RECONSTRUCTION OF AZERBAIJANI TERRITORY OCCUPIED BY ARMENIA REQUIRES $62BLN: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Sept 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 September /Trend News corr. R.Novruzov/ The
Reconstruction and Repatriation Program (Great Return) intended for
Azerbaijani IDPs requires about $62bln, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime
Minister Ali Hasanov, also Chairman of the Committee on Refugees and
IDPs, said to journalists on 15 September.

According to Hasanov, the precise cost of the program, which was
developed by the Azerbaijani Government, international financial
organizations, UN agencies, international and local humanitarian
organizations, is being specified.

The program will provide precise estimate of the damage to occupied
territories and envisages reconstruction and restoration work in the
territory right after liberation, he said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.