Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking steps towards normalizing relations after a bitter conflict over territory. Azerbaijan regained control of the Karabakh province from ethnic Armenian forces in a six-week war in 2020, and negotiations mediated by Russian forces resulted in Armenian authorities capitulating in September 2023. The two nations are now working towards a peace treaty, with experts demarcating boundaries and placing the first border marker.
An agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a stretch of border that would cut through four Armenian villages in the Tavush province, leading to Armenia ceding some territory to Azerbaijan. The first border marker was installed, though its exact location was not immediately clear. This development sparked protests in Armenia, with demonstrators blocking roads in the northeastern region and setting up roadblocks along key routes, including one leading to neighboring Georgia.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed optimism about the progress towards a peace agreement, stating that Baku and Yerevan were closer than ever before to signing one. Armenia’s prime minister also emphasized the need to quickly define the border with Azerbaijan to avoid a new round of hostilities. Residents of Armenia’s border regions have resisted the demarcation effort, viewing it as an encroachment by Azerbaijan on areas they consider their own.
Russia recently began withdrawing its forces from Karabakh, where they had been stationed as peacekeepers under a truce. The peacekeepers’ duties included ensuring free passage on the road connecting Karabakh with Armenia, but Azerbaijan started blocking the road in late 2022. This led to food and medicine shortages in Karabakh, prompting Azerbaijan to launch an offensive. After Azerbaijan regained control of Karabakh, most of its population fled to Armenia, although Azerbaijan stated that they were welcome to stay with promised human rights protections.
Despite the progress towards a peace agreement, tensions remain high in the region. Protests in Armenia indicate resistance to ceding territory to Azerbaijan, and the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers has raised concerns over stability. The ongoing efforts to demarcate borders and establish a peace treaty will be crucial in maintaining peace and stability in the region and preventing future conflicts. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan must work together to address the concerns of their populations and ensure a lasting peace that respects the rights and sovereignty of all involved.
