What is happening with Azerbaijan and Armenia?

The former Soviet republics ofArmenia and Azerbaijan are closer to war over the breakawayNagorno-Karabakh region than at any point since a ceasefirebrokered more than 20 years ago, the International Crisis Groupsaid. read more

Basically the chunk of land that sits between Azerbaijan and Armenia, called Nagorno Karabakh, was claimed by both sides. If I understand correctly, the land was considered to be legally Azerbaijani, but the population was a majority Armenian. read more

The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by the US, France, and Russia and comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and several Western European nations. After 1994 After the war, relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan remained very tense. read more

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to meet for talks this week to try to calm tensions over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after some of the bloodiest clashes since the two sides signed a ceasefire in 1994. read more

There was violence and a war from 1988 to 1994, where the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, backed by Armenia, voted for, declared and achieved de facto but not de jure independence from Azerbaijan. 30000 Azeris and Armenians died, almost a million become refugees. read more

After the war, relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan remained very tense. In 2008, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev declared that “Nagorno Karabakh will never be independent; the position is backed by international mediators as well; Armenia has to accept the reality” and that “in 1918, Yerevan was granted to the Armenians. read more