The New York Times: facing military debacle, Armenia accepts Karabakh deal

Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on the complete cessation of hostilities in Karabakh - the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides will remain at their positions, while Russian and Turkish peacekeepers will be deployed in the region. By November 15, the Kalbajar District will be returned to Azerbaijan, by November 20 - Aghdam District, and by December 1 - Lachin District.

In an agreement brokered by Russia, Azerbaijan won many of the concessions it has sought for decades in negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh separatist region, The New York Times writes in the article Facing Military Debacle, Armenia Accepts a Deal in Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed on Monday a Russian-brokered settlement to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, surrendering disputed territory and bowing to other demands as he faced a battlefield defeat. The agreement suggested a more permanent, sweeping redrawing of the security map of the southern Caucasus, a volatile region wedged between Turkey, Russia and Iran. The settlement sealed a role in the region for  Turkey.

The agreement ends a quarter century of Armenian military control over the remote, mountainous region that is a touchstone of Armenian national identity. Russia will now guard the borders. The Nagorno-Karabakh region has a mostly Armenian population but it fell within the Soviet-drawn borders of Azerbaijan. The enclave declared independence before the Soviet breakup.

Within hours of the announcement, protests broke out in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. A crowd broke into the government building and ripped Mr. Pashinyan’s nameplate off the door of the prime minister’s office. “Where is Nikol? Where is that traitor?” the intruders screamed.

The separatist government in Nagorno-Karabakh had for more than 25 years presided over seven occupied Azerbaijani districts outside the Soviet-era borders of the enclave. These were eerie, depopulated regions of deserted villages and ruined stone houses. Armenia defied United Nations resolutions calling for the return of the residents; holding, it seemed, the military advantage, the country had steadfastly refused any settlement allowing their return.

For decades, Armenia had drawn support from a large diaspora in Southern California. Distracted by the presidential election, the United States played only a limited role in the diplomacy over the past month.