Providing+peace+and+security+in+the+Caucasus+region

This page is for those who are in the Political Committee. "Providing peace and security in the Caucasus region" is one of the topics discussed.

The Caucasus is the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in what can be said to be Eastern Europe or the Near East (Asia). The UN places the states in the area in the Eastern European bloc.The region is traditionally divided in two geographic regions: the North Caucasus and the South Caucasus. The North Caucasus is all part of Russia and includes these federated republics (part of Russia): Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia The South Caucasus is divided into three independent states: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia The dividing line between North and South is often considered to be a) the border with Russia, and b) the mountain range which you can see in the map (Caucasus Mountains), which coincide quite closely. The region is quite mountainous and and includes Mount Elbrus (5642 m) in Russia, which is considered the highest mountain in Europe (according to those who believe the Caucasus is part of Europe). From a political geography point of view, Azerbaijan has a small part (exclave) known as Naxçivan (pronounced (I think) Nakchavàn) with an Azeri-majority population, which is not connected with the rest of the country, but borders Armenia and Iran. You can see it on the map.One other important thing to be noted is the Armenian diaspora.Through the ages, large numbers of Armenians left their country and migrated to the rest of the world. Now many countries have significant numbers of Armenians in them, and it is important to keep this in mind when formulating national policy.

History and ethnicities
Before describing the conflicts in the region, it is good to understand a key point which has caused all of these conflicts, and explain a bit of history. The region is inhabited by mostly Slavs, but there are different sub-ethnicities of Slavs. And they all feel different from the others. There are Azeris, Armenians, Georgians, Russians, Dagestanis, Chechens. Ossetians. Abkhaz, and many more which are, however, less important. For most of the 20th century, the whole region was part of the USSR, and grouped under the name of Transcaucasian SFSR. Ethnic differences were downplayed but still existed and were just beneath the surface. With the fall of the Soviet Union, every ethnicity felt different from all the others and demanded its own state. Eventually three states were created: Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. However the lines (it seems) were drawn quite hastily and often did not represent the true population distribution. Besides, part of the Caucasus remained in Russia, there were more ethnicities than States.

=Nagorno-Karabakh=

There are three "problem zones" in the area. The first is Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh was designated (and still is) as a part of Azerbaijan. However, it has a majority Armenian population. In a war lasting from 1988 to 1994, the region of Nagorno-Karabakh declared itself independent and set up its own government and army, Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh and started invading, Armenia entered the war in support of Nagorno-Karabakh and drove out Azerbaijani troops. The Armenian majority in the region started an ethnic cleansing (genocide) campaign against the Azeri minority. A ceasefire was signed in 1994 but there is no peace treaty. This means that: - Nagorno-Karabakh is now independent in actual fact, but has no international recognition - Armenian troops remain and occupy Nagorno-Karabakh - Azerbaijan still claims the region and it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan and Turkey have closed borders with Armenia and will allow no trade with it.

=South Ossetia=

The second "problem zone" is South Ossetia, in Georgia. It is called "South Ossetia" because a) the ethnic majority are Ossetians and Georgians are a minority and b) North Ossetia is a federated republic of Russia and contains approx. 70% of Ossetians. Most people living in South Ossetia have Russian passports (this is mostly because everyone with USSR passports was given a Russian passport, but it is important later). In 1990, with the fall of the Soviet Union, Georgia was created. The South Ossetians felt ignored and wanted a state of their own or, at least, to be joined with North Ossetia. The Russians supported them but the Georgians moved in with the army and militias. The Ossetians responded by a) setting up a secessionist state with its own government and army and b) organizing militias to fight back against the Georgians. The war lasted for a few months, with both sides killing lots of civilians of the other ethnicity. Finally Russia threatened to intervene in support of the Ossetians and Georgia backed down. Again, a ceasefire was signed, but no peace treaty, meaning: - South Ossetia became independent in actual fact, but was recognized by no country - There were significant military tensions However, it was not finished. Relations between Georgia and Russia deteriorated. Georgia moved closer and closer to the United States and the West and farther from Russia and applied for membership of NATO (Western bloc military alliance). As of today NATO membership still hasn't happened, but it is being considered. In 2006 Russia suspended trade relations with Georgia. In the meantime, Georgia transitioned from a democratic state to a dictatorship. The President (still in power), Saakashvili, elected in 2004, had a very militaristic attitude. A lot of government spending went into the army and it quickly became the largest in the region (except Russia, of course). Finally, at the beginning of August 2008, with the large army, he decided to invade South Ossetia. During the invasion, Abkhazia (below) also declared war on Georgia, but sent very few soldiers. At first the invasion went quickly and smoothly, and within two days the Georgian army had taken the capital of South Ossetia (Ts'khinvali). Russia repeatedly warned the Georgians and told them to retreat. Finally, on August 8, the Russian army started entering the area, supporting the South Ossetian army. Within a week the Russians had expelled the Georgians from South Ossetia and even advanced to the Georgian city of Gori, outside South Ossetia. It seemed like they would march on the Georgian capital (T'bilisi) but they declared a ceasefire and retreated. The consequences of the war are: -Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia (but is still the only country to do so) -Georgia moved even closer to the West -The independence of South Ossetia was maintained, but -Russian influence in South Ossetia is now a lot more and -Russian peacekeeper troops are stationed in South Ossetia

=Abkhazia=

The third "problem zone" is Abkhazia, in Georgia. This is, as in the case of South Ossetia, near the Russian border. It has, unlike the regions above, a majority Georgian population. However, it has a significant Abkhaz minority. Again, the Abkhaz minority wanted secession from Georgia. A war of independence in 1992 confirmed Abkhazia's independence, although it is still internationally unrecognized. During the war, Russia remained officially neutral, but supported the Abkhaz separatists and provided them with weapons. After the war, the Abkhaz minority carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing (genocide) towards the Georgian majority population. Thousands of Georgians fled the region and there was a massive refugee and human rights problem. In 2008, Abkhazia intervened on the side of South Ossetia in the South Ossetia war and provided them with a brigade, although it saw very little action and only 1 Abkhaz soldier died. As a result of the war, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia, although the rest of the world did not.

=Chechnya and the North Caucasus=

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