Armenia–Azerbaijan relations
Armenia |
Azerbaijan |
---|
There are no
History
In the Russian Empire
In the Armenian–Tatar massacres of 1905–1907, Armenians and Caucasian Tatars (later known as Azerbaijanis) killed each other and destroyed homes with up to 10,000 deaths and 286 villages destroyed throughout the Russian Caucasus.
Relations between 1918 and 1921
Upon the disintegration of the
Soviet Union (1922–1991)
Upon the establishment of the
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
In 1988, the Armenians of Karabakh voted to secede and join Armenia. This was met by pogroms (attacks) of Armenians chiefly in three cities of Azerbaijan: Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad. These attacks led to the military conflict that became known as the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The Soviet government in Moscow initially backed Azerbaijan in return for Azerbaijan supporting Mikhail Gorbachev's attempts to keep the Soviet Union together. Soviet and Soviet Azerbaijani troops both forcibly uprooted Armenian civilians in part of Nagorno-Karabakh during Operation Ring.[4] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the war clearly became an international conflict between sovereign states.
The war resulted in de facto Armenian occupation of former NKAO and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories, this advance was effectively halted when both sides agreed to observe a cease-fire that has been in effect since May 1994. In late 1995, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to find a negotiated resolution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group. The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by the US, France, and Russia and comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and several European states.
During the conflict the largest city
Amid this
Relations from 1994–2015
After the war, relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan remained very tense. In 2008, Azerbaijani president
Citizens of Armenia, people of Armenian descent and those who have visited the disputed region are forbidden entry to Azerbaijan without prior formal authorisation.[14][15]
In 2008, in what became known as the
June 2010 saw a brief flare-up of the conflict, resulting in the deaths of four Armenian soldiers and one Azeri soldier. The clash came a day after peace talks between the presidents of the two countries held in Moscow.[16]
On August 31, 2010, a border clash killed three Armenians and two Azeris. The Armenian army claimed up to seven Azeris had been killed. Both sides blamed the other for the incident.[17]
On June 24, 2011, the two sides met in
In October 2013, Zakir Hasanov was appointed as Azerbaijani Defence Minister despite controversy.[citation needed]
From July 27 to August 8, 2014, clashes began once again between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. Reported casualties of the clashes were some of the highest since the 1994 ceasefire agreement that ended the first Nagorno-Karabakh War.[20]
2016 clashes
After the 2016 clashes, in which an estimated 350 troops and civilians from both sides were killed, Azerbaijan declared a unilateral cease fire (the clashes started when Azerbaijani forces launched strikes to regain control of territory occupied by the Armenia-backed breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh).[21][22]
2020 clashes and the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
Both sides clashed on the Armenia–Azerbaijan border: Tavush and Tovuz (respectively) from 12 until 18 July 2020, in a conflict involving artillery, tanks, and shock drones, which killed at least 17 soldiers and a civilian and injured many more. Both sides reported four commanding or junior officer-rank army deaths, one on the Azeri side being a major general.[23]
On September 27, 2020, heavy fighting along the
On October 9, 2020, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet appealed for an urgent ceasefire, citing civilian sufferings in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. She also raised concerns about overpopulated areas that were becoming targets for the heavy weaponry attacks.[25]
On October 17 a new ceasefire agreement was announced by the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers following phone calls between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his counterparts. Lavrov strongly urged the countries to abide by the Moscow deal.[26] However, both sides have accused each other of violating the truce further continuing the conflict. Bachelet expressed concerns on possible war crimes during the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. On October 30, 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement that abstained them from deliberately targeting the civilians’ population, despite which artillery strikes in populated areas were reported.[27]
Ceasefire
A ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and agreed upon by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Artsakh (non-signatory) on November 9, 2020, and effective since midnight November 10, 2020, Moscow Time ended all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.[28][29][30] Azerbaijan claimed victory as it gained control of 5 cities, 4 towns, 240 villages and the entire Azerbaijan–Iran border.[31] Some parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, along with all Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh are to be ceded to Azerbaijan by December 1, 2020. Azerbaijan was also granted direct land access to its exclave of Nakhchivan via a corridor through Armenia.[32]
Around 2,000 Russian soldiers, led by Rustam Muradov,[33] will be deployed as peacekeeping forces to protect the land corridor between Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region for a mandate of at least five years.[34] Russian forces will also guarantee the roads connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan.[35]
2021–2022 clashes
On 12 May, clashes continued as Azerbaijani troops crossed into Armenian territory, claiming the area around
Clashes continued from July 2021 to April 2022, killing and wounding men from both sides of the border.[47][48][49]
After failed peace talks, the fighting renewed with the
October 2022 EPC Summit
On 6 October 2022, Azerbaijani President
2023
First joint statement
In 2023, for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia made a joint statement without an intermediary. They agreed to exchange prisoners. According to the agreement, 32 Armenian servicemen and two Azerbaijani servicemen were respectively released by the parties.[54][55] Ordinary Azerbaijani and Armenian users on social media reacted positively to that step and called for peace. Several states and institutions welcomed the joint statement.[citation needed]
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)
As a gesture of goodwill, the Republic of Armenia supported the bid of the Republic of Azerbaijan to host the
June 2023 EPC Summit
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Moscow on 25 May 2023. They agreed to recognise each other's states' territorial integrity within Soviet-era administrative borders. Pashinyan confirmed these reports the following day stating "I want to confirm that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity, and on this basis we can say that we are moving quite well towards settlement of our relations."[57] Aliyev stated, "I think there is a possibility of a peace agreement – especially because Armenia has officially recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. ... Azerbaijan has no territorial claims against Armenia today".[58][59] The leaders of both countries met at the second EPC summit on 1 June 2023 where discussions focused on the unblocking of regional transport, economic infrastructure, border delimitation and security, the rights and security of the ethnic-Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, and prisoners of war and missing persons. Both agreed to meet again on 21 June in Brussels.[60]
2024
In 2024, the de facto Armenia–Azerbaijan border was amended to give four ghost town villages in Armenia to Azerbaijan, which were already part of the latter's Qazax District.[61]
See also
- Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan
- Anti-Azerbaijani sentiment in Armenia
- Armenia–Azerbaijan relations in the Eurovision Song Contest
- Armenia–Azerbaijan border
- Armenians in Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijanis in Armenia
- EU Strategy for the South Caucasus
- Foreign relations of Armenia
- Foreign relations of Azerbaijan
- List of conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan
References
- ^ Leupold, David (2020). Embattled Dreamlands. The Politics of Contesting Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish Memory. New York: Routledge. p. 194.
- ^ ARPIISSA, f. 1, op. 222, d. 72, pp. 1–2
- ^ ISSN 0263-4937. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ISBN 0-7190-6241-1.
- ^ Human rights and democratization in the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, Volume 4; Volume 85. United States. Congress. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. 1993. p. 125.
- ^ The Daily Telegraph, Azeri jets bomb capital of enclave – Aug 23, 1992
- ISBN 1-56432-081-2, 9781564320810, p. 32
- ^ "Human Rights Watch World Report – The Former Soviet Union". Human Rights Watch.
- ^ Bloodshed in the Caucasus: escalation of the armed conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. 1992, page 12; 34
- ISBN 0-8147-1945-7. Archivedfrom the original on 3 June 2016.
- ^ Kristen Eichensehr, William Michael Reisman. Stopping wars and making peace: studies in international intervention, 2009, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers p. 63,
- ^ Annika Rabo, Bo Utas. "The role of the state in West Asia", Istanbul 2005, p. 175,
- ^ a b Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan Archived 2009-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, REGNUM News Agency, January 17, 2008
- NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia. Accessed 23 May 2010.
