Low employment and a violent past haunts region

Bath Chronicle, UK
September 1, 2004

Nagorno Karabakh was the site of intense fighting between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. Ten years ago, a ceasefire was signed
by both countries.

But the situation there is far from resolved – there has still been
no agreement over who owns the Eastern European region.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are now committed to ending the feud,
which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people since the
Armenians declared their independence from Azerbaijani rule.

The international community has become increasingly interested in this
part of the former Soviet Union, as mineral-rich Azerbaijan and other
countries in the area have exploited vast reserves of oil around the
Caspian Sea.

About one million people were displaced by the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, and their resettlement, as well as the future status of
the territory, are among the major issues to be resolved by leaders.

Shushi itself is 20 minutes from the capital of Nagorno Karabakh,
Stepanakert.

The smaller city still lies in ruins, and its 2,000-strong population
has next to no employment opportunities.