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The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. Jacob Dougherty dougheja@uwec.edu Geog 308: Russia and Eastern Europe Professor Zoltan Grossman University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Spring 2005. www.cac-biodiversity.org/ aze/aze_culture.htm . Where is Nagorno-Karabakh?.

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The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

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  1. The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Jacob Dougherty dougheja@uwec.edu Geog 308: Russia and Eastern Europe Professor Zoltan Grossman University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Spring 2005 www.cac-biodiversity.org/ aze/aze_culture.htm

  2. Where is Nagorno-Karabakh? • Located in the southeastern part of Caucasus Minor • Landscape very mountainous and rugged • Enclave within political boundaries of Azerbaijan • Agricultural economy http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/culture/articles/eav050903.shtml#

  3. Ethnic Diversity in Nagorno-Karabakh

  4. Armenia/Azerbaijan During the Pre-Soviet and Early Soviet Era • 1813- Russian Empire takes control of Caucasus region; Azeri Turks emigrate from Nagorno-Karabakh; Armenian population grows • 1917- Russian Revolution; Armenia and Azerbaijan declare independence, fight for control over Karabakh • 1920- Soviet Red Army intervenes; Transcaucasian SFSR formed (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan) • 1921- Azerbaijan SSR cedes Karabakh region to Armenian SSR www.angelfire.com/.../ ru_transcaucasia1923c.gif

  5. Why did Stalin give Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan? • Gerrymandering: Stalin wanted to pit the ethnic groups in the South Caucasus regions against each other • Thus, Karabakh was placed within Azerbaijan SSR, and Nagorno-Karabakh was given autonomy within Azerbaijan, creating the modern border of the region (1924) • Stalin made concessions to Azerbaijan SSR because of its economic importance, specifically its oil resources www.lib.utexas.edu/.../ azerbaijan_ssr.90.jpg

  6. The Soviet Era • Azeri policy of systematic removal of Armenians from Karabakh • From 1923 to 1979, Armenian population reduced from 150,000 to 120,000, while the Azeri population increased from 7,500 to 38,000 • Demographic change exacerbates conflict • Azeri Communist leader Heydar Aliyev, with strong nationalist sentiments, claims the right of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh; result is thousands of Armenian displaced persons from 1968 to 1988 www.chgs.umn.edu/.../ armenia31b.jpg

  7. Perestroika and the Drive for Independence Azeri groups also organize and protest Soviet rule and concessions to Armenia, 1989 • Armenian minority given no rights to organize before Perestroika; suddenly after Perestroika Armenian protests against Azerbaijan SSR begin in Karabakh (75% of population) and Armenia www.ayfwest.org/.../ protests/protests_89.jpg

  8. 1988-1991: Key Years • 1988- Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous government votes by referendum to unify with Armenia • 1989- Azerbaijan blockades Armenian fuel and supply lines over Karabakh issue • Azeri troops try to keep control of region, Armenian rebels fight for irredentism; true military fighting begins, 1989

  9. Moscow Gets Involved • 1990- Violent Azeri protests against Armenia in Sumgait and Baku (Azerbaijan) prompt Moscow to deploy troops, occupy Baku • Azeri militia and Soviet forces target Armenian paramilitaries operating in Nagorno-Karabakh, Moscow sends troops to Yerevan (Armenia) • 1991- Moscow suddenly withdraws support from Azerbaijan and Soviet troops leave Nagorno-Karabakh

  10. The Results of Soviet Withdrawal • October 1991- Referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh approves independence, eventual union with Armenia • Violence increases dramatically after Soviet withdrawal • Over 30,000 killed in fighting between 1992-94 • Armenian forces seize Susha (historically Azeri city) and Lachin (links Karabakh to Armenia) • UN Security Council calls for an end to hostilities, withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied areas of Azerbaijan

  11. Occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh

  12. Images of War http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Strategic%20Assessments/sa95/gifs/photo003.gif http://www.travel-images.com/az-armenian.jpg

  13. Cease-Fire, 1994 • Russia brokered a cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994 • The cease-fire has not been successful, as the goals of both sides have not been met • Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri territory, including territory outside of Karabakh; still demands independence for Karabakh • Azerbaijan demands its right to self-determination, the end of the occupation and the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan; perceives Russia as aiding Orthodox Armenia http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/51_folder/51_articles/51_044.html

  14. Legacy of the Conflict • Over 400 people have died each year since the cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the continued conflict • The plight of refugees • Over 1 million displaced Azeris in Azerbaijan • Refugee camps unable to supply refugees with clean water, food • Lack of assistance from Moscow, the West

  15. The Role of Oil • Nagorno-Karabakh is essential to both the Baku-Supsa and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline routes • Baku-Supsa route (starting in Baku and going through Georgia to the Black Sea) avoids Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia • Armenians discuss interrupting the flow of oil as retaliation • BTC route also avoids Armenian territory, but goes through territory of two Armenian rivals (Georgia and Turkey)

  16. Oil Routes from Baku

  17. Conclusion • No end to conflict in sight • Both sides unwilling to make concessions • “Primordial” claims over territory by both sides • The unsolved problem of what to do with refugees • Continued fighting despite cease-fire • Russia claiming to uphold cease-fire while arming Armenia; U.S. making oil deals with Azerbaijan • Building of oil pipelines likely to upset Armenia http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/karabakh/karabakh_index.html

  18. Sources “Nagorno-Karabakh” Found at http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~wws401c/1998/nk.html “Karabakh Conflict” Found at http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/karabakh/karabakh_current/keywest_history.html “The Office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the USA” Found at http://www.nkrusa.org/country_profile/geography.html “The World Factbook” Found at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geog/aj.htm “Armenian Embassy: Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process” Found at http://www.armeniaemb.org/ArmeniaUS/NKPeaceProcess/NKConflictBrief.htm “Nagorno-Karabakh: A Case Study” Found at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCIDtaz0024) Goldman, Dr. Minton F. Russia, the Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe. 9th Ed. Guilford: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2003. 67-69.

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