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Eurasia Review
November 7, 2014 Friday
Finding Peace For Nagorno-Karabakh - OpEd
The conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is
one of the bloodiest and most intractable to emerge from the breakup
of the Soviet Union, making peacebuilding even more imperative.
By Tugce Ercetin
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh - a region claimed by both Armenia
and Azerbaijan - has existed since the end of the WWI, but it was
after the collapse of the USSR that the conflict turned violent, with
war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992. This has gained
Nagorno-Karabakh international attention as countries in the region
have an active stake in the solution of the conflict. The dispute
between Armenia and Azerbaijan became the one of the bloodiest and
most intractable clashes to emerge from the breakup of the Soviet
Union.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is the greatest obstacle to
security and stability in the South Caucasus and the involved parties
did not resolve it. Bilateral conflict relations have not stabilised
the region, as there are many third party interests at play, often
overshadowing national interests. For instance, Nagorno-Karabakh is
influential in relations between Armenia and Turkey, while Turkey
shares a closer relationship with Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh is within the international borders of Azerbaijan
over a total area of 4,800 square kilometres. For countless ethnic
groups, the territory has been a transit and settlement zone for
thousands of years, resulting in innumerable territorial conflicts,
campaigns of conquest and ethnic dislocations. Both the Azeris and
Armenians claim ownership of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Various
immigrations and mutual attacks have often resulted in negotiations
reaching a deadlock. Consequently, both sides claim legitimacy due to
fear that they would be an ethnic minority within the region.
Between 1992 and 1994 Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over
Nagorno-Karabakh. The dispute has been characterized by violence and
is based on frozen interethnic issues in the Caucasus region.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still potentially dangerous and negotiations
continue, but a solution has not been found yet. Mutual dehumanisation
of the enemy makes confidence-building and improving relations
difficult. Enhancing cooperative agreements and encouraging attempts
of second track diplomacy can ameliorate the lack of economic,
cultural and social contact between the two communities.
The Caucasus Research Resource Centre identified the current views on
a resolution between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
They found that 23% of the Armenian people and 10% of the Azeri think
that the issue will never be resolved. The study indicates that the
prospects of conflict are becoming an integral part of their country
and have increased since the ceasefire agreement in May 1994.
The main problem arises from political and historical assertions that
have emphasised ethnicity and the shifting sovereignty of Karabakh.
According to Armenian perception of history, the Albanians were
converted to Christianity and "Armenianised" at a very early stage.
Azerbaijan argues that the region is Islamised and originates from a
Turkish population from Azerbaijan. Within the Nagorno-Karabakh
region, the population is predominately Armenian, and is governed by
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, an independent but not internationally
recognised state.
Economic and cultural perspectives deepen the conflict by entrenching
hostile beliefs about the other side. Armenia is one of the most
isolated countries in the region, making it considerably weaker and
poorer than its neighbours. The area's strategic importance is
dependent on the extraction and export of Caspian oil, often
exacerbating regional polarisation.
For relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Analytical Centre on
Globalization Regional Cooperation (ACGRC) plays a key role, and
therefore Programme Manager Hasmik Grigoryan responded to my questions
explaining the region, issues, and recommendations. She helped to
identify the situation and discussed their activities as
peacebuilders.
What is the main primary focus of your institution?
Established in 2002, ACGRC works as both a think-tank and an advocacy
group, promoting democratic values, strengthening civil society and
the rule of law in Armenia, development of free market economy,
regional integration and peaceful resolution of regional conflicts.
ACGRC supports public sector reforms and development of good practices
in local governance, disseminates knowledge on legal issues, produces
expert assessments and analysis of conflict transformation and
regional cooperation issues. It also supports initiatives that aim
towards forming an atmosphere of trust and stable peace in the South
Caucasus.
Could you please give some details regarding your projects? What areas
do you focus on generally?
