Conflict between
Armenia and
Azerbaijan
Facts and
developments
The
contemporary
Azerbaijani
statehood takes
its roots back
from the Kingdom
of Caucasian
Albania. The
area presently
known as
Nagorno-Karabakh
(Mountainous
Karabakh) was a
part of that
Kingdom since
its formation.
According to the
Antic sources
there were 26
tribal unions in
Albania, ethnic
composition of
which was
autochthonous
Caucasian and
Turkic. Albania
with its
autocephalous
church possessed
a rich and
unique culture,
where alphabet
in use was
composed of 52
letters. In a
year 313 A.D.
Christianity was
confirmed as a
state religion
in Albania.
Turbulent
situation did
not let it to
keep its
independence for
a long time. In
a year 705 A.D.
the Kingdom was
totally
subordinated to
the Arab
Khalifat. After
this, the
Khalifat having
an alliance with
Armenians
against
Byzantium, with
the aim of
elimination of
the close
relations
between Albania
and Byzantium,
subjugated
Albanian Church
to the Armenian
Grigorian
Church.
Throughout
the Middle Ages,
Karabakh always
was part of the
state formations
existed in the
territory of
present
Azerbaijan led
by Turkic Muslim
dynasties and
inhabited by
Turkic speaking
people.
18th
century was
marked with an
establishment of
the Karabakh
Khanate, which
was headed by
the Turkic
(Azerbaijani)
dynasty of
Djavanshirs.
This was the
Azerbaijani
Khanate ruled by
the hereditary
dynastic
tradition of
Azerbaijani
nobles,
predominantly
populated by
ethnic
Azerbaijanis.
A rule of
Russian Empire
was imposed on
the Khanate
after the
signature of the
Treaty of
Kurakchay (1805)
between the Khan
of Karabakh and
the Russian
Empire. After
the take-over of
the overall
Caucasian
region, the
Russian Empire
pursued divide
et impera policy
through
different means
with a view to
establishing and
strengthening
its total
control.
Enforced change
of demographic
situation in the
region by
massive
resettlement of
the Armenians to
Karabakh from
Persia and the
Ottoman Empire
was an extensive
package of
measures of such
kind. After the
Russo-Iranian
(1806-1813,
1826-1828) and
Russo-Ottoman
(1828-1829) wars
the ethnic
composition of
the region was
substantially
changed. Only
during the
period of
1828-1830 more
than 40.000
Armenians from
Persia and
84.600 from
Ottoman Empire
were settled to
Azerbaijan.
In 1828,
by the order of
the Russian
Emperor, an
Armenian Oblast
was formed in
the territories
of occupied
Azerbaijani
Khanates (Irevan
and Nakhchivan).
This was done
with the aim of
creating a
buffer zone in
the backyard of
the Ottoman
Empire and to
divide the
Turkic speaking
band into
separate parts.
Abolition of the
Albanian Church
by the Russian
Czar in 1836
resulted in
ultimate
Grigorianization
(Armenization)
of the Albanian
population.
1918
May 28 -
Declaration of
independence of
the Azerbaijan
Democratic
Republic (ADR).
On the same day
the independence
of the Republic
of Armenia was
declared;
May 29 -
The government
of ADR yielded
the town of
Irevan
(presently
Yerevan, the 30%
of population
were people of
different
ethnicities,
including
Armenians,
whereas the 70%
majority were
Azerbaijanis) to
the Government
of the Republic
of Armenia,
which had
declared its
independence,
but had no
political
center.
June 4 -
The Batum Peace
Treaty between
the Ottoman
Empire and the
three
South-Caucasian
republics
(Armenia,
Azerbaijan and
Georgia). The
Ottoman Empire
was the first
state, which
recognized
independence of
the
South-Caucasian
republics.
According to the
Treaty on the
Armenian side
signed by the
Prime Minister
of the Dashnak
Government, the
borders of
Armenia have
been defined and
consequently the
total area of
this state was
specified, as
10.000 sq. km.
composed of
Erivan and
Echmiadzin
districts with
400.000
residents.
Naturally
Karabakh was the
part of the
Azerbaijan
Democratic
Republic;
June-July
- Contrary to
the agreed terms
of peaceful and
good neighborly
relations,
Republic of
Armenia began
the large-scale
aggression
against
Azerbaijan.
Occupation of
the town of
Nakhchivan,
massive attacks
on Azerbaijani
villages of
Zangezur and
Karabakh
resulted in
devastation of
115 villages and
killing of 7729
Azerbaijani
civilians.
Around 50.000
people were
displaced from
their homelands;
1920
January 11
- De-facto
recognition of
independence of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan by
the Supreme
Council of the
Allied Nations;
April 27 -
Occupation of
Azerbaijan by
the 11th Red
Army of Soviet
Russia;
April 28 -
Azerbaijan
Democratic
Republic ceased
its existence
and the Soviet
rule was
established in
Azerbaijan;
1921
July 5 -
The Caucasian
Bureau of the
Central
Committee of the
Communist Party
of Russia (bolshevik)
decided:
"Proceeding from
the necessity to
maintain peace
between Moslems
and Armenians,
economic ties
between Highland
and Lowland
Karabakh, its
uninterrupted
ties with
Azerbaijan, to
keep Mountainous
Karabakh within
the Azerbaijan
SSR and to grant
broad regional
autonomy."
