Azerbaijan Armenia conflict
The Caucasus is a strategically important mountainous region in south-east Europe. For centuries, different powers in the region – both Christian and Muslim – have vied for control there. Modern-day Armenia and Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union when it formed in the 1920s. Nagorno-Karabakh was an ethnic-majority Armenian region, but the Soviets gave control over the area to Azerbaijani authorities.
It was only as the Soviet Union began to collapse in the late 1980s that Nagorno-Karabakh’s regional parliament officially voted to become part of Armenia. Azerbaijan sought to suppress the separatist movement, while Armenia backed it. This led to ethnic clashes, and – after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from Moscow – a full-scale war.
Tens of thousands died and up to a million were displaced amid reports of ethnic cleansing and massacres committed by both sides. Most of those displaced in the war were Azerbaijanis. Armenian forces gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh and areas adjacent to it before a Russian-brokered ceasefire was declared in 1994. After that deal, Nagorno-Karabakh remained part of Azerbaijan, but since then has mostly been governed by a separatist, self-declared republic, run by ethnic Armenians and backed by the Armenian government.
Peace talks have taken place since then, mediated by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group – a body set up in 1992 and chaired by France, Russia and the United States. But clashes continued, and a serious flare-up in 2016 saw the deaths of dozens of troops on both sides.
The conflict is further complicated by geopolitics. Nato member-state Turkey was the first nation to recognise Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991. Former Azeri President Heydar Aliyev once described the two as “one nation with two states”. Both share a Turkic culture and populations. Moreover, Turkey has no official relations with Armenia. In 1993 Turkey shut its border with Armenia in support of Azerbaijan during the war over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia meanwhile has had good relations with Russia. There is a Russian military base in Armenia, and both are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance. However, President Vladimir Putin also has maintained good relations with Azerbaijan.
In 2018, Armenia underwent a peaceful revolution, sweeping long-time ruler Serzh Sargsyan from power. Protest leader Nikol Pashinyan became the prime minister after free Elections that year. Mr Pashinyan agreed with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to de-escalate tensions and set up the first military hotline between the two countries.
But in August 2019 Mr Pashinyan told crowds of ethnic Armenians assembled in the main city in Karabakh, Stepanakert, that “Artsakh is Armenia, full stop.” Artsakh is the Armenian name for Karabakh. The remarks angered Azerbaijan and were repeatedly condemned by President Aliyev.
Fighting broke out in July this year on the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, some 300km (185 miles) away from Nagorno-Karabakh. By the end of the month Turkey’s military was taking part in large-scale joint exercises in Azerbaijan. The latest conflict broke out on 27 September. Armenia said Azerbaijan fired the first shots. Azerbaijan said it was launching a “counter-offensive” in response to Armenian aggression.
Fragile ceasefire
The six-week-long war over Nagorno-Karabakh has come to a halt following a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but only after altering the balance of power in the region. Before Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev went to war in late September, Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding villages connecting the enclave with mainland Armenia were controlled by either Armenian troops or their proxies. Armenia had captured the mountainous region within Azerbaijan — populated by ethnic Armenians — in the earlier war in the 1990s. But tensions continued even after the 1994 ceasefire. When he launched the offensive, Mr. Aliyev, backed by Turkey, vowed to capture Nagorno-Karabakh. Last week, when the ceasefire was announced, Azeri troops had captured several areas around Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia, including the strategic Shusha, a city just 16 km from Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital, Stepanakert. If Armenia was seen as the victor in the 1991-94 war, Mr. Aliyev has claimed triumph this time. On the other side, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is facing a political backlash. Yerevan has seen protests against the troops’ withdrawal, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has quit over the ceasefire and the country’s President has asked Mr. Pashinyan to resign and hold a snap election.
Even if the direct conflict was between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two bigger powers had high stakes — Russia and Turkey. While Turkey strongly supported Azerbaijan, reportedly with armed drones and military advisers, Russia, which has a security agreement with Armenia, tried to remain neutral. While Azerbaijan made military progress, Russia resisted calls to back Armenia and continued with its push to bring the conflict in its backyard to an end, which it managed to do, finally. Vladimir Putin is the only signatory to the agreement besides the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. While Armenia was forced to pull back from several villages and Shusha, it avoided defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia would send 2,000 peacekeepers to protect the remaining Armenian Population and patrol the corridor that links the enclave with the Armenian mainland.,
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The conflict has been ongoing since 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, declared its independence from Azerbaijan. The conflict has resulted in a number of armed clashes, including the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1992-1994) and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war was a major escalation of the conflict. The war lasted for 44 days, from September 27 to November 9, 2020. The war resulted in the deaths of at least 6,000 people and the displacement of over 1 million people. The war ended with a ceasefire agreement, which was signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. The ceasefire agreement resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control of several districts that had been under Armenian control since the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a complex and intractable conflict. There is no easy solution to the conflict. The conflict has been a major source of instability in the South Caucasus region. The conflict has also had a negative impact on the economies of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The OSCE Minsk Group is a group of countries that have been involved in mediation efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States. The OSCE Minsk Group has been unable to achieve a breakthrough in the conflict.
