Armenian-controlled territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and situated outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....
, which are since the end of the Karabakh War controlled by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
Nomenclature
These areas have also been referred to as:- Security belt of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
- Buffer zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
- 7 occupied districts of Azerbaijan around Nagorno-Karabakh
- Liberated areas of Nagorno-Karabakh
Description
Based on the administrative and territorial divisionAdministrative divisions of Azerbaijan
Politically, Azerbaijan is divided into:*59 districts ,*11 cities ,*1 autonomous republic , which itself contains:**7 districts**1 city...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, the territory of the security belt of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is located on the territory of:
- Kelbajar - (1936 km2, 100% of which is controlled by the Defense Army of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic),
- LachinLachin RayonLachin is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The capital is the city of Lachin. The region has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
- (1,835 km2. - 100%), - Kubatli - (802 km2. - 100%),
- Jebrail - (1,050 km2. - 100%),
- Zangelan - (707 km2. - 100%),
- Agdam - (1,094 km2. - 77% (842 km2)),
- Fizuli - (1,386 km2. - 33% - 462 km2.) districts of AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
Its total land area is 7,634 km2. On the outer perimeter of the belt is a line of direct contact between the military forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
History
At the outset of the Karabakh conflict, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous OblastNagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....
/ Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
was surrounded by territory controlled by Azerbaijan and had no land border with Armenia.
- 18 May 1992, Armenian forces took LachinLachinLachin is a town in Azerbaijan and the regional center of the Lachin Rayon. Since 1992 the area has been under the control of the de facto independent unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which has renamed the town Berdzor . The town and its surrounding region serve as the strategic Lachin...
, opening the Lachin corridorLachin corridorThe Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
for land communications between NKR and Armenia. However, the corridor was under constant threat from Azerbaijani forces who repeatedly tried to cut it. A strong offensive by Armenian forces occurred in 1993, resulting in the securing of furtherterriroty to act as a "security zone". - 27 March 1993, Armenian forces launched an offensive in Kelbajar and by April 5 had completely captured the area of Kelbadzharsky district, creating a strong link between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia and removing from the Lachin corridor the threat of attack from the north.
- 23 July 1993, after 40 days of fighting, officially known in Armenia as the "suppression of enemy firing points", Agdam was taken. Then followed attack in the south:
- 22 August 1993 were taken FizuliFizuliFizuli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. It was named after the Turkic poet Fuzûlî. Its capital is the town of Fizuli. The western half, including capital Fizuli, has been controlled by the breakway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Hadrut Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
. - 25 August - Jebrail
- 31 August - Kubatly
- 1 November - Zangelan.
Since then, Armenians have been in control of the entire territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, except for a tiny piece east of Khojavend. In addition, since that time Armenians have controlled all of the territory between the former NKAO to Iran, as well as all of the territory between the former NKAO and Armenia, and some areas to the east surrounding Aghdam. In the north, however, the until 1992 ethnically Armenian Shahumian
Shahumian
The Shahumian Region is a disputed region, formerly a district of Azerbaijan SSR outside of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Before the Nagorno-Karabakh War of the 1990s, the region had a substantial Armenian population...
region, is under the control of Azerbaijan. It was not officially a part of the former NKAO, and though NKR claims it, the Armenians were driven out in 1992 and the Armenian and Azeri forces have been separated on the northern front by the Murovdag
Murovdag
The Murovdag is the highest mountain range in Lesser Caucasus . It is made up mainly of Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks....
mountain chain ever since.
Since 1994, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
have held talks on the future of the security belt territories. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
has not been involved in these negotiations because Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
does not recognize the existence of such parties to the conflict. The Armenian side has offered to act in accordance with the "land for status" formula (returning the territory of the security belt to the control of Azerbaijan in exchange for Azerbaijan recognising of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and giving security assurances to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the Lachin corridor
Lachin corridor
The Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
), Azerbaijan - on a formula "land for peace" (The territory of a security belt back under the control of Azerbaijan in exchange for security guarantees Azerbaijan remain under the control of NKR territories of the former Nagorny Karabakh). Facilitators have also offered, in particular, the "land for status" option (returning the territory of the security belt to the control of Azerbaijan in exchange for guarantees by Azerbaijan to hold at some point a referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh). As of 2008, the involved parties have failed to reach any agreement.
Legal status
- From the standpoint of the Nagorno-Karabakh RepublicNagorno-Karabakh RepublicThe Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, the security belt is territory of Azerbaijan temporarily controlled by the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense ArmyNagorno-Karabakh Defense ArmyThe Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the unrecognized but de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
until the receipt of security guarantees for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the establishment of control over the whole of the territory declared by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, with the exception of the Lachin corridorLachin corridorThe Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
linking Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with Armenia (which the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has stated it does not intend to return because of its strategic importance) (currently Azerbaijan controls 750 km2 of territory claimed by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic - ShaumyanovskyShahumianThe Shahumian Region is a disputed region, formerly a district of Azerbaijan SSR outside of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Before the Nagorno-Karabakh War of the 1990s, the region had a substantial Armenian population...
(630 square kilometers) and a small part of MartuniMartuniMartuni is a province of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It consists of the branch of Nagorno-Karabakh which juts out farthest to the east, almost reaches Stepanakert on the west, and goes a little past Karmir Shuka on the south...
and Mardakertsky areas, representing 14.85% of the total area of NKR). According to Article 142 of the Constitution of Nagorno-Karabakh republic "to restore the integrity of national territory of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and clarifying boundaries public power is exercised in the territory actually under the jurisdiction of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", that is, including the territory of Azerbaijan, outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous OblastNagorno-Karabakh Autonomous OblastThe Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....
and Shaumian districtShahumianThe Shahumian Region is a disputed region, formerly a district of Azerbaijan SSR outside of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Before the Nagorno-Karabakh War of the 1990s, the region had a substantial Armenian population...
, which borders was proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. - From the standpoint of Azerbaijan, the "security belt" is territory occupied by Armenia. In certain documents of international organizations (such as UN, PACEPACE-Associations:* Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union* National PACE Association* Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence-Educational programs:...
), these areas are also considered as occupied by "Armenian forces", but there are recognized two entities on the Armenian side of the conflict: The Republic of Armenia and "Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan" (in terms of PACE - "Separatist forces").