Summary
For this week´s blog entry, I would like to continue my analysis of the region of the southern Caucasus. Particularly with the countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Weeks before, I wrote a blog post discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A topic that has had little discussion. One of my classmates brought up Armenia in one of our recent classes as another example of persecution, and I decided to look back into the conflict and see where it stands. Since then, there has been a mass exodus of over 120,000 Armenians from Nagorno Karabagh as Armenian leadership failed to maintain the autonomous region and gave it away to Azeri aggression. While the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabagh is complete, I read an article recently on how Azerbaijan is demanding new territorial claims on eight villages in Armenia proper. The territorial claims on a sovereign nation bring forth far different dynamics than on an autonomous region. While the world stood silent on Nagorno Karabagh and failed to support that region, the same does not seem to be the case for Armenia proper. While the region of Nagorno Karabagh had merely verbal support from the international community, the states have provided broader and far more substantial support to mainland Armenia, including military aid.
Turkey is adamant about building the Zangezur corridor, a proposed trade route directly connecting mainland Turkey with its close ally Azerbaijan through Syunik, the southernmost province of Armenia. Currently, Turkey's only access to Azerbaijan is through a friendly route through Georgia and a not-so-friendly route through Iran. Now, the eyes of the international community are set on Syunik. Iran has been unshakeable in its stance that it will not allow any border changes in the region. Iran claims that the border with Armenia is an ancient border that will not be changed. France also signed a military agreement with Armenia recently and vowed to open a consulate in Syunik to thwart Turkey and Azerbaijan´s ambitions.
While Armenia defended its territorial rights to Nagorno Karabakh, the international community stayed silent while it watched the territory be handed over to Azerbaijan. Now Armenia and Azerbaijan are in another conflict, but this time over Armenia proper. The dynamics of the global response to a threat on an autonomous region versus the threat to a sovereign nation will be interesting to see over these coming months. While the President of Turkey, Erdogan, gave a speech at the UN and addressed the issue stating that Armenia must accept the Zangezur corridor, Iran and France have stepped in not just with verbal support but military support that Turkey and Azerbaijan cannot have territorial claims over Syunik.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255968/azerbaijan-demands-armenia-hand-over-8-villages-it-says-are-under-occupation
One reply on “Week 10”
Maria,
Another very interesting blog post. Although I have been aware of the conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan for many years, I must admit that I have never really focused on the details, other than the fact that the Russians have often had to impose themselves as peace keepers (whether for better or worse). Then, of course, there are the historical claims and counter-claims between Armenia and Turkey about the genocide allegedly perpetrated by Turkey early in the 20th century. You’re certainly right to point out that stood by and said nothing about the most conflict, allowing Azerbaijan to simply roll in and seize the Nagorno-Karabakh. –Professor Wallerstein