The Unrecognized Republic Of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus

Nagorno Karabakh is a small, mountainous territory in the South Caucasus (between the Caucasus and the Karabakh range). It was part of Azerbaijan. Nagorno - Karabakh means" mountainous black garden". Nagorno-Karabakh has a total area of 4,400 square kilometers. The capital of Nagorno Karabakh is Stepanakert. According to the 2005 cencus, Nagorno - Karabakh's population is 137,737. Armenian were 76% of total population, while Azerbaijanis were 22% of total population. There are also several thousand of Kurds, Russians, Greeks, and Assyrians. The majority of Armenians follow Christianity, while Azerbaijanis are Shi'a Muslims followers.

The Nagorno - Karabakh conflict took place from February 1988 to May 1994. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh stood up for their rights and their parliament proclaimed its independence from Azerbaijan. Why? Because Azerbaijan goverment has continuously oppressed the rights of the Christian Armenian minority in Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region. This conflict has been referred to as a religious-cultural conflict. Nagorno - Karabakh contains a large number of key landmarks of Armenian history. And of course, it is important for Armenia's history and civilization in many ways. But, in 1921 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin forcibly placed Nagorno - Karabakh under the Azerbaijani rule. There are discrimination, economic mistreatment and intentional demographic abuse at this region. Their purpose is to eliminate its Armenian Christian majority and replace it with Azerbaijani Muslim settlers.

This conflict has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Armenians and Azerbaijanis. With tens of thousands more people displaced from their homes, dozens of ghost towns and villages. After six years of intensive fighting, both sides were ready for a ceasefire. Since then, Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan found themselves in a "no-war no-peace". The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh remains frozen.

As the result of war, the region of Nagorno-Karabakh is considered to be one of the most heavily mined regions of Caucasus. Then, the continuing Azerbaijani blockade seriously impedes post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Nagorno - Karabakh can only reached through the Republic of Armenia (via the Lachin corridor). It is a very isolated state. To visit Nagorno Karabakh, foreign nationals require an entry visa from Consular Section of Nagorno - Karabakh Republic at Yerevan, Armenia.

Today, there are several new buildings were being built, amongst others a new parliament building, a school and a new hotel. Nagorno - Karabakh economy almost completely depends on agriculture and food processing. Their geography and climate are extremely favorable for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, particularly grapes. Nagorno - Karabakh is still de jure part of Azerbaijan but de facto under Armenian control.