The ancient capital of Karabakh, Shushi, served as an important weapon emplacement for Azerbaijan forces in the years of the Karabakh conflict of 1991-1994. The town of Stepanakert and nearby villages were shelled from Shushi since they are clearly visible from its height. Shushi was liberated on 9 May 1992. It was destroyed to an extent that the Karabakh authorities called upon the Armenians from all over the world to help restore it. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, one of the priority programs of which is the construction of the North-South Highway in Karabakh, has made a decision that after its completion, it will launch an all-embracing program to restore Shushi. Several years ago, the Government of Karabakh approved a general layout of the town, by which Shushi is to become a tourist and cultural center for all Armenians when the recovery work is done.