The Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave

Armenia’s PM and Azerbaijan’s President announced that they would be setting up border security and delimitation commissions, signalling a step towards resolution of a decades-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave.

How did the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh begin?

• Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked, mountainous and forested region, falling within the boundaries of Azerbaijan.
  • Called Artsakh in Armenian, hosts predominantly ethnic Armenian population with an Azeri minority.
  • Location: South Caucasus region and is roughly made up of modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
  • It was once a part of Armenian kingdom.
  • Ruled by several empires over centuries - Ottomans, Persians, and Russians.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia later became separate Republics, with Azeris incorporating Nagorno-Karabakh into their Republic.
• During WWI, Ottomans attacked south Caucasus, especially targeting ethnic Armenians.
• As Ottomans retreated at the end of World War, Azerbaijan and Armenia descended into a full-blown war in 1920.

The Azeri-Armenian war of 1991

• Soon Bolsheviks took over south Caucasus to expand Soviet influence and Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia became Soviet Republics.
• Soviets officially placed Nagorno-Karabakh as an autonomous administrative region in Azerbaijan’s territory, despite the chiefly Armenian population.
• As Soviet power began to wane ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh expressed a desire to become a part of Armenia.
  • Organised vote for same in 1988.
• This did not go down well with Azerbaijan and military clashes ensued.
• By 1993, Armenia took control of most of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• War ended in 1994 with ceasefire brokered by Russia but borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan were not demarcated.
• Peace talks were initiated by Minsk Group but peace treaty could not be brokered.
• Minsk Group: created by Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in early 1990, was co-chaired by Russia, US, and France.
• Its proposals were continuously rejected by both Yerevan and Baku.
• Its role declined during 2020 war b/w two countries, as other negotiating groups entered the scene.

The war of 2016 and 2020

• Ceasefire signed in 1994 could not prevent multiple flare-ups b/w Nagorno-Karabakh rebel armed forces backed by Armenian military, and Azerbaijani military.
• 2016: clash started b/w Azerbaijan and Armenia which lasted for four days.
• Ceasefire signed in Moscow put an end to the war but issue was far from resolved.
• 2020: Fresh clashes erupted which turned into six-week war.
• Ceasefire brokered by Moscow in November 2020.

Who is organising the current peace talks and where do they stand?

• Despite 2020 ceasefire, clashes have not stopped.
• Baku saw an opportunity to introduce its own peace proposal.
• It calls for mutual recognition of each State’s territorial integrity.
• EU has emerged as a potential peace broker.
• European Council President headed meetings b/w both countries for peace talks twice.

Conclusion

• While both countries have now agreed to formulate border security and delimitation commissions and start talks for a peace deal, a permanent solution for Karabakh issue remains out of sight.

Exam Track

Prelims take away

• Location based question