ACGRC focuses on different areas. One of them is European integration,
political situation in post-Soviet territory, Eastern Partnership,
raising awareness of European values, Armenia-NATO relations, conflict
resolution and trust building. Further areas are: Armenian-Turkish
relations; Armenian-Azerbaijani relations; and trilateral cooperation
between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. ACGRC works in these fields
through organising conferences, workshops for students, through
publications.
This interview aims to illustrate efforts on reconciliation and peace
between Azerbaijan and Armenia in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh
question. Therefore, can you explain what kind of projects and
organisations are included?
ACGRC has organised a number of workshops between the youth of Armenia
and Azerbaijan and also organised conferences between historians of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. ACGRC has published books analysing history
textbooks of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The main aim of these
projects is trust-building, hearing each other and constructing
cooperation.
Did you notice any kind of change in terms of peace and reconciliation
between both communities after they have been involved in the outlined
projects?
By engaging in the projects a large number of people, from both sides,
developed better connections with each other and networks of peace
were enlarged. Participants made joint statements and spoke on TV or
wrote in media calling to solve conflict through peace and compromise.
Also the participants of the projects try to show their opinion and
common results of the meetings to the Armenian and Azerbaijani
governments and international actors.
The crucial part relies on ACGRC highlighting the definition and
reason for the conflict to both local and international peacebuilding
parties. It is important that tolerance and interactions foster peace,
helping to create possible awareness and changing perceptions.
Conflict between both countries is defined as lack of trust and
tolerance, lack of connections and interaction, tensions on the
border. No people-to-people contacts. No will to understand each other
and go for compromises. Though it is a frozen conflict but with civil
and military victims and injured people.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is still significant as it
influences neighbouring countries and security in the region. It seems
that dialogue between conflicting communities can overcome
misperceptions and if people can interact with each other, it can be
the beginning of peaceful approach. Civil society is much more
beneficial when national interests are looking for humanity and
safety.
Tugce Ercetin is working towards a PhD in political science, and has
both a Bachelor's and Masters degree in international relations.
This article was originally published by Insight on Conflict and is
available by clicking here.
The post Finding Peace For Nagorno-Karabakh - OpEd appeared first on
Eurasia Review.
November 7, 2014 Friday
Finding Peace For Nagorno-Karabakh - OpEd
The conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is
one of the bloodiest and most intractable to emerge from the breakup
of the Soviet Union, making peacebuilding even more imperative.
By Tugce Ercetin
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh - a region claimed by both Armenia
and Azerbaijan - has existed since the end of the WWI, but it was
after the collapse of the USSR that the conflict turned violent, with
war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992. This has gained
Nagorno-Karabakh international attention as countries in the region
have an active stake in the solution of the conflict. The dispute
between Armenia and Azerbaijan became the one of the bloodiest and
most intractable clashes to emerge from the breakup of the Soviet
Union.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is the greatest obstacle to
security and stability in the South Caucasus and the involved parties
did not resolve it. Bilateral conflict relations have not stabilised
the region, as there are many third party interests at play, often
overshadowing national interests. For instance, Nagorno-Karabakh is
influential in relations between Armenia and Turkey, while Turkey
shares a closer relationship with Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh is within the international borders of Azerbaijan
over a total area of 4,800 square kilometres. For countless ethnic
groups, the territory has been a transit and settlement zone for
thousands of years, resulting in innumerable territorial conflicts,
campaigns of conquest and ethnic dislocations. Both the Azeris and
Armenians claim ownership of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Various
immigrations and mutual attacks have often resulted in negotiations
reaching a deadlock. Consequently, both sides claim legitimacy due to
fear that they would be an ethnic minority within the region.
Between 1992 and 1994 Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over
Nagorno-Karabakh. The dispute has been characterized by violence and
is based on frozen interethnic issues in the Caucasus region.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still potentially dangerous and negotiations
continue, but a solution has not been found yet. Mutual dehumanisation
of the enemy makes confidence-building and improving relations
difficult. Enhancing cooperative agreements and encouraging attempts
of second track diplomacy can ameliorate the lack of economic,
cultural and social contact between the two communities.
