The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The Nagorno-Karabakh The Nagorno-Karabakh ConflictConflict

Jacob DoughertyJacob [email protected]@uwec.edu

Geog 308: Russia and Eastern EuropeGeog 308: Russia and Eastern EuropeProfessor Zoltan GrossmanProfessor Zoltan Grossman

University of Wisconsin- Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin- Eau ClaireSpring 2005Spring 2005

www.cac-biodiversity.org/ aze/aze_culture.htm

Where is Where is Nagorno-Nagorno-Karabakh?Karabakh?

Located in the Located in the southeastern part of southeastern part of Caucasus MinorCaucasus Minor

Landscape very Landscape very mountainous and mountainous and ruggedrugged

Enclave within Enclave within political boundaries of political boundaries of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

Agricultural economyAgricultural economyhttp://www.eurasianet.org/departments/culture/articles/eav050903.shtml#

Ethnic Diversity in Nagorno-KarabakhEthnic Diversity in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia/Azerbaijan During the Pre-Armenia/Azerbaijan During the Pre-Soviet and Early Soviet EraSoviet and Early Soviet Era

1813- Russian Empire takes 1813- Russian Empire takes control of Caucasus region; Azeri control of Caucasus region; Azeri Turks emigrate from Nagorno-Turks emigrate from Nagorno-Karabakh; Armenian population Karabakh; Armenian population growsgrows

1917- Russian Revolution; 1917- Russian Revolution; Armenia and Azerbaijan declare Armenia and Azerbaijan declare independence, fight for control independence, fight for control over Karabakhover Karabakh

1920- Soviet Red Army 1920- Soviet Red Army intervenes; Transcaucasian SFSR intervenes; Transcaucasian SFSR formed (Georgia, Armenia, formed (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan)Azerbaijan)

1921- Azerbaijan SSR cedes 1921- Azerbaijan SSR cedes Karabakh region to Armenian Karabakh region to Armenian SSRSSR

www.angelfire.com/.../ ru_transcaucasia1923c.gif

Why did Stalin give Nagorno-Why did Stalin give Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan?Karabakh to Azerbaijan?

Gerrymandering: Stalin Gerrymandering: Stalin wanted to pit the ethnic wanted to pit the ethnic groups in the South Caucasus groups in the South Caucasus regions against each otherregions against each other– Thus, Karabakh was placed Thus, Karabakh was placed

within Azerbaijan SSR, and within Azerbaijan SSR, and Nagorno-Karabakh was given Nagorno-Karabakh was given autonomy within Azerbaijan, autonomy within Azerbaijan, creating the modern border of creating the modern border of the region (1924)the region (1924)

– Stalin made concessions to Stalin made concessions to Azerbaijan SSR because of its Azerbaijan SSR because of its economic importance, economic importance, specifically its oil resourcesspecifically its oil resources

www.lib.utexas.edu/.../ azerbaijan_ssr.90.jpg

The Soviet EraThe Soviet Era Azeri policy of systematic Azeri policy of systematic

removal of Armenians from removal of Armenians from KarabakhKarabakh– From 1923 to 1979, Armenian From 1923 to 1979, Armenian

population reduced from 150,000 to population reduced from 150,000 to 120,000, while the Azeri population 120,000, while the Azeri population increased from 7,500 to 38,000increased from 7,500 to 38,000

– Demographic change exacerbates Demographic change exacerbates conflictconflict

– Azeri Communist leader Heydar Azeri Communist leader Heydar Aliyev, with strong nationalist Aliyev, with strong nationalist sentiments, claims the right of sentiments, claims the right of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh; result is thousands of Armenian result is thousands of Armenian displaced persons from 1968 to 1988displaced persons from 1968 to 1988

www.chgs.umn.edu/.../ armenia31b.jpg

Perestroika and the Drive for Perestroika and the Drive for IndependenceIndependence

Armenian minority given no Armenian minority given no rights to organize before rights to organize before Perestroika; suddenly after Perestroika; suddenly after Perestroika Armenian protests Perestroika Armenian protests against Azerbaijan SSR begin against Azerbaijan SSR begin in Karabakh (75% of in Karabakh (75% of population) and Armeniapopulation) and Armenia

www.ayfwest.org/.../ protests/protests_89.jpg

Azeri groups also organize and protest Soviet rule and concessions to Armenia, 1989

1988-1991: Key Years1988-1991: Key Years

1988- Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous 1988- Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous government votes by referendum to unify with government votes by referendum to unify with ArmeniaArmenia

1989- Azerbaijan blockades Armenian fuel 1989- Azerbaijan blockades Armenian fuel and supply lines over Karabakh issueand supply lines over Karabakh issue

Azeri troops try to keep control of region, Azeri troops try to keep control of region, Armenian rebels fight for irredentism; true Armenian rebels fight for irredentism; true military fighting begins, 1989military fighting begins, 1989

Moscow Gets InvolvedMoscow Gets Involved

1990- Violent Azeri protests against Armenia in 1990- Violent Azeri protests against Armenia in Sumgait and Baku (Azerbaijan) prompt Moscow to Sumgait and Baku (Azerbaijan) prompt Moscow to deploy troops, occupy Bakudeploy troops, occupy Baku

Azeri militia and Soviet forces target Armenian Azeri militia and Soviet forces target Armenian paramilitaries operating in Nagorno-Karabakh, paramilitaries operating in Nagorno-Karabakh, Moscow sends troops to Yerevan (Armenia)Moscow sends troops to Yerevan (Armenia)

