The process of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict (information)

Chronology of the conflict from 1988 up to present days.

History of the second Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict throughout the 20th century takes its beginning from February, 1988, when the session of the Council of Oblast (local legislature) of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic adopted decision to secede from Azerbaijan and to unite with Armenia. Not a confessional and ethnic factors are the basis of the conflict which started as local clashes and turned into one of the most long-standing and bloody conflicts in post-war Europe. Its roots are in the expansionism and policy of territorial aggression aimed at the expansion of the territory of a state by means of the armed abruption and forceful seizure of a part of the territory of another sovereign state, which is a member of the UN, OSCE and other international organisations.

A prologue of a full-scale armed aggression against Azerbaijan became anti-constitutional actions by separatist groups in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, supported by and controlled from outside completely contradicting International Law and the Soviet legislation in vigour that time.

Having begun with organising of the illegal meetings, strikes and actions of disobediences, the Republic of Armenia started to establish the unconstitutional power institutions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The military formations as well as a huge amount of weapons and ammunitions were shipped on the territory of Azerbaijan. A military bridgehead was set up to conduct an armed aggression against Azerbaijan.

Full-scale hostilities in the zone of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict triggered at the end of 1991 - early 1992. Armenian armed formations, using the most modern weapon systems, deployed combat operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, culmination of which became a seizure of the city of Khodjali in February, 1992 resulted in nearly 800 peaceful inhabitants, including the olds, women and children, brutally killed, and occupation of the Shusha rayon in May, 1992. Thereupon, armed actions were beyond the administrative boundaries of the region and expanded to the rest of Azerbaijan and the Armenia-Azerbaijani border, including its Nakhchivan zone. Pending the period from May, 1992 until May, 1994 6 more rayons of Azerbaijan were occupied.  

Thus, as a result of aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan, more than 17.000 km2 were occupied that constitute about 20% of the whole territory of the Azerbaijan Republic, more than 18 000 persons were killed, over 50 000 are wounded or invalidated, more than 877 settlements, 100 thousand dwellings, more 1 thousand economic objects, more than 600 schools, 250 medical institutions looted or ruined. Internally displaced persons exceeded 800 000 persons and plus nearly 200 000 refugees from Armenia representing disastrous figures for the country with 8 mln. population.

Humanitarian situation. As a result of ethnic cleansing, a dramatic humanitarian situation in Azerbaijan produced. The most of refugees and IDPs were accommodated in the tent camps, schools and student's hostels. In spite of undertaking efforts, they constantly threaten to perish with chill and epidemics due to the insufficient level of shelter and sanitary living conditions. The problem is aggravated by the presence of children and the olds. Although the total humanitarian aid sent to Azerbaijan in 1997 has formed 60 mln. US dollars, for a present day that falls short of a minimum need of the people affected by the conflict.

Arms supply to Armenia. Illegal supplies of the Russian weapon to Armenia from 1994 to 1996, including 84 tanks T-72, 50 ACVs, 32 operative-tactical missiles R-17 with range of up to 300 km, capable to carry nuclear warheads, and other arms worth of 1 billion US dollars, as well as the resent supply by Russia to Armenia of upgraded aircrafts MiG-29 and anti-aircraft systems S-300 worth of 2 billion US dollars, cause a particular concern of Azerbaijan. These supplies violate norms of International Law, principles of the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, upset military political balance in the region and threaten the security of all states of the region. Such illegal actions are in the contradiction with the UN Security Councils Resolution 853, Statement of Chairman of Security Council as of August 18 1993, and decision of a OSCE Committee of Senior Officials as of 28 February and March, 14 1992, which require to cancel a military supplies to the states, involved to the conflict, as promoting the escalation of the conflict and continuation of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories.

Illegal supplies are also in the direct contradiction with provisions of CFE Agreement.

Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic  of Armenia on the friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance. Signed on August 29, 1997. Practically, it constitutes a military alliance between two states. A signing of such Agreement testifies that, on the one hand, the Republic of Armenia is not going to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed conflict by the political means, but sees a further development of situation in the region as a continuation of armed confrontations with the Azerbaijan Republic, and on the another hand, Russian Federation falls short with its obligations as a state of Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Conference.

Azerbaijan considers this Agreement as a factor that aggravates, in a considerable extent, tense situation in the armed conflict, and weakens hopes of region's peoples for the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, normalisation of relations between the Azerbaijan Republic and the Republic of Armenia and establishment of peace and security in the region.

It is already 4,5 years as cease-fire regime, reached on May 12, 1994, has been operating. However, recently, a provocative activity of the Armenian armed units, deployed along the Line of Contact, gains more impudent nature and pursues a purpose to compel Azerbaijan to drop into the new turn of combat actions. It is worthwhile to note that an Armenian party broke an Agreement on cease-fire regime 1271 times since it was reached on May, 1994, up to May, 1998. Altogether, for this period of time 188 persons were killed, 366 wounded.

The liberation of prisoners of war (POW). Activities with the mediation ICRC on the liberation POWs and hostages are continuing. From 1993 up to May, 1998, there were exchanges between parties, as a result of which 357 persons were liberated - 102 Armenians and 255 Azerbaijanis. However, according to the Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, more than 800 Azerbaijanis are remaining in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

On November 23-26, 1998 during a visit of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bronislav Geremek to the region as action for strengthening of confidence the agreement on exchange of all POWs was reached between the Parties.

