TODAY 14 YEARS PASSED SINCE OCCUPATION OF AZERBAIJAN’S LACHIN REGION BY ARMENIANS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 17 2006
Today 14 years have passed since Azerbaijan’s Lachin region was
occupied by Armenians. Lachin is situated in the south-west of
Azerbaijan, on the border with Armenia.
It was established as an administrative region in 182603 hectares
of territory in 1930 (APA). According to statistics of 1989, there
lived 51,6 thousand people and according to 2003 statistics it had
68.1 thousand people. The highest top of the region is Gizilboghaz
Mountain (2823 m). There are Jura-Anthropogenic deposits in the
region. The Hakari is the largest rive in Lachin. It has fertile
sorts of soil. There are bushes, lawns and broad-leaved mountain
forests. After becoming displaced persons, the regions’ population
has settled in 53 populated areas.
Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry there are natural
springs Turshsu-, Galaderesi, Aghanus, Khirmanlar, Tigig, Tursh-tigig,
Nureddin (have high yielding), Naghdali and Hajikhanli.
Rare historical and architectural monuments, Garagol State Reserve
and other preserves in Lachin are in Armenia’s occupation now. There
are three mercury beds-Narzanli, Chilgazchay, Saribulag (with total
reserves of 1124 tons), Hochaz marbled limestone, two tuff beds
(Aghoglan, Ahmadli) wit total reserves of 5125 cubic meters, Lachin
limestone beds with total reserve of 4457 tons, Novruzlu clayey bed
with total reserve of 998 thousand cubic meters, Gushchu pumice-stone
beds (2144 thousand cubic meters), Yukhari Hakarichay sand-gravel
beds (15 794 thousand cubic meters) and other mineral deposits in
the region.
Lachin has 33285 hectares of forests reserve lands, 26647 hectares
are forest, which constitutes 80.05%.
The Ministry has found out that Armenians cut red oak trees in Pijanis
and Hajishamli forest and sold to France for making tuns for brandy
production. Old nut trees in the region are also being cut and sold
for Iran for furniture production.
In Hajilar-Sadinlar village, Armenians have cut 65 hectares of forest,
burnt houses and destroyed graveyards.