Nagorno-Karabakh

“ It is impossible to calculate and express with concrete figures the damage inflicted by the Armenian aggressors on the national cultural places of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and in the surrounding districts, because the plundered and destroyed treasures are not only the unique cultural legacy of Azerbaijan, but also of the world civilization. ”

“ None of those concerned with Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistrian settlement plan to violate international law, tear up existing accords, destroy the agreed settlement formats and bomb civilian residents and peacekeepers. There is no one there who would like to ensure territorial integrity by mass killing of people whom you consider your citizens, residents of your own country. ”

“ Armenia under the old centrally planned Soviet system had built up textile,
machine-building, and other industries and had become a key supplier to
sister republics. In turn, Armenia had depended on supplies of raw materials
and energy from the other republics. Most of these supplies enter the
republic by rail through Azerbaijan (85%) and Georgia (15%) . The economy has
been severely hurt by ethnic strife with Azerbaijan over control of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, a mostly Armenian-populated enclave
within the national boundaries of Azerbaijan. ”

“ Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10-nm fishing zone provided
for in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union
and Iran
International disputes:
violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of
Nagorno-Karabakh over its status, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan;
some Azerbaijanis desire absorption of and/or unification with the
ethnic Azeri portion of Iran
Climate:
dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:
large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great
Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west ”

“ Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan ”

“ Tamraz had ambitious plans, however, for his own Caucasian pipeline. As he put it in a letter to President Gaidar Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Tamraz proposed a "tentative agreement which could be negotiated with Nagorno Karabakh" by the terms of which " [o] il and gas pipelines will be built by Oil Capital [Limited] from [the Azeri coastal city of] Baku to the Mediterranean, passing through Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Nakhichivan and Turkey." ”

“ Joint session of the Nagorno Karabakh Oblast and Shahoumian regional councils of people’s deputies with the participation of deputies of councils of all levels
Expressing the will of people, in fact, fixed by a referendum and in the decisions of the NKAO and Shahoumian regional authorities in 1988-1991, its strive for freedom, independence, equality and good neighbourly relations ”