Baku, December 23, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Monday described the country’s “Great Return” Program as the most successfully implemented return initiative on a global scale, underscoring its significance in restoring the rights of former internally displaced persons.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with residents of the Karkijahan settlement in the city of Khankendi, where he highlighted the steady progress of the return process to liberated territories.
“Today, the ‘Great Return’ Program is the most successfully implemented return program on a global scale,” President Aliyev said, noting that former displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral lands. He emphasized that the return to Karkijahan marks another important milestone in this ongoing process.
The head of state acknowledged the hardships endured by residents over the past decades, recalling the physical and emotional challenges they faced while living away from their homes.
“You lived for many years in challenging circumstances, enduring both physical and emotional hardship. Now this has come to an end. After 34 years, you are returning to your native Karkijahan,” President Aliyev said, adding that the development represents a source of great happiness not only for the returning residents but for the entire Azerbaijani people.
President Aliyev reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing the return process, alongside reconstruction and development efforts, to ensure sustainable living conditions and long-term stability in the restored areas.
