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| Umud Shokri |
Highlighting that Ardabil became a province in 1993 after being separated from East Azerbaijan, Umud Shokri said the name change brought no practical benefits.
"Anyone who cares about Ardabil must first ask: why was Ardabil made a province? This happened during Rafsanjani’s presidency. He claimed Ardabil had great potential and would develop. More than 20 years have passed, but according to the government's own statistics, Ardabil remains one of the most underdeveloped provinces in every sector. The only result was the removal of the name 'Azerbaijan' from Ardabil."
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| A village in Ardabil province |
Shokri emphasized that Ardabil’s geographical location, climate, and natural resources make it well-suited for the tourism sector.
He also pointed to the fertile lands of the Mughan region, noting that agriculture has significant potential in the area. However, he explained that progress in these sectors has not been possible due to a lack of state investment.
"Tehran has never prioritized Ardabil’s development. Tehran focuses on a few select provinces, such as Kerman, Isfahan, Yazd, and Fars. Investments always go to those provinces. Border provinces are viewed not for development purposes but through a security lens," Shokri said.
"When there is no investment, young people migrate to other regions to make a living. Ardabil has one of the highest migration rates among provinces. Most migrants move to Tehran and Karaj, where investments are concentrated. The elderly remain in Ardabil, while the youth leave. To date, the government has taken no measures to prevent this migration."
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
"'Azərbaycan' adı götürüldü, amma Ərdəbilə inkişaf gətirilmədi"