Editing Foreign relations of Armenia (section)

=== Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ===
{{see also|Nagorno-Karabakh conflict}}
Armenia provides political, material and military support to the [[Republic of Artsakh]] in the longstanding [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]].

The current conflict over [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] began in 1988 when Armenian [[Karabakh movement|demonstrations]] against Azerbaijani rule broke out in Nagorno–Karabakh and later in Armenia. The [[Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast]] voted to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. Soon, violence broke out against Armenians in Azerbaijan and Azeris in Armenia. In 1990, after violent episodes in Nagorno–Karabakh and Azerbaijani cities like [[Baku]], [[Sumgait]] and [[Kirovabad]], Moscow declared a state of emergency in Karabakh, sending troops to the region, and [[Black January|forcibly occupied Baku]], killing over a hundred civilians. In April 1991, Azerbaijani militia and Soviet forces targeted Armenian populations in Karabakh, known as [[Operation Ring]]. Moscow also deployed troops to [[Yerevan]]. Following the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]], conflict escalated into a full-scale war between the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (supported by Armenia), and Azerbaijan. Military action was influenced by the Russian military, which manipulated the rivalry between the two neighbouring sides in order to keep both under control.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}}

More than 30,000 people were killed in the fighting during the period of 1988 to 1994. In May 1992, Armenian forces seized [[Shusha]] and [[Lachin]] (thereby linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia). By October 1993, Armenian forces succeeded in taking almost all of former NKAO, Lachin and large areas in southwestern Azerbaijan. In 1993, the [[UN Security Council]] adopted [[List of United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh War|four resolutions]] calling for the cessation of hostilities, unimpeded access for international humanitarian relief efforts, and the eventual deployment of a peacekeeping force in the region. Fighting continued, however, until May 1994 at which time Russia brokered a cease-fire between the three sides.

Negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully have been ongoing since 1992 under the [[OSCE Minsk Group|Minsk Group]] of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]]. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States and has representation from Turkey, the U.S., several European nations, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Despite the 1994 cease-fire, sporadic violations, [[sniper]]-fire and [[land mine]] incidents continue to claim over 100 lives each year.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XMF3DAAAQBAJ&q=Negotiations+to+resolve+the+conflict+peacefully+have+been+ongoing+since+1992+under+the+aegis+of+the+Minsk+Group+of+the+Organization+for+Security+and+Co-operation+in+Europe.+The+Minsk+Group+is+co-chaired+by+Russia%2C+France%2C+and+the+United+States+and+has+representation+from+Turkey%2C+the+U.S.%2C+several+European+nations%2C+Armenia+and+Azerbaijan.+Despite+the+1994+cease-fire%2C+sporadic+violations%2C+sniper-fire+and+landmine+incidents+continue+to+claim+over+100+lives+each+year.%5B&pg=PA32|title=Azerbaijan Business and Investment Opportunities Yearbook Volume 1 Strategic, Practical Information and Opportunities|date=14 April 2016|publisher=IBP Inc|isbn=978-1-4387-7619-4|language=en|access-date=27 November 2020|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407231043/https://books.google.com/books?id=XMF3DAAAQBAJ&q=Negotiations+to+resolve+the+conflict+peacefully+have+been+ongoing+since+1992+under+the+aegis+of+the+Minsk+Group+of+the+Organization+for+Security+and+Co-operation+in+Europe.+The+Minsk+Group+is+co-chaired+by+Russia,+France,+and+the+United+States+and+has+representation+from+Turkey,+the+U.S.,+several+European+nations,+Armenia+and+Azerbaijan.+Despite+the+1994+cease-fire,+sporadic+violations,+sniper-fire+and+landmine+incidents+continue+to+claim+over+100+lives+each+year.&#91;&pg=PA32|url-status=live}}{{self-published source|date=February 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}}

Since 1997, the Minsk Group co-chairs have presented three proposals to serve as a framework for resolving the conflict. Each proposal was rejected. Beginning in 1999, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia initiated a direct dialogue through a series of face-to-face meetings, often facilitated by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The OSCE sponsored a round of negotiations between the presidents in [[Key West]], Florida. U.S. Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] launched the talks on 3 April 2001, and the negotiations continued with mediation by the U.S., Russia and France until 6 April 2001. The Co-Chairs are still continuing to work with the two presidents in the hope of finding lasting peace.

The two countries are still at war. Citizens of Armenia, as well as citizens of any other country who are of [[Armenian diaspora|Armenian descent]], are forbidden entry to Azerbaijan. If a person's passport shows evidence of travel to Nagorno–Karabakh, they are forbidden entry to Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsj.org/Azerbaijan.shtml |title=Azerbaijan Country Page of the ''NCSJ'' (advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia) accessed 23 May 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308021931/http://www.ncsj.org/Azerbaijan.shtml |archive-date=8 March 2009  }}</ref><ref name="panarmenian.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/25889/|title=Azerbaijan doesn't allow Armenians in the country|work=PanARMENIAN.Net|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713183519/http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/25889/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008, in what became known as the [[2008 Mardakert Skirmishes]], Armenian forces and Azerbaijan clashed over Nagorno-Karabakh. The fighting between the sides was brief, with few casualties on either side.<ref name="regnum.ru">{{cite news|url=http://www.regnum.ru/english/943595.html |title=Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan |publisher=[[REGNUM News Agency]] |date=17 January 2008 |access-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612043901/http://www.regnum.ru/english/943595.html |archive-date=12 June 2009}}</ref>

The [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]] and the [[2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh]] were the latest escalations of the unresolved conflict.