Historical Overview of the South Caucasus Nahorno-Karabakh Mgr. Zinaida Shevchuk Colchis - Caucasus •Large mountainous zone, •Small republics of the huge Soviet Union, •Conflict countries from headline news. • VittfarneGeorgien_155.jpg caucasus-image.jpg Early history •The advanced economy and favorable geographic and natural conditions of the area attracted the Byzantine, Persian, Mongol, Ottoman and Russian empires. •Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania. C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\Caucasus03.jpg Culture ColchisNike.jpg •The area was home to the well-developed bronze culture known as the Colchian culture. •Golden braceletes, c 5-4 centuries BC. • • C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\Colchisbracelet.jpg Religion •Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population. azerbaijan-mosque.jpg •The Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian_Church_Structure.jpg Georgia – Orthodox Christianity 132edcda61c8.jpg gallery_6390_8_1275077867.jpgc.jpg gallery_24827_8_1270120093.jpg gallery_997_2_1229775575.jpg gallery_15146_2_1204398084.jpg Multinational environment 516px-Ethnic_Groups_In_Caucasus_Region_2009.jpg Languages map.caucasus.GIF 1-all.gif Languages •The Georgian alphabet georgian_alphabet.gif •The Armenian alphabet arsAlphabet55o02.jpg C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\alphabet_chart_2a.jpg caucasus4.gif ETHNIC_MAP_of_Georgia.jpg mapa.jpg Historical Overview •The Caucasus is the point where Russia, Iran and Turkey meet. For most of the 19th century, the three powers dueled for dominance of the region. •Russia – main force which determined the development in the South Caucasus region for more than two centuries. Russia’s interests •Trade interests, •Colonization intentions and •Strategic considerations. • •Peter the Great - to transform Russia to a great European power. Historical overview •In 1801 the Georgian protectorate - Georgia’s annexation to Russia. •Russian attempts to control over the region led to the conquest of a number of Khanates in 1806-1809 and ultimately to the first Russia-Persian war 1812-1813. •The treaty of Gulistan 1813. •The treaty of Turkmanchai in 1828. Gulistan-Treaty.jpg Historical overview •During the latter part of the 19th century and for most of the Soviet period, the Soviet position in the Caucasus ran along the frontier with Turkey and Persia (later Iran). •During the Russian revolution 1917 -Transcaucasian Federation was born (the Georgian Mensheviks, the Azerbaijan Musavat party and the Dashnaks). • The South Caucasus separated from Russia and declare its independence in 1918. In 1918 three democratic republic were declared, Azerbaijan and Georgian and Armenian Democratic Republics. Historical overview •By 31.05.1920, Azerbaijan was invaded by Sovietized by Russia’s 11th Red Army. •Four months later, Armenia was invaded by the Kemalist Army of Karabekir Pasa and partitioned between Turkey and Russia. •The Soviet military campaign against Georgia was launched on February 11th, 1921. •The region was the part of the Soviet union for 70years. • b211914ed1b49682d18cc98cdb5942790cd1b99b.jpg Nagorno-Karabakh nagorno-karabakh Karabakh - "black garden„, "Nagorno-" is a Russian word meaning "mountain„. Status: de jure part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, unilaterally declared itself an independent republic in 1991 Capital: Stepanakert. Area: 4,400 sq km Main religion: Christianity Languages spoken: Armenian, Russian Currency in use: Dram. azerbaijan-map.jpg nagornokarab110508.gif Why did Stalin give Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan? mstalin Stalin wanted to pit the ethnic groups in the South Caucasus regions against each other. „Divide and rule“ principle Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was placed within Azerbaijan SSR. Stalin made concessions to Azerbaijan SSR because of its economic importance, specifically its oil resources. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict •Nationalist demonstrations – transfer Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia. •1988- Nagorno-Karabakh - referendum to unify with Armenia. •The first cases of mass violence were recorded in Sumgait, February 1988 - 32 dead (26 Armenians and 6 Azeri) during three days 27-29 February. •The month of November was one of the great refugees flows. According to unofficial sources, around 180’000 Armenians had left Azerbaijan, and 160’000 Azeri had left Armenia by the end of the month. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict •On 12 January 1989 - ‘special government administration’ in Karabakh - direct control from Moscow. •Sporadic clashes became frequent by the first months of 1991. •On 2 September 1991 - independent republic of Nagorno Karabakh. •During Autumn, Azerbaijani forces moved to counter Nagorno Karabakh’s declaration of Independence. •1992-1994 full - scale war. Images of War az-armenian photo003 T054632A Azerbaijanis fleeing from Aghdam Azerbaijanis leaving Kelbajar Azerbaijani refugees Over 1 million displaced 1994 Cease-Fire •The cease-fire has not been successful, as the goals of both sides have not been met: •Armenia occupies 20% of Azeri territory; •Azerbaijan demands its right to self-determination, the end of the occupation and the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan; •perceives Russia as aiding Orthodox Armenia. • Nagorno-Karabakh conflict •The human sufferings included 25 000-30 000 people dead, •250 000-350 000 refugees from Azerbaijan in Armenia, and •750 000-1 000 000 refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Armenia, Karabakh and occupied Azerbaijani territories in Azerbaijan. • Armenian, Azerbaijani Presidents Agree On Preamble To 'Madrid Principles‚ Sochi 2010. Sargsyan,_Medvedev,_Aliev_1.jpeg Sochi 2011 0125sochi.jpg Nagorno-Karabakh conflict http://postsovietcenter.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/0422serzh.jpg?w=270&h=214 http://postsovietcenter.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/344450446_0382b6fe3d_o.jpg?w=170&h=232 The possibility of war remains on the agenda Azeri military budget from 2004 - 463 million USD to 1 600 million USD in 2010. Conclusion Armenia_flag Azerbaijan-flag karabakhmap No end to conflict in sight Both sides unwilling to make concessions “Primordial” claims over territory by both sides The unsolved problem of what to do with refugees Continued fighting despite cease-fire Russia claiming to uphold cease-fire while arming Armenia; U.S. making oil deals with Azerbaijan Building of oil pipelines likely to upset Armenia