KALBAJAR, Azerbaijan,
September 12. Being in our native Kalbajar is a
source of great pride for all of us, Assistant to the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign
Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev
said, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


He made the remark at the Second Honey Festival in Kalbajar,
held as part of the second day of the visit by representatives of
the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan to Karabakh and East
Zangezur.


He said that, although he was 13–14 years old at the time, he
remembers well the events that took place during the occupation of
Kalbajar in 1993.


“One of the first places the residents of Kalbajar headed to
barefoot, bareheaded, without bread or food was the city of Ganja.
One of the first places where they were accommodated was the
dormitory of the Technology University in Ganja. Our home was also
located near that area. I still remember those days as a great
tragedy,” Hikmet Hajiyev said.


The presidential aide noted that, after enduring severe
hardships, the residents of Kalbajar crossed the Omar Pass in snowy
and difficult conditions and sought refuge in Ganja.


According to him, Kalbajar remained under siege for nearly a
year. The district, which had been surrounded by Armenian forces
from the direction of Aghdara, was cut off from that direction as
well after the occupation of Lachin. On the other side, Kalbajar
was surrounded by the Murov Mountains.


“Despite all this, the residents of Kalbajar did not lose their
determination, faith or pride,” he emphasized.


Hikmet Hajiyev also recalled the Tunnel Tragedy, noting that
those events are among the pages of Azerbaijan’s history that must
not be forgotten.


“An ambush was set up at the exit of the tunnel by Armenian
terrorist Monte Melkonyan, who had come from the Middle East, and
his group. A very brutal tragedy took place there, and the people
of Kalbajar were subjected to a brutal massacre. We must not forget
these things; they are also part of our history. At that time, our
sisters from Kalbajar, defending their honor and dignity, threw
themselves into the Tartarus River,” the presidential aide
said.


H. Hajiyev emphasized that, although it is difficult to speak
about these painful events, it is a source of pride today that
those days are in the past and that Kalbajar is being revived.


“I did not have the opportunity to be in Kalbajar during my
childhood. Our friends from Kalbajar always talked about the beauty
of this place. I imagined it, but I really could not imagine that
Kalbajar was this beautiful. Kalbajar is very beautiful,” he
said.


The presidential aide noted that Kalbajar is being rebuilt and
revitalized.


“Kalbajar is being rebuilt, coming back to life, and becoming
one of the most beautiful cities in our country and even in the
world. Even greater work will be carried out here in the future,”
Hikmet Hajiyev added.