Russia and Turkey are two of the most important actors in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia is a close ally of Armenia, while Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan. Russia and Turkey have been involved in arms sales to Azerbaijan and Armenia, respectively. Russia and Turkey have also been involved in military exercises in the region.
Iran is another important actor in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Iran is a neighbor of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran has a long history of relations with both countries. Iran has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
France, the United States, and the European Union have also been involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. France, the United States, and the European Union have called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. France, the United States, and the European Union have also provided humanitarian assistance to the region.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a complex and intractable conflict. There is no easy solution to the conflict. The conflict has been a major source of instability in the South Caucasus region. The conflict has also had a negative impact on the economies of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, Turkey, Iran, France, the United States, and the European Union have all been involved in mediation efforts to resolve the conflict, but have been unable to achieve a breakthrough.
What is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The conflict has its roots in the early 20th century, when the region was part of the Russian Empire. After the collapse of the Russian Empire, the region was disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In 1923, the Soviet Union established the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within the Azerbaijan SSR. However, the majority of the population of the region was Armenian.
In the late 1980s, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalated. In 1991, the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians declared independence from Azerbaijan. The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia lasted from 1992 to 1994. The war ended with a ceasefire agreement, but the conflict remains unresolved.
What is the current status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a frozen conflict. There is no peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the two countries remain technically at war. The ceasefire agreement has been violated on numerous occasions.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is currently under the control of Armenian forces. However, Azerbaijan claims the region as its own. The conflict has displaced over a million people.
What are the main issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The main issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the return of displaced people. Azerbaijan demands the return of the Nagorno-Karabakh region to its control, while Armenia demands the right of self-determination for the Armenian population of the region. The return of displaced people is also a major issue.
What are the possible solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
There are a number of possible solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. One option is a peace agreement that would recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh region as part of Azerbaijan. Another option is a status quo agreement that would maintain the current situation, with the Nagorno-Karabakh region under Armenian control. A third option is a partition agreement that would divide the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
What is the role of the international community in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The international community has been involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since the early 1990s. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been the main mediator in the conflict. The United Nations has also been involved in the conflict, but its role has been limited.
The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the conflict remains unresolved.
What are the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has had a number of consequences. The conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with over a million people displaced. The conflict has also had a negative impact on the economies of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The conflict has also destabilized the region.
What is the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
The future of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is uncertain. The conflict remains unresolved, and there is no sign of a breakthrough in the negotiations. The conflict could escalate into a full-scale war, or it could remain frozen for many years.
The following are multiple choice questions about the topic of Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict:
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What is the name of the disputed territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia?
(A) Nagorno-Karabakh
(B) Artsakh
(C) Syunik
(D) Nakhchivan -
What is the current status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) It is a frozen conflict.
(B) It is an active conflict.
(C) It is a resolved conflict.
(D) It is a peace process. -
What are the main causes of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) Ethnic and religious tensions between Azerbaijanis and Armenians.
(B) The disputed status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
(C) The collapse of the Soviet Union.
(D) All of the above. -
What are the main consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) Thousands of people have been killed.
(B) Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.
(C) The region has been devastated.
(D) All of the above. -
What are the main actors in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) Azerbaijan
(B) Armenia
(C) Nagorno-Karabakh
(D) The OSCE Minsk Group -
What are the main international efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) The OSCE Minsk Group
(B) The United Nations
(C) The European Union
(D) All of the above. -
What is the current status of international efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) They are ongoing.
(B) They have failed.
(C) They have been successful.
(D) They have been suspended. -
What are the main obstacles to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) The lack of trust between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
(B) The disputed status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
(C) The involvement of third parties.
(D) All of the above. -
What are the main possible solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) A return to the status quo ante bellum.
(B) A partition of Nagorno-Karabakh.
(C) A unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
(D) A status quo with autonomy for Nagorno-Karabakh. -
What is the most likely outcome of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
(A) A negotiated settlement.
(B) A military victory for one side.
(C) A frozen conflict.
(D) A peace process that fails.