- ^ "Azerbaijan doesn't allow Armenians in the country - Panarmenian.net". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ "Four Armenians and one Azeri killed in Karabakh clash". Reuters. 19 June 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ "BBC News – Several killed in Nagorno-Karabakh clash". Bbc.co.uk. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ "News from Armenia, Events in Armenia, Travel and Entertainment | Armenia, Azerbaijan Report More Deadly Skirmishes". ArmeniaDiaspora.com. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ "BBC News – Armenian forces kill five Azerbaijani troops on border". Bbc.co.uk. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ Khojoyan, Sara; Agayev, Zulfugar (1 August 2014). "Azerbaijan-Armenia Border Skirmishes Turn Deadliest in 20 Years". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh fighting: Azerbaijan 'calls truce'". No. bbc.com. BBC. BBC. 3 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Botelho, Greg; Tuysuz, Gul; Berlinger, Joshua (3 April 2016). "Azerbaijan declares unilateral ceasefire amid Nagorno-Karabakh violence". No. CNN Online. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Armenia-Azerbaijan: What's Behind Latest Clashes?". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes kill at least 16, undermine regional stability". Reuters. 27 August 2020.
- ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh: UN rights chief calls for urgent ceasefire as hostilities mount". UN News. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Armenia, Azerbaijan announce new attempt to establish Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire". CBC News. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "UN rights chief warns of possible war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict". UN News. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Путин выступил с заявлением о прекращении огня в Карабахе". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Пашинян заявил о прекращении боевых действий в Карабахе". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Президент непризнанной НКР дал согласие закончить войну". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Son dakika haberi: Azerbaycan Cumhurbaşkanı duyurdu: 49 yerleşim yeri daha kurtarıldı". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "General Rustam Muradov is appointed Commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh". Turan Information Agency. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Deal Struck to End Nagorno-Karabakh War". The Moscow Times. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia sign Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal". BBC News. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ Joshua Kucera (14 May 2021). "Armenia and Azerbaijan in new border crisis". Eurasianet. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Azerbaijanis cross Armenia's state border near Kut village as well". news.am. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Residents of Verishen and Akner villages can no longer use pastures and raise livestock due to the presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen". panorama.am. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- RFE/RL. 14 May 2021. Archivedfrom the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- France24. 14 May 2021. Archivedfrom the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ ռ/կ, Ազատություն (27 May 2021). "Yerevan Wants International Observers Deployed on Armenian-Azeri Border". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» Ռադիոկայան. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Armenia/Azerbaijan: Statement by the Spokesperson on recent developments on the border – European External Action Service". Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Tensions Escalate Again in Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations". Jamestown Foundation. 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Ermənistanın Naxçıvanla sərhədində yenə "atışma olub", Ağdamda yeni hərbi hissə, Almaniyada sel 80-dən çox adamın həyatı". BBC Azərbaycanca. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Using Mortars, Azerbaijani Forces Shell Yeraskh". Asbarez. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Naxçıvanda yenidən atışma oldu, Ordumuzun baş leytenantı yaralandı". Marja.az. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Armenian soldier killed by Azeri sniper fire on border – TASS". Reuters. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Ermənistan atəşkəsi pozaraq Kəlbəcər istiqamətindəki mövqelərimizi yenidən atəşə tutub". Report Information Agency (in Azerbaijani). 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Azerbaijani units fire at Armenian positions in Yeraskh". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Fresh clashes erupt between Azerbaijan, Armenia". Reuters. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ Demourian, Avet (15 September 2022). "Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on cease-fire to end fighting". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Statement following quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Macron and President Michel, 6 October 2022".
- ^ "Leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan Agree to Civilian EU Mission Along Border". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.
- ^ JAMnews (7 December 2023). "For the first time: a joint statement by Armenia and Azerbaijan "to achieve long-awaited peace in the region"". English Jamnews. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan vow to 'normalise relations' and exchange POWs". euronews. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Bagirova, Nailia (7 December 2023). "Armenia backs Azerbaijan to host COP29 climate conference". Reuters. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Putin reports progress in talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying only technical issues remain". ABC News.
- ^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan to recognise their borders on the way to peace agreement". 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Azerbaijan, Armenia seek peace deal in talks in Russia". Daily Sabah. 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France and Germany – Consilium". Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
Further reading
- Sauerborn, Djan; Scianna, Bastian Matteo; Mazziotti, Marius: "Multipolarity is key: Assessing Azerbaijan's foreign policy"
External links
- A historic step: Azerbaijani and Armenian journalists agree on the “Language of Peace”, Caucasian Journal, (2023-04-30)
- The deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, explained, by Joe Hernandez and Charles Maynes, NPR (2022-09-19)