Chronology of the negotiation process. International mediation on the settlement of the conflict takes its beginning from February, 1992, within the framework of so called OSCE Minsk process, which is the only forum on the elaboration of comprehensive model of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Minsk Group - a forum on preparation of Minsk conference- was established aiming at political settlement of this issue, which comprises Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, USA, France, Poland, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Finland, Sweden, Italy.

After the beginning of hostilities and seizure of Azerbaijani cities, UN Security Council adopted Resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884, that stipulate immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed formations from the territory of Azerbaijan and returning of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes.

Main landmarks in the negotiating process have become the Helsinki Additional meeting CSCE Council on March 24, 1992, the OSCE Budapest and Lisbon Summits.

In accordance with decision of the OSCE Budapest Summit, 1994, the institute of Co-Chairmen of the Minsk conference was created, which were entrusted "to conduct speedy negotiations for the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict ("Big Political Agreement"), the implementation of which will eliminate major consequences of the armed conflict for all parties and permit the convening of the Minsk Conference".

Thereby, as a result of the Budapest Summit, the legal two-stage framework of the settlement process was completely composed:

1) First stage - elimination of the consequences of the armed conflict by the implementation of the Agreement, which means a full liberation of all occupied territories and ensuring a return of IDPs to their homes;

2) Second stage - elaboration and adoption of a comprehensive peace settlement at the Minsk conference.

There was also a decision agreed upon at the Budapest Summit to establish the OSCE peacekeeping operation after the conclusion of the political Agreement. After Budapest, 17 rounds and many consultations with participants of the conflict were organised and conducted by the Co-Chairmen (Russia-Finland).

During that time, 75% of the Agreement's draft and its Annexes were agreed upon. Yet, a consent on the principal issues such as full liberation of all territories, including Shusha and Lachin rayons, security of parties to the conflict and withdrawal of units of armed forces of Armenia from the territory of Azerbaijan has not been achieved.

Three principles of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict were formulated in the Statement of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office at Lisbon Summit, 1996. They are following:

- territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic;

- legal status of Nagorny Karabakh defined in an agreement based on self-determination which confers on Nagorny Karabakh the highest degree of self-rule within Azerbaijan;

- guaranteed security for Nagorny Karabakh and its whole population, including mutual obligations to ensure kipping by all the Parties of the provisions of the settlement.

These principles were supported by 53 the OSCE state-participants, except Armenia.

Since November, 1996, Armenia unilaterally has broken direct consultations between Advisers of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

After Lisbon Summit and establishing of an institute of the triple Co-Chairmanship (Russia-France-USA), only one round of negotiations (in April, 1997) was conducted, which ended without particular results.

On June-September, 1997, the Co-Chairmanship elaborated and submitted a new document for consideration of the Parties envisaging two-staged conflict settlement according to the following scheme:

On the first stage - a liberation of 6 rayons, occupied in the course of the conflict that are outside of the former NKAO (except Lachin rayon), return of civil population and restoration of the main communications in the region of conflict.

On the second stage - a resolution of the situation around Lachin and Shusha rayons and adoption of the main principles of the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The final comprehensive settlement of the conflict, including an Agreement on the status of self-rule of NK within Azerbaijan, will be reached at the Minsk conference.

On October 1, 1997, Azerbaijan officially informed Co-Chairmanship on its consent with the document as basis for the upcoming negotiations.

On October, 1997, in Strasbourg, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia made a Joint Statement on readiness to resume negotiations on the basis of Co-Chairmen's proposals.

On December, 1997, in Copenhagen, a Report of Co-Chairmen, emphasizing a need to continue efforts on the settlement of conflict on the basis of Lisbon principles and proposals of Co-Chairmanship, was distributed at the OSCE Ministerial Council's meeting.

On May 13-17, 1998, during a visit of Co-Chairmen to the region, Armenia officially stated about the recall of consent of former President of Armenia with proposals on stage-by-stage settlement, and spoke for a package settlement without preconditions.

On November 9, 1998, Co-Chairmen introduced new proposals on package settlement of conflict based on a concept of "common state". Azerbaijan from the very beginning during the consultations of November 9 refused to accept these proposals, and on November 19 sent written response to Co-Chairmen, officially informing the mediators on unacceptability of proposals of November 9. Azerbaijan confirmed its readiness to resume negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group on the basis of Co-Chairmen's proposals of September 19, 1997.

On November 20, 1998, the Delegation of Azeri community of NK officially rejected proposals of November 9, and on November, 25 Armenia and Armenians of NK have stated on acceptability for them of the mentioned proposals.

On December 2-3, 1998, in the course of meeting of the OSCE Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Oslo a special paragraph on the Minsk process was included in to Chairman-in-Office's Summary, that consists an appeal to the parties of the conflict to resume immediately the negotiations in the framework of MG and to Co-Chairmen to continue their efforts to promote negotiations and quest of resolution.

On April, 1999 during CIS summit in Moscow there was held meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, where arrangement about holding of further meetings for discussions of peace settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was reached. Opinion and positions exchange between the parties was continued at the meetings between the presidents in Washington on April, 24, in Geneva on August, 16 and 22 and in Yalta on September, 10. In the course of these meetings arrangements for cease-fire strengthening and resumption of negotiation process within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group were reached.

source: http://www.armenianreality.com/massacres_in_azerbaijan/karabakh2.htm