At the
same time with
granting the
right of
self-rule to the
Armenians of the
Mountainous
Karabakh,
predominantly
Azerbaijani
populated
regions of
Zangezur and
part of Kazakh
district (in
total 9.000 km?)
was given to
Armenia. In
total, 20.000
km? Azerbaijani
territories had
been given to
Armenia in the
Soviet years;
1923
July 7 -
Decree of the
Central
Executive
Committee of the
Communist Party
of Azerbaijan
SSR on
"Formation of
the Autonomous
Region in the
Mountainous
Karabakh with an
administrative
center in
Khankendi" (The
name of the town
was renamed from
Khankendi to
Stepanakert
after Stepan
Shaumian, famous
bolshevik
leader, in
September 1923).
At the same
time, three
hundred
thousands of
Azerbaijanis who
have lived in
compact
settlements in
Armenia were
refused even
cultural
autonomy by the
governments of
both the USSR
and the Armenian
SSR.
1948-1953
Azerbaijani
population of
Armenia always
lived under
pressure and
this resulted in
massive
organized
deportation of
Azerbaijanis
from Armenia.
According to
official data,
more than fifty
thousands of
Azerbaijanis
from Armenia
were resettled
in the Kur-Araz
lowlands regions
of Azerbaijan
between the
years of
1948-1953;
1987
November
18 - The
statement of A.
Aganbegian, the
Kremlin
counselor, on
expediency of
uniting
Mountainous
Karabakh with
the Armenian SSR.
This statement
played a crucial
role in firing
national hatred
and fomenting
the conflict;
November-December
- Demonstrations
calling to annex
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous
Region
(hereinafter -
NKAR) of the
Azerbaijan SSR
to the Armenian
SSR were held in
Yerevan
(Armenia);
1988
January -
Massive
deportation of
Azerbaijanis
living in the
Armenian SSR to
Azerbaijan. By
decision of the
authorities,
these refugees
were settled in
Baky and
Sumgayit;
February -
First victims of
the conflict:
two civilian
Azerbaijanis
were killed in
Askeran
(Nagorno-Karabakh);
February
28-29 - Massive
disorders in
Sumgayit took
place. As a
result 32 people
were killed of
different
ethnicity,
including
Armenians,
Azerbaijanis and
Russians. The
group of
criminals was
led by ethnic
Armenian Eduard
Grigorian who
personally
killed 5
Armenians and
raped 6 Armenian
women;
July 18 -
The enlarged
meeting of the
Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet
of the USSR
confirmed NKAR
as an integral
part of the
Azerbaijan SSR;
November
27-29 - As a
result of
pogroms against
Azerbaijani
civilians in the
cities of Gugark,
Spitak and
Stepanavan of
the Armenian SSR,
33 people were
killed;
December -
More than
220.000 ethnic
Azerbaijanis
were forced to
leave their
homelands in the
Armenian SSR;
1989
July 29 -
The railway link
from Azerbaijan
to Armenia was
closed because
of the attacks
to the trains in
the territory of
Armenia.
Beginning of the
isolation of the
Nakhchivan
Autonomous
Republic of
Azerbaijan by
Armenia;
December 1
- The Supreme
Council of the
Armenian SSR
passed a
resolution "on
reunification of
the Armenian SSR
and NKAR"; thus
in violence of
all basic norms
and principles
of international
law, Armenia
officially
declared its
claim against
the territorial
integrity of the
neighboring
state;
1990
January 13
- Disarmament of
the Baky police
by the order of
USSR Interior
Office. Due to
this, following
next days (13-16
January) it was
impossible to
prevent
disorders in
Baky;
January 20
- The Soviet
Army invaded
Baky and
massacred
hundreds of
local civilians.
Children, women
and elderly
people were the
first victims of
this vandalism.
Official
statistics
claims around
150 people died,
700 injured;
1991
September
2 - Armenians
declared the
establishment of
the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR)"
in the territory
of Mountainous
Karabakh region
of the Republic
of Azerbaijan.
The illegal
armed groups of
about 15.000
people were
formed as a
"self-defense
forces of NKR";
September
23 - Meeting of
Presidents of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia in
Zheleznovodsk
(Russia)
mediated by the
Russian and
Kazakhstan
Presidents. An
agreement was
reached to
settle the
conflict in a
peaceful way;
October-November
- In despite of
the reached
agreement,
Armenian armed
forces launched
massive attacks
against
Azerbaijani
population of
the Khodjavand/Martuni
and Hadrut
districts of the
NKAR. About 30
villages were
occupied and
devastated and
inhabitants were
driven out of
their homes;
November
20 - Armenian
terrorists
opened a fire at
the civilian
helicopter
"MI-8", which
was carrying a
group of high
ranking people
from Russia and
Kazakhstan and
senior
leadership of
Azerbaijan near
the village of
Garakend of the
Khodjavand
district (NKAR).
The murder of 22
people was an
end of the first
attempt for the
peaceful
settlement of
the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict
undertaken in
Zheleznovodsk
and gave an
impetus to
further
escalation of
violence;
1992
January
30-31 - The
second meeting
of the CSCE
Council in
Prague.
Azerbaijan and
Armenia got
admitted to the
CSCE;
February
25-26 - A while
after the
accession of
Armenia to the
CSCE, the armed
forces of this
state committed
an act of
genocide against
civilian
population of
Khojali,
Azerbaijani town
within the
former NKAR.
