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TENSIONS CONTINUING TO MOUNT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
The Examiner
Feb 5 2015
by Bon Knudsen
The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan looks to
be flaring up again, amidst increasing violence and rumors of western
powers, including the United States, funding rebels in the area. The
situation looks to be on a path toward an all-out war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over a century old land dispute.
First, a little background on the situation. The setting is the two
former Soviet countries nestled in between Turkey, Iran, Georgia and
Russia.The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has been disputed
by Armenia and Azerbaijan for nearly a hundred years, starting at
the creation of the Soviet Union. When both countries were made a
part of the communist empire, a deal was made with Turkey, themselves
coming into their own after centuries as the Ottoman Empire, who had
a contentious relationship with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh would be
made a part of Azerbaijan rather than Armenia, a decision that has
been unpopular ever since.
Under Soviet control, the region was pacified for decades, barring
the occasional small-scale skirmish. However, when the dissolution
of the Soviet Union began in the late 1980s, so did the reemergence
of violence from separatists who wanted independence. The region is
some 95 percent ethnic Armenians, and they speak the Armenian language.
They have long considered themselves to be Armenian, and many resented
what they considered an occupation of their lands. In 1991 a vote
was held that indicated a desire for independence, though Azerbaijani
citizens rejected the outcome. War broke out and lasted for about three
years, when a cease-fire was declared between Armenia, Azerbaijan,
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Since then the situation has been tense, to say the least. Accusations
of war crimes on both sides, including ethnic cleansing, led to United
Nations condemnations and demands of troop withdrawals by Armenia.
Peace talks and negotiations have been ongoing since, mostly with
Russia acting as a third-party intermediary.
Which brings us to the present. Violence has been escalating over the
last few months, and it looks to be picking up steam. Mediators from
France, the United States, and Russia have met with both countries
and pleaded for the cessation of hostilities.
"The rise in violence that began last year must stop," the mediators
said in a joint statement. "We called on Azerbaijan to observe its
commitments to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We also called
on Armenia to take all measures to reduce tensions."
Trust is something that is in short supply, however. One top
Azerbaijani official made a statement Wednesday claiming that the
United States is involving itself in the conflict by arming the
rebels. Adding Russia's recent belligerence in nearby Ukraine and
Georgia, plus their continuing military funding of both countries,
and you have a recipe for disaster.
More violence is expected as we approach the one hundredth anniversary
of Turkey's genocide against Armenians. It seems unlikely that anything
will be resolved anytime soon in the conflict either, which has the
potential to burst into an all-out war between the two countries and
the region, much like it did in the early 90s.
http://www.examiner.com/article/tensions-continuing-to-mount-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan
The Examiner
Feb 5 2015
by Bon Knudsen
The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan looks to
be flaring up again, amidst increasing violence and rumors of western
powers, including the United States, funding rebels in the area. The
situation looks to be on a path toward an all-out war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over a century old land dispute.
First, a little background on the situation. The setting is the two
former Soviet countries nestled in between Turkey, Iran, Georgia and
Russia.The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has been disputed
by Armenia and Azerbaijan for nearly a hundred years, starting at
the creation of the Soviet Union. When both countries were made a
part of the communist empire, a deal was made with Turkey, themselves
coming into their own after centuries as the Ottoman Empire, who had
a contentious relationship with Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh would be
made a part of Azerbaijan rather than Armenia, a decision that has
been unpopular ever since.
Under Soviet control, the region was pacified for decades, barring
the occasional small-scale skirmish. However, when the dissolution
of the Soviet Union began in the late 1980s, so did the reemergence
of violence from separatists who wanted independence. The region is
some 95 percent ethnic Armenians, and they speak the Armenian language.
They have long considered themselves to be Armenian, and many resented
what they considered an occupation of their lands. In 1991 a vote
was held that indicated a desire for independence, though Azerbaijani
citizens rejected the outcome. War broke out and lasted for about three
years, when a cease-fire was declared between Armenia, Azerbaijan,
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Since then the situation has been tense, to say the least. Accusations
of war crimes on both sides, including ethnic cleansing, led to United
Nations condemnations and demands of troop withdrawals by Armenia.
Peace talks and negotiations have been ongoing since, mostly with
Russia acting as a third-party intermediary.
Which brings us to the present. Violence has been escalating over the
last few months, and it looks to be picking up steam. Mediators from
France, the United States, and Russia have met with both countries
and pleaded for the cessation of hostilities.
"The rise in violence that began last year must stop," the mediators
said in a joint statement. "We called on Azerbaijan to observe its
commitments to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We also called
on Armenia to take all measures to reduce tensions."
Trust is something that is in short supply, however. One top
Azerbaijani official made a statement Wednesday claiming that the
United States is involving itself in the conflict by arming the
rebels. Adding Russia's recent belligerence in nearby Ukraine and
Georgia, plus their continuing military funding of both countries,
and you have a recipe for disaster.
More violence is expected as we approach the one hundredth anniversary
of Turkey's genocide against Armenians. It seems unlikely that anything
will be resolved anytime soon in the conflict either, which has the
potential to burst into an all-out war between the two countries and
the region, much like it did in the early 90s.
http://www.examiner.com/article/tensions-continuing-to-mount-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan