Nagorno Karabakh Conflict: Armenia’s Victory or Nightmare?

Relations between two countries worsened after Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories between the years of 1988 and 1994. Since 1994, the Karabakh conflict remains frozen even after international mediation. This article aims to explore whether Armenia is truly on the winning side, as well as showing Azerbaijan’s major advantage in this conflict. Research and analysis shows that Armenia experienced economic, demographic, and political crises after the conflict, putting the country in an undesirable situation, while ongoing conflict prevents Armenia from solving its economic and demographic problems. Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is doing well with the help of its oil reserves, experiencing an oil boom at the end of the twentieth century. This helped to improve country’s economy by decreasing both unemployment and the poverty rate. As Armenia has no such resources, it must rely on expanded trade  to improve its economy. Moreover, Turkey and Azerbaijan closed their borders with Armenia a result of the conflict. Closed borders with two of four neighbor countries prevents Armenia from expanding trade and receiving investment, thus  harming its economy and leading to demographic problems as more and more people leave the country every year in search of economic opportunity. The continuing occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia puts the latter in a disadvantageous position. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by admin Posted in: Azerbaijan Press No Comments » October 2011

‘Nagorno Karabakh status to be defined on return of occupied lands’

Liberation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan is a priority in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The statement came from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

He said the status of Nagorno Karabakh may be defined only after return of lands and displaced persons to their homes.

According to the minister, the Minsk Group co-chairs are to arrive in the region in late October. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by admin Posted in: Azerbaijan Press No Comments » October 2011

Minsk Group’s ‘divergent interests’ and Nagorno-Karabakh

The substantive failure of the so called “Minsk Group” to find a diplomatic solution to the continuing dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh seems already proven. The failure is attributable to the too divergent interests of the three countries, the United States, Russia and France, that assume collectively the chairmanship of the Minsk Group and that in fact determine, or at least should determine, the guidelines.

Particularly ambiguous is the position of Washington, which has been suspended for long years since the Clinton administration between Congress where pro-Armenian positions prevail – so much so that the US has repeatedly committed significant funds as “aid” to the Armenian administration of Nagorno-Karabakh – and the White House, where initially Clinton and later George W. Bush always tried to mediate with Baku, above all, in order to maintain essential relationships able to ensure US oil interests in the Caucasus. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by admin Posted in: Azerbaijan Press No Comments » October 2011

Karabakh bill submitted to Swedish parliament

A resolution calling for the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Karabakh has been submitted to the Swedish parliament.

The resolution will first be debated by the foreign affairs committee before being put to the vote in a plenary session of parliament.

The resolution is the initiative of the Swedish-Azerbaijani Academic Society (SAAS), SAAS Chairwoman Nargiz Nedaei told News.Az. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by admin Posted in: Azerbaijan Press No Comments » October 2011