With substantial
support of the
regiment #366 of
Russia (deployed
in Khankendi),
the Armenian
army brutally
killed 613
people (among
them, 63
children, 106
women, 70
elders) and
destroyed this
town. 487 people
were wounded
(including 76
children); 1275
persons were
taken as
hostages; 150
people are still
missing;
February
28 - 7th meeting
of the OSCE
Committee of
Senior Officials
in Prague. It
called the
parties to
establish a
cease-fire in
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of
Azerbaijan
without delay,
respect
inviolability of
internal, as
well as external
borders, which
can only be
changed by
peaceful means
and with common
consent, and
refuse from all
territorial
claims,
including
abstinence from
all the hostile
propaganda;
End of
February -
Removal of the
366th rifle
regiment of the
Russian armed
forces from
Khankendi to
Russia and
illegal transfer
of 25 tanks, 87
armored infantry
fighting
vehicles, 28
armored
vehicles, 45
artillery mortar
systems to the
Armenian
separatists;
March 11 -
The declaration
of the Committee
of Ministers of
the Council of
Europe
expressing its
deep concern
about recent
reports of
indiscriminate
killings and
outrages, and
firm
condemnation of
the violence and
attacks directed
against the
civilian
populations in
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
area of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan;
March 24 -
First additional
Helsinki meeting
of the CSCE
Council.
Decision to
convene a
conference on
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict under
the auspices of
the CSCE;
May 7 -
Meeting of the
Heads of States
of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in
Tehran with
mediation of
Iran. Meeting
was devoted to
the
normalization of
the situation in
Nagorno-Karabakh
and the peaceful
settlement of
the conflict.
The Heads of
States signed a
communique at
the end of the
meeting;
May 8 - At
the same time
with signing of
the communique
in Tehran
Armenia occupied
the Shusha
district of NKAR
(91.7 %
population of
which was
Azerbaijanis).
As a result of
the occupation
of Shusha region
more than 20
thousand of
Azerbaijanis
were expelled
from their
homeland;
May 17 -
While
discussions on
peaceful
settlement of
the conflict in
the meeting of
the Senior
Officials
Committee of the
CSCE in Helsinki
were going on,
armed forces of
Armenia occupied
Lachin region.
As a result of
this occupation
63.341
Azerbaijani
civilians were
forced to leave
their homes;
September
19 - Agreement
on cessation of
all military
actions for two
months period
(with later
prolongation
clause) was
reached in Sochi
(Russia) by
Defense
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan;
December
9-12 - Violating
the agreement
reached in Sochi,
Armenia occupied
8 villages of
Zangilan
district of
Azerbaijan;
1993
March
27-April 3 - At
the same time
with the peace
talks in Geneva,
Armenia occupied
Kalbadjar
district of
Azerbaijan.
60.698
Azerbaijanis
were driven out
of their
permanent
residences;
April 6 -
The President of
the UN Security
Council made a
statement
condemning the
occupation of
Kalbadjar;
April 15 -
The declaration
of the Committee
of Ministers of
the Council of
Europe on
escalation of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The CM
expressed its
serious concerns
on escalation of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and
especially the
extension of the
combat zone to
the Kelbadjar
district of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan and
endorsed the
demand of the
President of the
UN Security
Council for the
immediate
cessation of all
hostilities and
calls for the
withdrawal of
all forces which
endanger the
peace and
security of the
region;
April
25-29 - The
Organization of
Islamic
Conference
adopted a
resolution
strongly
condemning the
recent Armenian
offensive
against
Azerbaijan and
the occupation
of Azerbaijani
territories;
April 30 -
Adoption of the
resolution #822
by the UN
Security
Council,
demanding
immediate
withdrawal of
all occupying
forces from the
Kelbadjar and
other recently
occupied areas
of Azerbaijan;
June 11 -
The Statement of
the North
Atlantic
Cooperation
Council (NACC):
"We strongly
support UN SC
Resolution #822,
which must be
implemented
fully and
without delay by
all countries
and parties to
the conflict. We
call for the
immediate
cessation of
hostilities, the
withdrawal of
all occupying
forces from the
Kelbadjar and
other recently
occupied
districts of
Azerbaijan";
July 23 -
Occupation of
the Agdam
district of
Azerbaijan by
Armenia,
immediately
after the visit
of Mr. M.
Rafaelli, the
chairman of the
Minsk Conference
of the OSCE.
158.000
Azerbaijani
civilians were
forcefully
displaced from
their homes;
July 24 -
Statement by the
Chairman of the
CSCE Minsk
Conference on
the offensive on
and reported
seizure of Agdam
city
(Azerbaijan);
July 29 -
Adoption of the
resolution #853
of the UN
Security
Council, which
demanded "the
immediate,
complete and
unconditional
withdrawal of
occupying forces
involved from
the district of
Agdam and other
recently
occupied
districts of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan";
August 18
- The statement
of the President
of the UN
Security Council
on full,
immediate and
unconditional
withdrawal of
the occupying
forces from the
Agdam district
and other
recently
occupied
districts of
Azerbaijan.
August
23-26 - Despite
the mentioned
warnings,
Armenia,
continuing its
aggression,
occupied Fizuli
and Jabrail
districts of
Azerbaijan. As a
result, 209.985
Azerbaijani
civilians were
forcefully
displaced from
their homelands;
August
25-26 - Armenia
ignores the
request of the
Chairman-in-office
of the CSCE
addresses to the
Armenian
President L.
Ter-Petrosian on
not advancing
the armed forces
for occupation
of Gubadly and
Zangilan regions
of Azerbaijan;
August 31
- The occupation
of the Gubadly
district of
Azerbaijan by
the Armenian
troops. As a
result, 31.364
Azerbaijani
civilians were
displaced from
their homes;
October 14
- Adoption of
the UN Security
Council
Resolution #874,
which called for
"immediate
implementation
of the
reciprocal and
urgent steps
provided for in
the CSCE Minsk
Group's Adjusted
timetable,
including the
withdrawal of
forces from
recently
occupied
territories";
October
28-November 1 -
Occupation of
the Horadiz town
and Zangilan
district of
Azerbaijan.
34.924
Azerbaijani
civilians had to
flee and leave
their homes;
November
11 - Adoption of
the UN Security
Council
Resolution #884,
which condemned
the occupation
of Zangilan
district and the
Horadiz town,
attacks on
civilians and
bombardments of
the territory of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan and
demanded the
unilateral
withdrawal of
occupying forces
from the
Zangilan
district and
Horadiz, and the
withdrawal of
occupying forces
from other
recently
occupied areas
of the
Azerbaijani
Republic;
1994
January
10-11 - The
Heads of State
and Government
of the North
Atlantic
Cooperation
Council adopted
a declaration
where they
"condemned the
use of force for
territorial
gains. Respect
for the
territorial
integrity,
independence and
sovereignty of
Armenia,
Azerbaijan and
Georgia is
essential to the
establishment of
peace, stability
and cooperation
in the region…";
April 15 -
CIS Declaration
on respect to
the sovereignty,
territorial
integrity and
inviolability of
borders of the
participating
states of the
CIS. Armenia was
the only CIS
country, who did
not join the
declaration;
May 12 -
Agreement on
cease-fire
entered into
force;
June 9-10
- The
Ministerial
Meeting of the
North Atlantic
Council adopted
a declaration
where the
ministers
"agreed that
implementation
of an effective
cease-fire and
constructive
negotiations in
a spirit of
compromise are
essential to
create the
conditions
necessary for a
step-by-step
peace process
leading to a
permanent
solution,
including the
de-escalation of
the conflict and
the withdrawal
of forces from
areas occupied
by force and the
return of
displaced
persons to their
homes in
accordance with
the relevant UN
Security Council
resolutions…";
December
5-6 - CSCE
Budapest Summit.
A decision on
"Intensification
of CSCE action
in relation to
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict" was
adopted. In
accordance with
this document
the institute of
Co-Chairs of the
Minsk Conference
was established
"to conduct
speedy
negotiations for
the conclusion
of a political
agreement on
cessation of the
armed conflict,
the
implementation
of which, will
eliminate major
consequences of
the conflict for
all parties and
permit the
convening of the
Minsk
Conference".
Thereby, the
Budapest Summit
adopted a
two-stage legal
framework of the
settlement
process: 1)
first stage -
elimination of
consequences of
the armed
conflict by
implementation
of the
agreement, i.e.,
full liberation
of all occupied
territories and
ensuring return
of IDPs to their
homes; 2) second
stage -
convening Minsk
Conference for
final,
comprehensive
settlement of
the conflict.
The Budapest
Summit also
adopted a
decision to
establish an
OSCE
peacekeeping
operation after
the conclusion
of the political
agreement;
1995
Negotiations
on elaboration
of the agreement
on cessation of
the conflict.
1996
December
2-3 - OSCE
Lisbon Summit.
The OSCE
Chairman-in-Office
has made a
statement
supported by all
(53) OSCE member
states except
Armenia, on
three principles
for the
settlement of
the conflict
between Armenia
and Azerbaijan:
1) territorial
integrity of the
Republic of
Armenia and the
Azerbaijan
Republic; 2)
legal status of
Nagorno-Karabakh
defined in an
agreement based
on
self-determination
which confers on
Nagorno-Karabakh
the highest
degree of
self-rule within
Azerbaijan; 3)
guaranteed
security for
Nagorno-Karabakh
and its whole
population,
including mutual
obligations to
ensure
compliance by
all the parties
with the
provisions of
the settlement;
1997
January -
An institute of
"triple"
Co-Chairmanship
of the OSCE
Minsk Conference
(Russia, USA and
France) was
introduced;
April 2 -
The report of
the Chairman of
the Defense
Committee of the
State Duma, Mr.
Lev Rokhlin on
an illegal
delivery of the
Russian weapons
to Armenia worth
of one billion
USD. Later on,
Mr. Rokhlin got
killed in
unknown
circumstances;
April 22 -
Parliamentary
Assembly of the
Council of
Europe adopted a
Resolution
(1119) on the
conflicts in
Transcaucasus,
where it
stressed the
settlement of
the conflicts in
the region has
to be on the
basis of the
principles set
out in the 1975
Helsinki Final
Act and the 1990
Paris Charter:
i.
inviolability of
borders;
ii.
guaranteed
security for all
peoples in the
areas concerned,
particularly
through
multinational
peacekeeping
forces;
iii.
extensive
autonomy status
for Abkhazia and
Nagorno-Karabakh
to be negotiated
by all the
parties
concerned;
iv. right
of return of
refugees and
displaced
persons and
their
reintegration
respecting human
rights.
June 1 -
The Co-chairmen
introduced a
"package plan"
for the
settlement of
the conflict.
The basic idea
behind the
proposal was to
work in parallel
negotiations on
two core issues
of the
confrontation:
withdrawal of
the armed forces
from occupied
regions and
elaboration of
the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Unlike Armenia,
who refused this
plan, Azerbaijan
accepted the
proposal with
some exceptions;
September
19 - The
Co-chairmen
introduced
"step-by-step"
settlement plan.
This plan
envisaged
two-staged
conflict
settlement
according to the
following
scheme: On the
first stage -
withdrawal of
occupying armed
forces from six
districts, which
are outside of
the former NKAO
(except Lachin
district),
return of
civilian
population and
restoration of
the main
communication
links in the
conflict area;
on the second
stage -
definition of
the status of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
as well as of
Lachin and
Shusha;
October 10
- Strasbourg
Joint Statement
of the
Presidents of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia on
supporting the
plan for
"step-by-step"
settlement of
the conflict;
L.
Ter-Petrosian
noted the
importance of
the step-by-step
resolution of
the conflict in
his article "War
or Peace".
Later, he had to
resign under the
pressure of the
political-military
circles. The
Prime Minister
R. Kocharyan (a
resident of the
Mountainous
Karabakh region
of Azerbaijan
and leader of
separatists
until before
this
appointment)
became an acting
President of the
country. Short
after his
victory in the
presidential
elections, the
position of
Armenia on the
settlement of
the conflict
became tougher.
Between
1997-2002, no
meeting of the
OSCE Minsk Group
was held in full
composition.
1998
April-May
- Armenia
officially
declared about
the renunciation
of the consent
of the former
President of the
Republic on the
step-by-step
settlement;
November 9
- The
Co-chairmen
brought forward
a new plan for
the settlement,
called a "common
state".
Azerbaijani side
refused to
accept this
proposal as a
basis for the
negotiations
because of its
inconsistence
with the norms
and principles
of international
law as well as
the national
legislation.
Azerbaijan
confirmed its
readiness to
resume
negotiations
within the OSCE
Minsk Group
framework, on
the basis of the
previous
proposal of the
co-chairmen, on
the step-by-step
settlement plan;
1999-2002
Direct
talks between
the Presidents
of Azerbaijan
and Armenia. Up
to date, they
have met more
than 20 times.
No results have
been achieved so
far.
2002
March 8 -
In search of the
advancing the
peace process,
the Co-chairmen
suggested to
appoint Special
Representatives
of the
Presidents of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia for
negotiations on
the conflict.
The Special
Representatives
met three times
during a year,
twice in Prague
- in May and
July and once in
Vienna - in
November;
July 12 -
In the final
document of the
EU-Azerbaijan
Cooperation
Committee, the
EU reaffirmed
its support to
the territorial
integrity of
Azerbaijan as
the basis for
the peaceful
solution of the
conflict;
August 2 -
The EU condemned
holding of the
so-called
"presidential
elections" in
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan.
2003
January 23
- An Enlarged
Bureau of the
Council of
Europe Committee
of Ministers
held a special
session in
Strasburg on the
fulfillment of
the obligations
undertaken by
Azerbaijan and
Armenia to
peacefully
settle the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict.
January 30
- The Secretary
General of the
Council of
Europe voiced
regret at the
recent
declaration on
"ethnic
incompatibility
between
Armenians and
Azerbaijanis",
made by
President
Kocharian of
Armenia.
"Recalling dark
pages of
European history
will never be a
good electoral
strategy",
underlined
Walter Schwimmer
in reference to
the upcoming
presidential
elections in
Armenia,
scheduled for 19
February.
February
19 - March 5 The
presidential
elections in
Armenia.
first
round - second
round R.
Kocharyan was
elected as the
president of the
Republic of
Armenia for his
second term. The
observers of
OSCE/ODIHR, CE
Parliamentary
Assembly
reported that
the elections
were held with
serious
irregularities.
June 19 -
The coalition
government of
Armenia
submitted its
action plan for
the next four
years to the
parliament. The
section "Defense
and Security" of
this program
states that, "as
in previous
years, the
government sees
the resolution
of the
Nagorno-Karabakh
problem within
peace
negotiation
process,
emphasizing
international
recognition of
the right of the
"Artsakh"
(Nagorno-Karabakh)
people to
self-determination
and security
guarantees of
the population
of the
"Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic". The
very possibility
of subordination
of the
"Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic" to
Azerbaijan is
ruled out."
During the
presentation of
the program, the
Armenian Prime
Minister
A.Markaryan,
speaking about
the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict, said:
"Karabakh must
not be part of
Azerbaijan, must
have a common
border with
Armenia and that
the
self-determination
of the Karabakh
Armenians must
be recognized by
the world".
August 19
- During
monitoring held
by the Office of
Personal
Representative
of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office
on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
border in the
Tovuz region of
Azerbaijan the
Armenian side
again broke
ceasefire
regime, as a
result of which
the monitoring
process was
immediately
stopped.
Unfortunately,
the Personal
Representative
of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej
Kasprczyk
refused to
mention this
fact in his
information
report.
September
- Co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk
Group from
Russia N.Gribkov
was replaced by
Y.Merzlyakov.
During his visit
to the region he
held series of
meetings with
Azerbaijani
officials on
September 3-5.
October 15
- The
presidential
elections in
Azerbaijan.
Ilham
Aliyev was
elected as the
president of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan for
his first term.
December
11 - The first
meeting of the
President of
Azerbaijan Mr.
I.Aliyev with
his Armenian
counterpart in
Geneva.
2004
April 16 -
The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Cochairmen
in Prague.
April
28-30 - The
meeting of the
Presidents of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia in
Warsaw.
May 12-13
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Cochairmen
in Strasbourg.
June 21 -
The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Cochairmen
in Prague.
June 28/29
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
the presence of
the Turkish
Foreign Minister
Mr. Abdullah Gul
in Istanbul
August
3-12 - Command
staff exercises
conducted by
Armenian armed
forces in the
occupied
territories of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan.
The
Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
of Azerbaijan in
its statement
drew the
attention of the
international
community to the
fact that
conducting of
these exercises
is another
obvious evidence
of the
aggression by
the Republic of
Armenia against
the Republic of
Azerbaijan, and
of occupation of
its territories.
August 8 -
"elections" to
the "local
self-government
bodies" were
held by the
authorities of
the Armenian
separatist
regime in the
occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan.
In the
statement of the
Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
of Azerbaijan it
was noted that
such kind of
"elections" may
not pretend to
have a single
piece of
legitimacy
because they are
in complete
contradiction
with the norms
of international
law, as well as
with the
national
legislation of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan,
since they are
being held in
conditions of
continuing
aggression,
occupation and
forceful
expulsion of one
third of the
indigenous
population of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of the
Azerbaijani
origin.
August 30
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Cochairmen
in Prague.
September
15 - The meeting
of the
Presidents of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan
within the CIS
Summit in
Astana. The
President of
Armenia Robert
Kocharian
requested to
delay the
following Prague
meeting (25th of
October 2004) of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia for need
to analyze and
comprehend the
results of the
previous four
meetings of FMs.
October 14
- Azerbaijan
requested the
inclusion of an
additional item
in the agenda of
the fifty-ninth
session of the
UN General
Assembly,
entitled "The
situation in the
occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan".
October 29
- Acting on the
recommendations
of its General
Committee, the
UN General
Assembly decided
to include an
additional item
on its current
agenda entitled
"The situation
in the occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan". It
took that
decision by a
recorded vote of
43 in favour to
1 against
(Armenia) with
99 abstentions.
November
19 - The meeting
of the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan in
Berlin.
November
23 - Additional
item #163 "The
situation in the
occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan" was
debated on the
59th session of
UN General
Assembly. The
Minister of
Foreign Affairs
of Azerbaijan
gave a speech
concerning the
content of the
additional item
and illegal
activities of
Armenia in the
occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan.
December 5
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Cochairmen
in Sofia.
December
6-7 - The
meeting of the
12th OSCE
Ministerial
Council in
Sofia. The
adoption of the
Ministerial
Council
statement on the
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, which
"commend the
progress
achieved in the
settlement of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in
2004, in
particular, the
three meetings
of the
Presidents of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan under
the auspices of
the Co-Chairmen
of the OSCE
Minsk Group and
welcome the
creation of the
so-called
"Prague
Process",
through which
four meetings
between the
Foreign
Ministers of
both countries
allowed the
methodical
re-examination
of all the
parameters of a
future
settlement".
December 9
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan in
Brussels in the
framework of
NATO EAPC
Ministerial.
2005
January 11
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group
Co-Chairmen in
Prague.
January 25
- Parliamentary
Assembly of the
Council of
Europe (PACE)
adopted a
resolution 1416.
The resolution
reaffirms "that
independence and
secession of a
regional
territory from a
state may only
be achieved
through a lawful
and peaceful
process based on
democratic
support by the
inhabitants of
such territory
and not in the
wake of an armed
conflict leading
to ethnic
expulsion and
the de facto
annexation of
such territory
to another
state." The
Assembly calls
on Armenia and
Azerbaijan to
make use OSCE
Minsk Process
and actively
submit to each
other via the
Minsk Group
their
constructive
proposals for
the peaceful
settlement of
the conflict.
David Atkinson,
special PACE
Rapporteur on
Nagorno-Karabakh,
the author of
the resolution
and
recommendations,
responding to
the question of
the BBC
correspondent on
the principle of
territorial
integrity vs.
the principle of
self-determination
in resolution of
the conflict,
stated that
principle of
self-determination
can not be
applied to the
case of
Nagorno-Karabakh,
because
Azerbaijan
stands for its
territorial
integrity,
recognized by
international
community.
January 30
- February 5 -
The visit by the
"OSCE Minsk
Group
Fact-Finding
Mission on
Settlements in
the Occupied
Territories of
Azerbaijan" to
the occupied
territories -
Aghdam, Jabrayil,
Fizuli, Zangilan,
Gubadly,
Kalbajar and
Lachin - of
Azerbaijan.
February -
The OSCE
dispatch
Fact-Finding
Mission to
investigate the
Armenian illegal
settlements in
the occupied
Azerbaijani
territories.
March 2 -
The meeting of
the Foreign
Minister of
Azerbaijan with
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in Prague.
The OSCE
Minsk Group
Co-Chairs
officially
presented a
report of the
OSCE Minsk Group
Fact-Finding
Mission (FFM).
