Karen Shahramanyan, Artsakh’s Minister of Urban Planning (Photo: Artsakhpress)

STEPANAKERT (Artsakhpress)—The rebuilding program in Talish has begun, said on Monday Karen Shahramanyan, Minister of Urban Planning of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), and noted that the decision was made taking into account the opinion of Talish residents.

“During the meetings with Talish residents who settled in Alashan after April events, the authorities offered them to return to their village. In this regard, certain security guarantees were given, and 10-12 people have already returned to their native village and now live there,” said Shahramanyan.

The minister also informed that all the infrastructure has been restored in Talish, referring to “electricity, water, and night lighting…We began the reconstruction works of a new school and recreation house, as well as the construction of new kindergarten. Builders are provided with all necessary equipment for larger-scale reconstruction works.

“We expect that the school and kindergarten will reopen by September 1 of 2016. We will build new homes or thoroughly rebuilt old ones,” explained Shahramanyan.

“To answer the question regarding safety of living in the village, Mataghis village and Martakert town are in a similar position. [They are] the same distance from the border, yet people [continue to] live there,” said Shahramanyan. “The structures that we are building and rebuilding are in a relatively safe and secure zone in the village.” he said.

According to the minister, along with the restoration of Talish, they will continue too create better conditions for those living in the Alashan settlement in the Martakert region, but most effort will be invested in Talish.