ABOUT THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF AZERBAIJAN

 

NAGARNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started because of the plans of powerful countries in the Caucasus, as the Karabakh region is very important. Throughout history, Russia has had a strong influence in this area. After the Kurekçay Treaty in 1805, Russia became more powerful in Karabakh. The Karabakh issue also shows the conflicting interests of Russia and Armenia in the region. However, decisions made during Stalin's time indicate that Karabakh does not really belong to Armenia.

In the 1990s, Armenia began to occupy Azerbaijani land. Events like the Khojaly Massacre in 1992 made the conflict worse. The United Nations Security Council made four resolutions for Armenia to leave the occupied lands, but Armenia did not follow these rules, and the occupation continued.

There were short conflicts in 2010 and 2016, but in 2020, a larger war broke out. The United States, France, and Russia tried to mediate and established ceasefires three times, but fighting continued. During this time, Azerbaijan used military and diplomatic actions to take back its occupied land. It seemed unlikely that Armenia would withdraw, so a lasting agreement could not be reached.

The 2020 war is called the "44-Day War," and Azerbaijan won both militarily and psychologically. Turkey also gave strong support to Azerbaijan during this time.

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War ended with a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia. While this agreement did not completely solve the problem, it created a chance for lasting peace. The main points of the agreement included Armenia withdrawing from some regions and Russian peacekeepers being placed in the Lachin corridor.

AZERBAIJAN'S INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

Azerbaijan gained independence when the Soviet Union collapsed, which increased its importance in the region. At the end of the 20th century, Azerbaijan started to form its national identity. However, the country faced economic and social problems during this time. The Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the attempts of other countries to be dominant in the area negatively affected Azerbaijan's internal situation and economy.

In the early years of independence, Azerbaijan went through a difficult time. However, when Haydar Aliyev came to power, positive policies started to be introduced. After he died, his son Ilham Aliyev continued in a similar way, keeping balance in both domestic and foreign affairs. After independence, Azerbaijan’s oil and natural gas resources attracted a lot of attention, helping the country grow economically and politically and speeding up its entry into the global market.

At the same time, because Azerbaijan relied heavily on one resource, it faced a problem known as "Dutch disease," which means the economy became less diverse. The country is known for important energy projects like BTC and BTE, and other projects like TANAP and TAP have also started. These projects changed the balance of power in the region.

Finally, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is still important, and Russia’s influence in the area continues. Despite this, Azerbaijan is working hard to maintain its stability.

SOURCE

The Changing Perspectives and ''new'' Geopolities of The Caucasus in The 21st Century by Dr. Serdar YILMAZ and Dr. Murat YORULMAZ

EYLÜL AKGÜL

BÖLGESEL ANALİZ TOPLULUĞU

SİYASET BİLİMİ VE ULUSLARARASI İLİŞKİLER

MUĞLA SITKI KOÇMAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