In their joint
statement
Co-Chairs
pointed that
"the mission
found evidence
of the presence
of settlers in
the territories
examined" and
recommended
"that any
further
settlement of
the occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan
should be
discouraged".
They urged "the
parties to
accelerate
negotiations
toward a
political
settlement in
order, inter
alia, to address
the problem of
the settlers and
to avoid changes
in the
demographic
structure of the
region, which
would make more
difficult any
future efforts
to achieve a
negotiated
settlement". In
his comments
Minister of
Foreign Affairs
of Azerbaijan
Elmar
Mammedyarov
considered the
FFM report as
objective in
general. The FFM
determined about
16,000 settlers
in the occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan
outside the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region. "It is
clear that the
longer they
remain in the
occupied
territories, the
deeper their
roots and
attachments to
their present
places of
residence will
become.
Prolonged
continuation of
this situation
could lead to a
fait accompli
that would
seriously
complicate the
peace process"
said Co-Chairs'
statement.
April 15 -
Continuation of
"Prague process"
in London.
Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan
and Armenia met
separately with
the Co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk
Group to discuss
further steps to
resolve the
conflict. The
mediators -
France, Russia
and the US
declared that
the peace
process has
entered a
"sensitive
juncture, where
a first step
towards an
agreement could
be at hand in
the framework of
the discussions
between the
parties."
April 27 -
The meeting of
the Foreign
Minister of
Azerbaijan with
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in Frankfurt.
In the
threshold of the
Council of
Europe's Summit
in Warsaw
Presidents Ilham
Aliyev of
Azerbaijan and
Robert Kocharyan
of Armenia met
at the Belvedere
palace in the
presence of the
OSCE Minsk group
Co-chairs, and
Foreign
Ministers Sergey
Lavrov of Russia
and Michel
Barnier of
France. Minister
of Foreign
Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov has
briefed
journalists on
the three-hour
meeting.
"Despite certain
progress has
been reached,
there is still a
need for further
discussion," he
said. The
Minister added
that after the
meeting the
Presidents have
assigned the
Foreign
Ministers of
Azerbaijan and
Armenia to
continue
negotiating some
important issues
other than those
agreed within
the Prague
process.
According to
him, the
Co-chairs will
also continue
their
activities.
"Generally, no
format of the
talks but their
result is
important for
Azerbaijan, in
other words,
territorial
integrity of
Azerbaijan must
be restored,"
the Minister
said.
June 17 -
The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in Paris.
June 19 -
"Elections" to
the "parliament"
were held by the
authorities of
the Armenian
separatist
regime in the
occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan.
In its
statement, the
Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
of Azerbaijan
noted that such
kind of
"elections" may
not pretend to
have a single
piece of
legitimacy
because they are
in complete
contradiction
with the norms
of international
law, as well as
with the
national
legislation of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan,
since they are
being held in
conditions of
continuing
aggression,
occupation and
ethnic
cleansing. It
states that such
activities by
Armenian side do
not fit with the
spirit of
negotiation
process, esp.
when there is a
hope for
positive step
forwards and
that continuous
peace cannot be
achieved without
normalization of
life and
peaceful
co-existence and
cooperation of
Azerbaijani and
Armenian
communities of
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan.
July 5 -
The OSCE
Parliamentary
Assembly
considered a
report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict at its
session held in
Washington. The
report prepared
by the
Assembly's
special envoy on
the conflict
Goran Lennmarker
from Sweden. In
his comments Mr.
Lennmarker
stressed that
"the conflict is
not frozen.
Several people
are killed along
the
line-of-contact
every year". He
added: "there is
no alternative
to a peaceful
solution - in
fact there is an
urgent need to
solve the
conflict in
order to end the
personal,
economic, and
social suffering
on both sides of
this conflict".
Mr. Lennmarker
suggested basing
a solution on
experiences from
Europe, where
democracy and
integration are
fundamental
components in
securing a
lasting peace.
The report
points out the
fundamentals of
ending of
occupation, the
return of
refugees and
IDPs as well as
democracy and
minority rights.
Swedish diplomat
recommends
autonomy
solution
referring to an
example of the
Aland islands.
July 10-12
- The OSCE Group
Co-Chairs
(Ambassadors
Steven Mann of
the U.S., Yuriy
Merzlyakov of
Russia and
Bernard Fassier
of France)
visited
Azerbaijan and
Armenia. In
Azerbaijan they
met with
President Ilham
Aliyev and
Foreign Minister
Elmar
Mammadyarov as
well as with
Nizami Bakhmanov,
the head of the
expelled
Azerbaijani
community from
the occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of
Azerbaijan. The
Co-chairs told
journalists at a
press conference
on July 12 that
they discussed
with President
and Foreign
Minister the
principles,
which could have
become a basis
for the future
peace treaty.
Mediators
pointed out that
much would
depend on the
two leaderships'
political will
and the peoples'
desire.
During the
meetings
Co-Chairs
discussed, among
other issues, an
Azerbaijani
initiative to
open a road
network
Agdam-Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin-Goris-Nakhichevan
which would open
communication
line from
Azerbaijan to
Armenia and
Nakhichevan
enclave of
Azerbaijan as
well as Turkey.
Nizami Bkhamanov
positively
responded to an
idea of
launching a
dialogue between
Azerbaijani and
Armenian
communities of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of
Azerbaijan.
