Bulgarian broadcaster highlights Azerbaijan as key to lasting peace in Caucasus

Bulgarian television channel bTV aired a compelling special report focusing on the ongoing challenges and prospects for peace and reconstruction in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region. Central to the report was the city of Aghdam, often referred to as the “Hiroshima of the Caucasus” due to the widespread devastation it suffered during the conflict.

The report detailed how Aghdam—occupied by Armenian forces in the early 1990s—was systematically destroyed, leaving behind a landscape littered with landmines, obliterated homes, desecrated cemeteries, and ruined historical monuments, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

This grim legacy has led international observers to liken Aghdam’s devastation to that of Hiroshima, underscoring the scale of destruction endured by the region.

Amid these stark realities, bTV highlighted the extensive reconstruction initiatives spearheaded by the Azerbaijani government in the territories recently liberated from occupation. These efforts include the development of new residential neighborhoods, road networks, infrastructure projects, and social facilities, marking a concerted drive to restore normalcy and foster economic revival.

A particular focus was placed on the village of Kangarli in Aghdam district, cited as a pioneering example of this reconstruction. Residents who were displaced during the conflict have voiced a profound commitment to return, with one declaring, “If I ever come back, the first thing I will do is kiss this land.”

However, the report emphasized that sustainable peace in Karabakh transcends physical rebuilding. It underscored the critical need for mutual trust and reconciliation between communities, pointing out the lingering dangers posed by landmines and the deep psychological scars left by decades of conflict as significant barriers to lasting harmony.

Despite these formidable challenges, bTV concluded that the determined efforts of the Azerbaijani state combined with the resilience and hope of displaced peoples represent the most promising foundation for achieving enduring peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

By Vafa Guliyeva