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Armenia, Azerbaijan: The politicization of Genocide: Is there a “genocide”in Karabakh ?

NO, there is not. I’m comfortable suggesting that. Though there was previously an ethnic cleansing of Azeri’s from their own land and country.

Let’s go back to 1993- 20 yrs ago


Up to 100,000 Azerbaijanis Reportedly Fleeing Armenians : Transcaucasia: Iran is said to be refugees’ goal. They were displaced by an Armenian offensive launched from enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 Azerbaijanis, forced to flee their homes by a massive Armenian offensive in southwestern Azerbaijan, are heading toward the Iranian border as the ethnic war in Nagorno-Karabakh widens into a full-scale international conflict.

Many of whom fled to Iran. Iran does NOT want further destablization on their border. And Russia has recently chastized Armenian leadership for their duplicitous behaviour

“Neither Iran nor we want to see these refugees cross the border, but this threat is quite real,” said Rafael D. Guseinov, Azerbaijan’s representative in Moscow.

The Armenians are trying to drive refugees across the border on purpose, not only in order to gain more territory but also . . . to aggravate the situation in Azerbaijan,” Guseinov charged.

Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, say that the areas under attack have been used to launch offensives against their villages and that their only goal is to demilitarize them.

Armenians now control about one-fifth of Azerbaijani territory–a humiliating setback for the Azerbaijani leadership that came to power in June promising to drive the Armenians out.

That’s from 1993- Armenia, the aggressor and the ethnic cleanser of another nations territory – Though this may seem similar to Ukraine it’s not-my personal view there’s more similarity to what has and is occurring in eastern Syria‘.

Flashback

The Politicization of Genocide: Is there a genocide in Karabakh

Few terms are as readily exploited and strategically wielded as the label “genocide.” Within both international and domestic legal contexts, genocide stands as a heinous offense, the gravest of crimes, capable of igniting profound moral indignation upon its occurrence. As a consequence, virtually every ethnic, religious, or racial group harbors a desire to portray their tribulations as genocide, harnessing its potent implications.

Refusing to classify an event as genocide can be perceived as a rejection of the anguish endured by a particular community. Even if you agree with the facts of the persecuted community but disagree with the legal description of these events as genocide, you will be accused of denialist. To illustrate, consider the plight of the Armenians in Karabakh, who find themselves grappling with adversity in the aftermath of the 2020 War’s conclusion

Certainly, the establishment of Azerbaijani checkpoint on the lachin Corridor, the route connecting Armenian-populated regions of Azerbaijan and Armenia, has led to challenging situations. These circumstances are unquestionably complex, as Azerbaijan claimed that the Lachin road was used for military buildup. ( most likely true based on the history) However, it is crucial to recognize that while the humanitarian situation is severe, it does not correspond to the essential elements of genocide. The aim of the Azerbaijani government is not to eradicate the Armenian population, but rather to integrate the Armenian minority within Azerbaijan. Referring to the redirection of the Armenian community towards the alternate Aghdam road and their integration into Azerbaijan as genocide would be inaccurate. The government of Azerbaijan is seeking to close the Lachin Corridor and force Armenians to use the Aghdam Road which would force Armenians to recognize the sovereignty of Azerbaijan and work within the Azerbaijani legal system.

The Brief History of the Conflict

Over the course of its history, the Karabakh region had a diverse population consisting of both Armenians and Azerbaijanis. However, with the onset of Russian colonial occupation in the early 19th century, Armenians from Iran and the Ottoman Empire began to settle in Karabakh. The historical records of Azerbaijan affirm that Karabakh has always been an inseparable part of the state.

During the era of the Soviet Union, Karabakh assumed the role of an autonomous region within the Azerbaijani SSR. Nonetheless, as the foundations of the Soviet Union began to crumble, the Armenian minority embarked on a quest for reunification with Armenia. This pursuit catalyzed a consequential episode of ethnic displacement, notably the significant expulsion of Karabakh’s Azerbaijani inhabitants in 1993, a joint undertaking by Armenia and Russia.

See the news article from 1993 at the beginning of this report

The outcome was the prevailing triumph of Armenian forces over the Azerbaijani military, leading to the occupation of nearly 20% of Azerbaijani territories.

After the initial Karabakh War and the peace negotiations that spanned from 1994 to 2018 (before Pashinyan assumed power in May 2018), Azerbaijan proposed granting special autonomy to Karabakh Armenians, under the condition that they recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

However, Armenians turned down these offers and instead resorted to threats of further territorial expansion. This kind of rhetoric, including hints of advancing towards Baku, contributed to the conditions that eventually led to the outbreak of the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

The Armenian leadership breached crucial terms of the ceasefire by refusing to establish transport connections to Nakhchivan. Additionally, Karabakh Armenians rejected the offer of Azerbaijani citizenship, prompting President Aliyev to assert sovereign control over the Lachin Corridor, the sole passage linking Armenia and the Karabakh enclave. Importantly, Aliyev’s intention is not to eradicate or forcibly displace Armenians, as some contend. Rather, his aim is to incorporate the Armenian community within the secessionist enclave, ideally through voluntary means, or if necessary, through coercive methods.

Aliyev put forth the Aghdam-Stepanakert (Khankendi) Road as a way to address the needs of Karabakh Armenians and officially acknowledge Baku as the capital encompassing all legitimate Azerbaijani territories. However, Armenian nationalists staunchly reject humanitarian aid from Baku and oppose the concept of living under Azerbaijani sovereignty.

As the Karabakh saga approaches its denouement, the Armenian strategy of rousing public sentiment by accusing Azerbaijan of genocide and ethnic cleansing, coupled with their insistence on an augmented Russian role, which could potentially lead to a Russian protectorate over Karabakh, finds itself on precarious footing. Both these strategies are poised to yield outcomes that run counter to their intended goals.

Instead of actively engaging in sincere dialogue aimed at enhancing the living conditions of Karabakh Armenians, it appears that the Armenian political leadership is expending valuable time and further alienating the Azerbaijani government. ( In other words the Armenian government is happy to exploit suffering people in NK for other political ends)The population in Karabakh is grappling with significant infrastructure challenges, including consistent access to vital resources like electricity, oil, gas, and water. Addressing these immediate concerns necessitates cooperative efforts with the central government in Baku. However, certain Armenians seem to prioritize issues of independence over the more pressing economic, comfort, and well-being matters. The secessionist stance adopted by some Karabakh Armenians seems to lack rationality or pragmatism when viewed through a socio-political lens. Beyond their focus on the concept of genocide, Armenian nationalists have articulated two principal objectives: either converting Karabakh into a Russian protectorate or seeking territorial autonomy. Nevertheless, neither of these options appears to be realistically attainable.

Russia is NOT going to be a protectorate for Karabakh- They didn’t involve themselves in the 2020 fighting in that area- It is not an area that is covered by their earlier security agreement with Armenia- Because it’s not Armenian territory

What I find shocking is this cheering of American support for continuing this instability. Sure these people that cheer this may or may not believe this is a move for peace. I don’t see it as such. American guarantees are assured signs of more trouble to come


Nagorno Karabakh is not Armenian territory

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