France 24
Sept 29 2023
Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday agreed to dissolve their government by the end of the year and become a full part of Azerbaijan in the wake of Baku's lightning offensive. The dramatic announcement came moments after it became clear that more than half of the rebel region's population had fled the advancing Azerbaijani forces. It drew the curtain on one of the world's longest and seemingly most irreconcilable "frozen conflicts" — one that successive administrations in Washington and leaders across Europe had failed to resolve in ceaseless rounds of talks. But it also stoked anger in Yerevan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of conducting "ethnic cleansing" and called on the international community to act. As Karabakh separatists disband, following surrender to Azerbaijan, FRANCE 24's Mark Owen is joined by Dr. Laurence Broers, Caucasus Programme Director at the international peacebuilding organization Conciliation Resources. He is also a research associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and an associate fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House.
Watch the video at https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230929-whenever-territory-has-changed-hands-in-karabakh-conflict-ethnic-cleansing-has-taken-place