‘Peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan’

Published: 13th Nov, 2020

In a latest development, Russia brokered a new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan,

Context

In a latest development, Russia brokered a new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two countries that have been in a military conflict for over six weeks over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.

About

What is the deal?

The deal, which is meant to end the conflict between the two nations, was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan.
As per the new peace deal, both sides will now maintain positions in the areas that they currently hold, which will mean a significant gain for Azerbaijan as it has reclaimed over 15-20 per cent of its lost territory during the recent conflict.
Further, under this agreement, all military operations are suspended, Russian peacekeepers will be deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor that connects the region to Armenia.
These Russian peacekeepers with a force of roughly 2,000 will be deployed in the area for a period of five years.
Refugees and internally displaced persons will return to the region and the adjacent territories and the two sides will also exchange prisoners of wars and bodies.
Significantly, a new corridor will be opened from Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan, which will be under Russian control.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Straddling western Asia and Eastern Europe, Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but most of the region is controlled by Armenian separatists.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been part of Azerbaijan territory since the Soviet era.
When the Soviet Union began to collapse in the late 1980s, Armenia’s regional parliament voted for the region’s transfer to Armenia; the Soviet authorities turned down the demand.
Years of clashes followed between Azerbaijan forces and Armenian separatists.
The violence lasted into the 1990s, leaving tens and thousands dead and displacing hundreds of thousands.
In 1994, Russia brokered a ceasefire, by which time ethnic Armenians had taken control of the region.
While the area remains in Azerbaijan, it is today governed by separatist Armenians who have declared it a republic called the “Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast”.
While the Armenian government does not recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as independent, it supports the region politically and militarily.

The conflict

The recent conflict began in September, since when each country has claimed to have inflicted serious loss on its opponent.
It was the first time that both countries have proclaimed martial law.
During the course of the conflict, considered one of the most serious in recent years, over 1200 have lost their lives as per the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities, while thousands have been displaced.

What is Russia’s role in the conflict?

Russia’s role in the conflict has been somewhat opaque since it supplies arms to both countries.
Also, it is in a military alliance with Armenia called the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

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‘Peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan’

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CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC IAS

‘Peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan’

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