Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) have signed a new agreement to support the planning of two villages in the country's liberated territories, marking a new phase of cooperation.

The announcement was made by Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, following the signing ceremony in New York with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, The Caspian Post reports via Guliyev's message on X.

"Today, in New York together with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, we signed an agreement marking a new chapter in the partnership between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat. For the first time, UN-Habitat will directly contribute to the planning of rural settlements in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. Under the joint project, spatial planning documents will be prepared for Guyjag village in Jabrayil district and Mollabayramli village in Kalbajar district. This partnership will support the Great Return Programme by helping create more sustainable, inclusive and people-centred living environments for Azerbaijani citizens returning to their native lands," Guliyev wrote.