NAGORNO-KARABAKH — HEART OF ARMENIA: EURONEWS
news.am
Nov 30 2009
Armenia
Nestled in the raged fertile mountains of the Southern Caucasus the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is once again in the headlines,"
Michael Reichmann, Euronews TV company reporter says, underlining
that the name itself means maintenance of black garden. Armenians who
make up 95% of the population in NKR call their homeland "the strong
forest". The journalist points out that for many Karabakh Armenians
"religious faith remained deeply important part of their lives". There
are hundreds of traditional Armenian churches and monasteries in NKR.
The reporter quotes Armenian studies professor Bernard Coulie, as
saying "Karabakh is a fascinating region which has very much the same
culture as Armenia. We are in a real Armenian region with a Christian
background which is very important. We are in the heart of Armenia
but not in a political sense. That is also very interesting."
Reichmann informs that Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence in
1991 after collapse of Soviet Union. It resulted in war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 1994 the conflict finally ended after the
Russians broke the ceasefire. However, the territory is not still
internationally recognized. NKR President Bako Sahakyan states that
"it is no secret that Azerbaijan chose to militarize. We’ve stated
many times that we would like to avoid any military conflicts.
However, that does not mean we are not ready to defend ourselves."
Armenia took control of the region but no one lives here any more. All
is left are empty and mostly destroyed houses. The war cost 17.000
Armenians and 25.000 Azeris. In solidarity with Azerbaijan Turkey
closed its border to Armenia. Nearly a million people were also
displaced by the war.
Since the 1994 ceasefire, the region is fallen in so-called frozen
conflict despite that both Azerbaijani and Armenian armies are on high
alert. One of Armenian soldiers says, "I want peace for my country,
that’s why we are here. I do not want this situation to carry on. I
would like to be able to live in peace. However it’s our duty to
stay here."
Many Armenians living inside Azerbaijan have also moved to the region.
They were forced to flee after large-scale anti-Armenian riots in Azeri
capital, Baku in 1998. Reichmann quotes one of refugees — Michael
Sargsyan, "I am very happy to be in my homeland. The good thing about
our tragedy is that we are here now. That’s very good. I believe in
God. I strongly believe in him. That has helped me and my family."
The tension is stirred in the region. There are hopes that the
hostility might be eased. Armenian and Turkish Presidents attended the
qualifying matches of both countries’ national football teams in the
frames of World Cup 2010. Both states signed historical documents on
the establishment of bilateral relations. Equally significant was the
meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in the end of November
in the course of which both Presidents expressed readiness to settle
the conflict peacefully.
As to the ratification of the Protocols, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
remains positive, "Armenians and Turks should be able to ratify the
Protocols, because both our parties have the majority in our respective
parliaments. We must use our political will, otherwise what was the
point of the signing the protocols. We are ready to ratify and we
expect Turkey to do the same."