A delegation of the Morocco-Azerbaijan Friendship Association has visited Azerbaijan with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The delegation included the Association’s President, Mohamed Faquiri, Secretary-General, Ilham Meftah, advisers Hayate Znig, Rachid Harrath, Mourad Daoudi, El Boukili Abderrahim, and other members.

The guests first visited the Alley of Honor, where they paid tribute to the cherished memory of Heydar Aliyev, National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, and laid flowers at his grave. They then visited the Martyrs’ Lane to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s independence and territorial integrity.

At the Military Trophy Park and the Patriotic War Memorial Complex, members of the Friendship Association were briefed on Azerbaijan’s struggle to restore its territorial integrity, the 44-day Patriotic War, and the historic Victory achieved by the country.

During their visit to the Heydar Aliyev Center, the guests explored an extensive exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the National Leader, as well as Azerbaijan’s history and culture.

The visit programme also included visits to sites reflecting Azerbaijan’s ancient history and rich cultural and scientific heritage. The delegation toured the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum.

The guests subsequently travelled to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. They first met with Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district. During the meeting, they received detailed information about the restoration and reconstruction work carried out in Shusha since its liberation, as well as the city’s future development prospects. The establishment of sister-city relations between Shusha, a city with an ancient history and rich cultural heritage, and Fez, Morocco, was also proposed.

The delegation then visited Jidir Duzu, the Shot Statues, Shusha Fortress, Ganja Gate, and the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque. Strongly condemning the vandalism committed by Armenians against Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural monuments, the Moroccan guests highly praised the large-scale reconstruction and restoration work underway in Shusha.

Travelling from Shusha to Khankendi, the delegation visited Victory Park and Karabakh University. They learned about the reconstruction efforts in the city, the modern infrastructure being developed, and the new environment for growth and development taking shape in the region.

The guests also visited Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, where they met with Rector Rufat Azizov. During the visit, they explored the university’s History Museum and Mineralogy Museum, the Renewable Energy Laboratory Center, and the Digital Energy Laboratory. The delegation was briefed on the university’s history, research capabilities, and modern laboratory infrastructure. It is worth noting that Rachid Harrath, a member of the delegation, is a graduate of the university.

The visit is expected to make a significant contribution to further strengthening friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Morocco, expanding ties between the two peoples, and developing cooperation in the field of diaspora affairs.