Peace agreement signed for Nagorno-Karabakh, 'painful' for Armenians

The agreement - launched last night - provides for Azerbaijan to maintain control of the areas of Nagorno-Karabakh conquered during the last conflict (including the city of Shusha). Armenia should instead withdraw from some areas adjacent to the region. Groups of Armenians invaded the parliament and government buildings in Yerevan shouting: "No surrender!".

Yerevan (AsiaNews) - With Russia as sponsors, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed an agreement that should end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region mostly inhabited by Armenians who have been fighting for autonomy and independence from the Azerbaijani nation for years.

The agreement was implemented starting tonight, silencing weapons and clashes that have inflamed the region for about six weeks, even causing hundreds of deaths.

The agreement provides for Azerbaijan to maintain control of the Nagorno-Karabakh areas conquered during the last conflict (including the city of Shusha). Armenia should instead withdraw from some areas adjacent to the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that nearly 2,000 Russian troops will be deployed on the border between the region and the rest of the Azerbaijani nation and along a corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called signing the agreement "painful", which "is not a victory, but not a defeat". Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the agreement had "historical significance" and that Armenia "capitulated". Arayik Harutyunyan, the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh said he accepted the agreement in order "to end the war as soon as possible".

However, many Armenians do not accept the agreement. In the capital Yerevan, some groups demonstrated shouting "No surrender!" and invaded the parliament and some government buildings (photo 2). In Baku, however, many people took to the streets this morning to celebrate the "victory" (photo 3)

In recent weeks there have been several ceasefire attempts, violated shortly after their implementation. And the number of victims on both sides is unknown.

The Armenians say around 1,200 soldiers have died, as well as many civilians. The Azeris do not report the casualties among the military, but say that at least 80 civilians have died as a result of bombing and missiles.

With Russia, which is an ally of Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by Turkey, many feared that if the tension continued, it could inflame the whole Caucasus and the Middle East.

• armenia
• azerbaijan
• russia
• economy
• islam
• nagorno-karabakh
• isis
• turkey
• catholicos
• karekine ii
• pope francis