The Caucasus Research Resource Centre identified the current views on
a resolution between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
They found that 23% of the Armenian people and 10% of the Azeri think
that the issue will never be resolved. The study indicates that the
prospects of conflict are becoming an integral part of their country
and have increased since the ceasefire agreement in May 1994.
The main problem arises from political and historical assertions that
have emphasised ethnicity and the shifting sovereignty of Karabakh.
According to Armenian perception of history, the Albanians were
converted to Christianity and "Armenianised" at a very early stage.
Azerbaijan argues that the region is Islamised and originates from a
Turkish population from Azerbaijan. Within the Nagorno-Karabakh
region, the population is predominately Armenian, and is governed by
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, an independent but not internationally
recognised state.
Economic and cultural perspectives deepen the conflict by entrenching
hostile beliefs about the other side. Armenia is one of the most
isolated countries in the region, making it considerably weaker and
poorer than its neighbours. The area's strategic importance is
dependent on the extraction and export of Caspian oil, often
exacerbating regional polarisation.
For relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Analytical Centre on
Globalization Regional Cooperation (ACGRC) plays a key role, and
therefore Programme Manager Hasmik Grigoryan responded to my questions
explaining the region, issues, and recommendations. She helped to
identify the situation and discussed their activities as
peacebuilders.
What is the main primary focus of your institution?
Established in 2002, ACGRC works as both a think-tank and an advocacy
group, promoting democratic values, strengthening civil society and
the rule of law in Armenia, development of free market economy,
regional integration and peaceful resolution of regional conflicts.
ACGRC supports public sector reforms and development of good practices
in local governance, disseminates knowledge on legal issues, produces
expert assessments and analysis of conflict transformation and
regional cooperation issues. It also supports initiatives that aim
towards forming an atmosphere of trust and stable peace in the South
Caucasus.
Could you please give some details regarding your projects? What areas
do you focus on generally?
ACGRC focuses on different areas. One of them is European integration,
political situation in post-Soviet territory, Eastern Partnership,
raising awareness of European values, Armenia-NATO relations, conflict
resolution and trust building. Further areas are: Armenian-Turkish
relations; Armenian-Azerbaijani relations; and trilateral cooperation
between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. ACGRC works in these fields
through organising conferences, workshops for students, through
publications.
This interview aims to illustrate efforts on reconciliation and peace
between Azerbaijan and Armenia in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh
question. Therefore, can you explain what kind of projects and
organisations are included?
ACGRC has organised a number of workshops between the youth of Armenia
and Azerbaijan and also organised conferences between historians of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. ACGRC has published books analysing history
textbooks of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The main aim of these
projects is trust-building, hearing each other and constructing
cooperation.
Did you notice any kind of change in terms of peace and reconciliation
between both communities after they have been involved in the outlined
projects?
By engaging in the projects a large number of people, from both sides,
developed better connections with each other and networks of peace
were enlarged. Participants made joint statements and spoke on TV or
wrote in media calling to solve conflict through peace and compromise.
Also the participants of the projects try to show their opinion and
common results of the meetings to the Armenian and Azerbaijani
governments and international actors.
The crucial part relies on ACGRC highlighting the definition and
reason for the conflict to both local and international peacebuilding
parties. It is important that tolerance and interactions foster peace,
helping to create possible awareness and changing perceptions.
Conflict between both countries is defined as lack of trust and
tolerance, lack of connections and interaction, tensions on the
border. No people-to-people contacts. No will to understand each other
and go for compromises. Though it is a frozen conflict but with civil
and military victims and injured people.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is still significant as it
influences neighbouring countries and security in the region. It seems
that dialogue between conflicting communities can overcome
misperceptions and if people can interact with each other, it can be
the beginning of peaceful approach. Civil society is much more
beneficial when national interests are looking for humanity and
safety.
Tugce Ercetin is working towards a PhD in political science, and has
both a Bachelor's and Masters degree in international relations.
This article was originally published by Insight on Conflict and is
available by clicking here.
The post Finding Peace For Nagorno-Karabakh - OpEd appeared first on
Eurasia Review.