French envoy: Shusha symbol of Azerbaijani culture and art

French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Boillon made her first visit to the city of Shusha located in the Karabakh region.

The diplomat emphasised that Shusha is a city that allows one to understand Azerbaijani culture, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"Indeed, I feel a great sense of joy being here. I know that Shusha holds a special place for Azerbaijan, since this city is a symbol of culture and art. In addition, Shusha has given the world many famous people," she said.

The ambassador also emphasised that she is impressed by the pace of the restoration and construction work being carried out in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

Shusha, often described as the "pearl of Karabakh" and regarded as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, holds profound symbolic, historical, and strategic importance for the country.

The city was occupied by Armenian forces on May 8, 1992, during the First Karabakh War. Its capture marked a significant moment in the conflict and resulted in nearly three decades of occupation.

Shusha was liberated during the Second Karabakh War in the autumn of 2020 — a 44-day conflict that saw Azerbaijan regain control over large parts of its territory. The Battle of Shusha, fought from November 4 to November 8, 2020, proved to be a decisive turning point in the war. Azerbaijani special forces, operating in difficult mountainous terrain, engaged in intense close-quarters combat to retake the city.

By Sabina Mammadli