping.

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the newly built secondary school in Sarijali village.

The school, designed for 360 students, features 14 classrooms and is equipped with all necessary teaching materials to ensure an efficient learning environment. The facility includes laboratories, technology, biology, and computer science rooms, a pre-conscription training cabinet, a library, an auditorium, a gym, and a canteen.

A sports field has also been built, which will be accessible to both students and local residents outside school hours. The school premises include recreational areas and green spaces.

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The head of state and the First Lady then met with the residents who had moved into the new apartments and presented them with the keys to their homes.

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A ceremony was held to present the keys to the new homeowners, and commemorative photographs were taken.

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President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then had a conversation with the villagers.

By Tamilla Hasanova