KARABAKH: VISION “We are ready to guarantee the security of the Armenian community of Karabakh. I stressed, [that] Baku will not allow the community to face any danger” Ilham Aliyev President of Azerbaijan September 2005 BAKU-2011 | 2 | KARABAKH: VISION KARABAKH: VISION | 3 | CONTENTS: Preface 5 THE HISTORY OF AZERBAIJAN: General Information 8 KARABAKH: Historical Conditions 12 CURRENT SITUATION IN KARABAKH: Two Communities – One Vision 17 INTERNATIONAL LAW: Legitimacy of “Unrecognized State” 23 Concluding Remarks 26 | 4 | KARABAKH: VISION KARABAKH: VISION | 5 | Preface The Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Repub- been top agenda item for the Government of lic of Azerbaijan is part of the geographical Azerbaijan with the following priorities: area called Garabagh (Qarabağ). The name 1) liberation of all occupied territories; consists of two Azerbaijani words: “qara” 2) return of forcibly displaced persons to (black) and “bağ” (garden).1 The geographi- their places of origin; cal area of Karabakh covers the lands from 3) establishment of long-lasting peace and the Araz River in the south to the Kur River stability in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of in the north, and from the junction of the the Republic of Azerbaijan, which willpro- Kur and Araz Rivers in the east to the eastern mote in term the peace in the entire South ranges of the Lesser Caucasus in the west. Caucasus. Further continuation of such kind of pro- tracted conflicts is a major security threat in the region of South Caucasus, as one can see on the example of Five-Day war in Georgia (August 2008) that it can easily can turn into a flash fire. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has recently made an assessment of current condition of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: “The situation of no war, no peace, may send a wrong message that it is frozen – but it is Refugees from the Karabakh War, frantic to get away not frozen. Peace is being provided by the Ar- 2 from the invading Armenian troops. menian army and the Azerbaijani army.” Even though the mediation efforts has con- The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, is one of tinued for almost 20 years and sometimes the bloodiest and long-lasting armed con- one can observe only the appearance of in- flicts in the territory of the former Soviet tensive negotiations, Azerbaijan remains Union, has resulted in the occupation of faithful to the settlement of the Armenia- roughly one-fifth of the territory of Azerbai- Azerbaijan conflict within the OSCE Minsk jan and made approximately one out of every Process. However, the success of the peace eight persons in Azerbaijan an internally dis- process depends upon a similar commitment placed person or refugee. No final resolution and constructive approach on the part of Ar- has been reached yet, but the conflict has menia, as well as on the active contribution 1 The term Nagorno-Karabakh , or “Nagorny Karabakh” is a Russian translation of the original name in Azerbaijani language of all OSCE member states, especially those — Dağlıq Qarabağ (pronounced Daghlygh Garabagh), which lit- erally means Mountainous Garabagh. In order to avoid confusion 2 “Foreign Policy Challenges for Azerbaijan,” Transcript: Presi- the widely referred terms “Nagorno-Karabakh” or “Karabakh” will dent Ilham Aliyev, Chatham House, July 13, 2009, http://www.cha- be used here, as appropriate thamhouse.org.uk/files/14383_130709aliyev.pdf | 6 | KARABAKH: VISION represented in the Minsk Group and its baijani and Armenian communities of the Co-Chairmen. Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan This brochure evaluates the Armenia- and creating the necessary conditions Azerbaijan conflict from the historical for the effective realization of their right perspective, as well as from the position of to participate in the conduct of public af- international law and prepared at a time of fairs, including through the formation of critical importance in the drive to find a legitimate regional authorities at all levels. settlement to the conflict. The Government of Azerbaijan believes The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan can- that the legal status of the Nagorno-Kara- not be a subject of compromise. Azerbai- bakh region can be worked out only with jan will not surrender an inch of its terri- the equal participation of the citizens of tory. However, Azerbaijan does not want Azerbaijan of both Azerbaijani and Arme- war and remains committed to a peaceful nian communities within the framework resolution. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan also of a lawful and democratic process. While understands that it has a full right under the realization of this perspective in the fi- international law to restore its territorial nal stage of the peace process, it is logical integrity by other means if necessary. that the whole strategy would not become a reality without the restoration of Azer- In order to veil its aggressive policy to- baijan’s sovereign rights over all occupied wards Azerbaijan, the Armenian side fre- territories and the safe and dignified re- quently speculates on the international turn of the expelled Azerbaijani popula- legal principle of self-determination. In tion thereto. truth, the practical realization of this right, as stipulated in the relevant international Once an agreement is achieved, Azerbai- documents, does not involve unilateral jan will need the international commu- secession, but represents a legitimate pro- nity to help to guarantee its realization cess carried out in accordance with inter- through the deployment of multinational national and domestic law within precise- peacekeeping forces, support for dem- ly identified limits. Obviously, the critical ining, restoration of communications factor in addressing the issue of self-de- and rehabilitation of lands, as well as the termination with regard to the conflict in provision of security guarantees for the question is that all actions aimed at tear- population in the Nagorno-Karabakh re- ing away a part of the territory of Azerbai- gion, including the creation of local police jan are unconstitutional and accompanied forces in the region for both Azerbaijani by violation of basic rules of international and Armenian communities. The Gov- law, particularly those prohibiting the use ernment of Azerbaijan is ready to assist in of force and the acquisition of territory. all possible ways with the infrastructural rebuilding and economic development of Azerbaijan’s official approach to the right the region, including the attraction of in- of self-determination derives from its true vestments at the local level. values. It envisages securing the peaceful coexistence and cooperation of the Azer- Special attention in the Armenia-Azerbai- KARABAKH: VISION | 7 | jan conflict settlement should be given to the issue of infrastructure in the region. Those who are familiar with the conflict often en- counter the notion of “corridors” or “unim- peded access.” The government of Azerbaijan suggests a policy of shifting from restricted, antagonistic understandings of the corri- dor concept to the use of all infrastructures in the region for the mutual benefit of both sides. This approach acquires particular sig- nificance with regard to the so-called “Lachin corridor,” which is important for linking both the Armenian population in the Nagorno- Karabakh region of Azerbaijan with Arme- nia, and Azerbaijan with its Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan through the terri- tory of Armenia. The use of the Lachin road in both directions along the route Aghdam- Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin-Goris-Shahbuz- Nakhichevan (with the possibility of further extension to Turkey) can provide both Azer- baijan and Armenia with guaranteed secure connections. The significance of utilizing the “Lachin corridor” in such a way goes beyond the practical benefits of direct transport com- munication between two states. This road could become a “road of peace” of great polit- ical, economic and pan-regional importance. | 8 | KARABAKH: VISION THE HISTORY OF AZERBAIJAN: General Information The favorable geographic and climatic find a rock with an inscription in Latin re- conditions of Azerbaijan furthered the lating to an expedition of the centurions appearance of humanity on its territory of the Roman Legion in Gobustan in the from great antiquity. The history of Azer- 1st century AD: “At the time of Emperor baijan begins in the Paleolithic era. In Domitian Caesar Augustus Germanicus the northwest of Azerbaijan, on Aveydag Lucius Julius Maximus (centurion) of the Mountain and in the caves of Azikh in Ga- Legio XII Fulminata.”3 The epigraph is Inscription in Latin relating to an expedition of the centurions of the Roman Legion in Gobustan in the 1st century AD rabag, stone tools have been found. Aside the most distant from Rome among the from this, the lower jaw of one of the Latin ones known up to now. most ancient forms of Neanderthal man The phonetic sound of “Azerbaijan” has was found in Azikh cave. Relics from the regularly changed along the history. His- Bronze Age have been found in Khojali, torical sources reflect former names of Gadabey, Dashkesan, Ganja, Mingechevir Azerbaijan as Andirpatian, Atropatena, and Nakhchivan. Not far from Baku, in Adirbijan and Azirbijan. Gobustan, at the place of settlement of an- cient people, rock carvings about 10,000 3 Mémoires de l’Académie des Sciences, IV, 7. Information about this was given a few years later (in 1951, inscription no. years in age have survived. One also can 263) in the Année Epigraphique. KARABAKH: VISION | 9 | Great states such as Manna, kingdom of Iskit (Skit, Skif), Atropatena and Albania appear on the lands of Azerbaijan in the 1st millen- nium BC and the 1st millennium AD. Those states played distinctive role in perfection of ruling traditions, in history of the economy and culture of the country and in formation of united nation. Zoroastrianism, or fire-worship and belief in the Sun, the Moon, the Sky, the stars, ground, Qız Qalası or “Maiden Tower,” a part of the Walled City of Baku.