1991- Moscow suddenly withdraws support from 1991- Moscow suddenly withdraws support from Azerbaijan and Soviet troops leave Nagorno-Azerbaijan and Soviet troops leave Nagorno-KarabakhKarabakh

The Results of Soviet WithdrawalThe Results of Soviet Withdrawal

October 1991- Referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh October 1991- Referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh approves independence, eventual union with Armeniaapproves independence, eventual union with Armenia

Violence increases dramatically after Soviet Violence increases dramatically after Soviet withdrawalwithdrawal– Over 30,000 killed in fighting between 1992-94Over 30,000 killed in fighting between 1992-94

– Armenian forces seize Susha (historically Azeri city) and Armenian forces seize Susha (historically Azeri city) and Lachin (links Karabakh to Armenia)Lachin (links Karabakh to Armenia)

– UN Security Council calls for an end to hostilities, UN Security Council calls for an end to hostilities, withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied areas of withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied areas of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

Occupation of Nagorno-KarabakhOccupation of Nagorno-Karabakh

Images of WarImages of War

http://www.travel-images.com/az-armenian.jpg

http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Strategic%20Assessments/sa95/gifs/photo003.gif

Cease-Fire, 1994Cease-Fire, 1994 Russia brokered a cease-fire Russia brokered a cease-fire

between Armenia and between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994Azerbaijan in 1994

The cease-fire has not been The cease-fire has not been successful, as the goals of both successful, as the goals of both sides have not been metsides have not been met– Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri

territory, including territory territory, including territory outside of Karabakh; still demands outside of Karabakh; still demands independence for Karabakhindependence for Karabakh

– Azerbaijan demands its right to Azerbaijan demands its right to self-determination, the end of the self-determination, the end of the occupation and the return of occupation and the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan; perceives Karabakh to Azerbaijan; perceives Russia as aiding Orthodox Russia as aiding Orthodox ArmeniaArmenia

http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/51_folder/51_articles/51_044.html

Legacy of the ConflictLegacy of the Conflict

Over 400 people have Over 400 people have died each year since the died each year since the cease-fire in Nagorno-cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the Karabakh due to the continued conflictcontinued conflict

The plight of refugeesThe plight of refugees– Over 1 million displaced Over 1 million displaced

Azeris in AzerbaijanAzeris in Azerbaijan– Refugee camps unable to Refugee camps unable to

supply refugees with supply refugees with clean water, foodclean water, food

– Lack of assistance from Lack of assistance from Moscow, the WestMoscow, the West

The Role of OilThe Role of Oil

Nagorno-Karabakh is essential to both the Nagorno-Karabakh is essential to both the Baku-Supsa and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Baku-Supsa and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline routes(BTC) oil pipeline routes– Baku-Supsa route (starting in Baku and going Baku-Supsa route (starting in Baku and going

through Georgia to the Black Sea) avoids through Georgia to the Black Sea) avoids Nagorno-Karabakh and ArmeniaNagorno-Karabakh and Armenia

– Armenians discuss interrupting the flow of oil as Armenians discuss interrupting the flow of oil as retaliationretaliation

– BTC route also avoids Armenian territory, but BTC route also avoids Armenian territory, but goes through territory of two Armenian rivals goes through territory of two Armenian rivals (Georgia and Turkey)(Georgia and Turkey)

Oil Routes from BakuOil Routes from Baku

ConclusionConclusion

No end to conflict in sightNo end to conflict in sight– Both sides unwilling to make Both sides unwilling to make

concessionsconcessions– ““Primordial” claims over territory Primordial” claims over territory

by both sidesby both sides– The unsolved problem of what to The unsolved problem of what to

do with refugeesdo with refugees– Continued fighting despite cease-Continued fighting despite cease-

firefire– Russia claiming to uphold cease-Russia claiming to uphold cease-

fire while arming Armenia; U.S. fire while arming Armenia; U.S. making oil deals with Azerbaijanmaking oil deals with Azerbaijan

– Building of oil pipelines likely to Building of oil pipelines likely to upset Armeniaupset Armenia

http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/karabakh/karabakh_index.html

SourcesSources““Nagorno-Karabakh”Nagorno-Karabakh”Found at http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~wws401c/1998/nk.htmlFound at http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~wws401c/1998/nk.html““Karabakh Conflict”Karabakh Conflict”Found at Found at

http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/karabakh/karabakh_current/keywest_historyhttp://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/karabakh/karabakh_current/keywest_history.html.html

““The Office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the USA”The Office of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the USA”Found at http://www.nkrusa.org/country_profile/geography.htmlFound at http://www.nkrusa.org/country_profile/geography.html““The World Factbook”The World Factbook”Found at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geog/aj.htmFound at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geog/aj.htm““Armenian Embassy: Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process”Armenian Embassy: Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process”Found at Found at

http://www.armeniaemb.org/ArmeniaUS/NKPeaceProcess/NKConflictBrief.htmhttp://www.armeniaemb.org/ArmeniaUS/NKPeaceProcess/NKConflictBrief.htm““Nagorno-Karabakh: A Case Study”Nagorno-Karabakh: A Case Study”Found at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCIDtaz0024)Found at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCIDtaz0024)Goldman, Dr. Minton F. Goldman, Dr. Minton F. Russia, the Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern EuropeRussia, the Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe. .

99thth Ed. Guilford: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2003. 67-69. Ed. Guilford: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2003. 67-69.