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The Security Council The Security Council Situation Report 2 October 2022
The Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia or The Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the longest-running conflict resulting from the breakup of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region after the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991. Increasing conflict followed, causing additional humanitarian concerns, as civilians abandoned their homes. In 1992 the President of Azerbaijan addressed the President of the Security Council about the Armenian’s intensifying attacks in the region. Near that same time, the representative from Armenia called for an emergency session of the Security Council under Article 35 to address the cross-border conflict, a blockade and the increasing potential for outside involvement.
In 1993 the Security Council passed four resolutions regarding the conflict. Resolution 822 and Resolution 884, passed in April and November 1993 respectively, condemned violations of existing ceasefires and called for a permanent ceasefire. A ceasefire was eventually reached in 1994, which left Armenia in control of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as several surrounding areas located in Azerbaijan. The ceasefire held through years of minor border skirmishes until the fall of 2020, when a campaign by Azerbaijan to retake the region led to a more open state of war between the two countries. In November of 2020, Russia brokered another ceasefire, agreeing to send peacekeepers to the region to back the agreement. The new ceasefire, though, did little to improve tensions in the region.
Following skirmishes in late July and early August 2022, a large-scale clash erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops on 13 September, breaking the ceasefire. Azerbaijan fired on Armenian soil and attacked several cities with artillery, mortars and heavy weapons, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that Armenia had engaged in serious, large-scale provocations along the border. Approximately 100 military personnel were killed during the recent fighting.
Due to the situation in Ukraine, Armenia lacks support from the Russian Federation, its strongest ally. However, Azerbaijan continues to receive financial and military support from Turkey, its primary ally, including the use of Turkish drones and weapons. On 15 September, the UN Assistant Secretary-General to Europe, Central Asia and Americas addressed the Security Council at an emergency session, stating that the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan threaten regional stability.
Bibliography
Armenia, Azerbaijan Trade Blame for New Ceasefire Violations (23 September 2022). Al Jazeera.
Armenia and Azerbaijan Fight Over Disputed Nagorno-Karabakh (28 September 2020). BBC News.
Dixon, Robyn (20 November 2020). In Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Deal, Russia’s Putin Claims a Strategic Win. but Risks Are Attached. Washington Post.
Lee, Matthew (20 September 2022). U.S. Hosts Armenia, Azerbaijan in Peace Talks Amid Cease-fire. The Christian Science Monitor.
Khurshudyan, Isabelle , et al. (4 August 2022). The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Explained. Washington Post.
Mpoke Bigg, Matthew (24 September 2022). Understanding the Fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The New York Times.
Toal, Gerard, and John O’Loughlin (6 April 2016). Here Are the 5 Things You Need to Know About the Deadly Fighting in Nagorno Karabakh. Washington Post.
UN Remains Deeply Concerned Over ‘Dangerous Escalation’ Following Fighting across Armenia-Azerbaijan Border (15 September 2022). UN Wire.
UN Documents
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabahk Conflict. S/RES/822.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/853.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/874.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/884.
United Nations, Security Council (2022). Amid Fighting between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Assistant Secretary-General Urges Both Parties to Commit to Lasting Peace Treaty, in Security Council Briefing. S/15031.
United Nations, Security Council (2002). Letter dated 13 September 2022 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. S/2022/688.
The Conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia or The Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the longest-running conflict resulting from the breakup of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region after the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991. Increasing conflict followed, causing additional humanitarian concerns, as civilians abandoned their homes. In 1992 the President of Azerbaijan addressed the President of the Security Council about the Armenian’s intensifying attacks in the region. Near that same time, the representative from Armenia called for an emergency session of the Security Council under Article 35 to address the cross-border conflict, a blockade and the increasing potential for outside involvement.
In 1993 the Security Council passed four resolutions regarding the conflict. Resolution 822 and Resolution 884, passed in April and November 1993 respectively, condemned violations of existing ceasefires and called for a permanent ceasefire. A ceasefire was eventually reached in 1994, which left Armenia in control of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as several surrounding areas located in Azerbaijan. The ceasefire held through years of minor border skirmishes until the fall of 2020, when a campaign by Azerbaijan to retake the region led to a more open state of war between the two countries. In November of 2020, Russia brokered another ceasefire, agreeing to send peacekeepers to the region to back the agreement. The new ceasefire, though, did little to improve tensions in the region.
Following skirmishes in late July and early August 2022, a large-scale clash erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops on 13 September, breaking the ceasefire. Azerbaijan fired on Armenian soil and attacked several cities with artillery, mortars and heavy weapons, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated that Armenia had engaged in serious, large-scale provocations along the border. Approximately 100 military personnel were killed during the recent fighting.
Due to the situation in Ukraine, Armenia lacks support from the Russian Federation, its strongest ally. However, Azerbaijan continues to receive financial and military support from Turkey, its primary ally, including the use of Turkish drones and weapons. On 15 September, the UN Assistant Secretary-General to Europe, Central Asia and Americas addressed the Security Council at an emergency session, stating that the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan threaten regional stability.
Bibliography
Armenia, Azerbaijan Trade Blame for New Ceasefire Violations (23 September 2022). Al Jazeera.
Armenia and Azerbaijan Fight Over Disputed Nagorno-Karabakh (28 September 2020). BBC News.
Dixon, Robyn (20 November 2020). In Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Deal, Russia’s Putin Claims a Strategic Win. but Risks Are Attached. Washington Post.
Lee, Matthew (20 September 2022). U.S. Hosts Armenia, Azerbaijan in Peace Talks Amid Cease-fire. The Christian Science Monitor.
Khurshudyan, Isabelle , et al. (4 August 2022). The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Explained. Washington Post.
Mpoke Bigg, Matthew (24 September 2022). Understanding the Fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The New York Times.
Toal, Gerard, and John O’Loughlin (6 April 2016). Here Are the 5 Things You Need to Know About the Deadly Fighting in Nagorno Karabakh. Washington Post.
UN Remains Deeply Concerned Over ‘Dangerous Escalation’ Following Fighting across Armenia-Azerbaijan Border (15 September 2022). UN Wire.
UN Documents
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabahk Conflict. S/RES/822.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/853.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/874.
United Nations, Security Council (1993). The Situation Concerning the Nargorny-Karabakh Conflict. S/RES/884.
United Nations, Security Council (2022). Amid Fighting between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Assistant Secretary-General Urges Both Parties to Commit to Lasting Peace Treaty, in Security Council Briefing. S/15031.
United Nations, Security Council (2002). Letter dated 13 September 2022 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. S/2022/688.