Book Description

This report is based largely on site visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1993 by the United States Committee for Refugees (USCR). It concentrates on the humanitarian toll taken by the conflict since it began in 1988, in the hope of creating a balanced understanding of the results of the violence which will, in turn, stimulate material assistance to the needy and foster peace. Nagorno-Karabakh is seen as epitomizing the conflict between two opposing principles of international law - the notion of self-determination versus the inviolability of borders. A detailed history of the conflict is offered both in the text and in a useful chronological table of events. The report proceeds with an analysis of the humanitarian needs associated with the conflict, pointing out that tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons are at grave risk. The presence of large numbers of uprooted people in Armenia and Azerbaijan is thought to contribute to hypernationalism in both countries. The study concludes that the intervention of an outside force is unlikely because the international community has already shown its willingness to tolerate massive human rights abuses, including 'ethnic cleansing', provided the abuses remain localised as they are in this case. Both the conflicting parties, however, need to be held accountable for violations of humanitarian law in war and basic human rights standards. The U.S. response is criticized for favouring Armenia in this regard. Taking no position on the territorial dispute, USCR urges the conflicting sides to stop using force, in particular to stop forcibly displacing civilians. Urgent provision for the newly uprooted is sought in a series of recommendations addressed to the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and the U.S. Government.