Nagorno-Karabakh — Armenian region with a Christian background: Euronews

“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.”

Source: Panorama - Original Article

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