President of Uzbekistan Reviews Development Work in Shusha

Shusha, The Gulf Observer: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the historic city of Shusha to participate in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

In the company of other heads of delegations from OTS member countries, the leaders toured the reconstruction efforts in Shusha, guided by President Aliyev. Shusha, often referred to as the “main jewel of Karabakh,” holds a distinguished place as the center of Caucasian art and the cradle of Azerbaijani music. The city is renowned for being the birthplace of numerous prominent figures in science, culture, and art. Since 2021, Shusha has held the status of the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, and in 2023, it was declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world.

This year marks the establishment of sister city relations between Khiva and Shusha. The visiting dignitaries explored a newly constructed residential complex in Shusha, the first of its kind in thirty-two years. The expansive complex, spanning approximately 8 hectares, comprises 23 buildings.

The leaders were also briefed on the project and progress of a new mosque, the foundation of which was laid in 2021. President Aliyev provided an overview of the completed work and shared future development plans for the city’s infrastructure.

Additionally, the presidents visited the Govhar Agha Mosque, the first mosque built in Shusha in the 19th century. The guests praised the meticulous restoration of this historic site.

President Mirziyoyev’s working visit to Azerbaijan is ongoing, with the main events of the OTS summit scheduled to take place on July 6.