16 YEARS PASSED SINCE ARMISTICE IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE

ArmInfo
2010-05-12 14:20:00

ArmInfo. 16 years have passed since armistice in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict zone.

Armistice was reached under mediation of Russia. Meeting of the
parliamentary structures of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
was completed a week before that, on May 5, 1994, in Bishkek where a
Bishkek Protocol was signed urging to cease fire in Karabakh on May
9 night.

Earlier, OSCE Minsk Group, on the proposal of Russia, suggested
all the parties to the conflict on July 3, 1992, to stop military
actions for 30 days, and on August 5, 1992 – for 60 days in order
to use this time for negotiations on complete ceasefire. Agreements
on several short-term ceasefires and other limitations of military
actions were signed in 1993 under mediation of Russia. On February
18, 1994, Defense ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
as well as representative of the Nagorno Karabakh self- defense
army command agreed a number of measures on cessation of military
actions, including troop withdrawal from the contact line. However,
an uncompromising attitude of the parties doomed them to sign a Russian
draft agreement in form of appeal to Moscow separately: in Baku on May
9, Yerevan – on May 10 and Stepanakert – May 11. it took effect just
at midnight on May 12. It is followed in general since then, though
skirmishes and other incidents often take place on the contact line
because one of the parties refused to withdraw troops. In view of the
armistice specifics (without withdrawal of troops, neutral observers
and peacekeeping forces), an "agreement on ceasefire strengthening"
was signed by the three parties on February 4, 1995, under aegis of
OSCE. However, it is not fulfilled.