Deputy Foreign
Minister of
Azerbaijan Araz
Azimov commented
Co-Chairs'
meetings in Baku
as "effective
and fruitful."
But he said that
"negotiations
were rather
difficult and
complicated." "I
can't say that
agreements have
been reached. At
all the meetings
Azerbaijan has
demonstrated a
constructive
position.
Armenia also
should occupy a
constructive
position,
otherwise all
opportunities
will be missed,"
said Azimov.
Azimov pointed
out that Armenia
tries to bring
"new elements,"
which are not
subject of the
negotiations.
"There are great
chances to
achieve peace
right now and
the opposing
party can lose
them. I urge
Armenia to use
this chance,"
said Azimov.
"Azerbaijani
occupied
territories must
be given back.
Armenia must not
claim to
Azerbaijani
territories
under the
pretext of the
corridor
(linking Armenia
with
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of
Azerbaijan).
Armenia can use
the road passing
through the
Lachin corridor.
But Lachin city
cannot remain
under
occupation."
Opening of
Agdam-Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin-Goris-Nakhichevan
road will help
to improve
relationships
and restore
cooperation and
confidence
between people,
said Azimov. He
also stressed
that the status
of the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region could be
resolved only
through joint
efforts of
Armenian and
Azerbaijani
communities of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
"At present,
part of people
living in
Nagorno Karabakh
is Armenians,
who arrived from
abroad. Local
Armenians are
Azerbaijani
citizens and
Azerbaijanis
must determine
their status by
themselves. For
this purpose
Azerbaijani
population must
return to the
liberated
territories and
economic
relationships
and mutual
confidence must
be restored,"
said Azimov.
August 12
- In its Address
to the voters,
the Central
Election
Commission of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan
notified of the
start of
functioning of
Khankendi
Constituency No.
122 and called
all citizens of
Azerbaijan of
Armenian origin
living in
Khankendi,
Shusha, Khojali,
Khojavend and
other
settlements of
Nagorno Karabakh
regions of the
Republic of
Azerbaijan,
together with
their countrymen
to exercise
their voting
rights in
Khankendi
Constituency No.
122 and
Shusha-Fuzuli-Khojali-Khojavend
Constituency No.
124.
August 24
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in Moscow.
August
26-27 - The
meeting of the
Presidents of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan
within the CIS
Summit in Kazan.
September
12 - The item
entitled "The
situation on the
occupied
territories of
the Republic of
Azerbaijan" was
included into
the agenda of
the 60-th
session of the
UN General
Assembly. On the
same day the
Parliamentary
Assembly of the
Council of
Europe held
discussion on
the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict in
Paris. The PACE
decided to
follow further
the process of
honouring by two
sides the
decisions
contained in the
January 2005
PACE resolution
on the conflict
settlement.
September
14 - An
international
organization -
International
Crisis Group (ICG)
working to
prevent
conflicts
worldwide has
issued report on
Armenia-Azerbaijani
conflict. ICG
vice-president
Alain Deletroz
told at news
conference in
Baku that
Armenia should
not insist on
the
determination of
the status of
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
region of
Azerbaijan, as
disputes over
the issue have
considerably
delayed the
conflict
resolution.
"Armenia must
withdraw from
seven occupied
Azerbaijani
districts,
refugees should
return home,
trust be
restored between
the two sides,
and at last, the
Karabakh status
determined."
Deletroz said
that the
activities to be
carried out
prior to the
status
determination
will take at
least 15-20
years. Deletroz
said that just
like all other
international
organizations,
the ICG
considers the
Nagorno-Karabakh
a part of
Azerbaijan.
"This is the
legal aspect of
the issue and
there is no
problem with it.
The problem is
that the
Nagorno-Karabakh
is de-facto in
the hands of
Armenians." The
ICG project
director on
South Caucasus
Sabin Frasier
said the
organization has
welcomed the
resumption of
activity of the
Khankandi
district
constituency in
the
Nagorno-Karabakh,
which will allow
ethnic Armenian
citizens of
Azerbaijan to
vote in the
November
parliament
elections in
Azerbaijan.
December 5
- The meeting of
the Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in Ljubljana
within the
framework of the
OSCE Ministerial
Council meeting.
December
5-6 - The
meeting of the
13th OSCE
Ministerial
Council in
Ljubljana. The
adoption of the
Ministerial
Council
statement on the
conflict dealt
with by the OSCE
Minsk Group,
which "takes
note with
satisfaction of
the progress in
the
Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiations
through the
"Prague Process"
in 2005, and in
particular the
two meetings of
the Presidents
of Armenia and
Azerbaijan in
Warsaw and Kazan
under the
auspices of the
Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk
Group, and
encourages the
Presidents of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan to
use the current
promising window
of opportunity
in order to
attain within
the coming year
significant
achievements in
the settlement
of the conflict
in the framework
of the OSCE
Minsk process."
December
16 - The visit
of the OSCE
Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to
Azerbaijan.
December
16-20 - The
reconnaissance
trip of the
High-Level
Planning Group (HLPG)
of the OSCE to
Azerbaijan.
2006
January
18-19 - The
meeting of the
Foreign
Ministers of
Armenia and
Azerbaijan with
participation of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs
in London.
January
20-27 - The
reconnaissance
trip of the
High-Level
Planning Group (HLPG)
of the OSCE to
the occupied
territories of
Azerbaijan.
February 1
- The visit of
the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs
to Azerbaijan.
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