Peace deal
A key part of the peace deal includes Armenia’s return of Kalbajar, as well as the Aghdam district by November 20 and the Lachin district by December 1, which have been held by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s.
The two sides will maintain positions in the territories they currently hold, a significant gain for Azerbaijan after it reclaimed some 15 to 20 percent of lost territory including the key town of Shusha.
Russian peacekeepers began deploying to Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday as part of the terms of the accord and took control of a key transport artery connecting Armenia to the disputed province.
Russian military officials said the mission consisting of nearly 2,000 troops would put in place 16 observation posts in mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor.
READ MORE: Armenia accepts defeat in fight over occupied Azerbaijan territories
‘We are fully confident that the parties are interested in the presence of the #Russian peacekeepers in #NagornoKarabakh. ‘
Read Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov’s interview with Russian and foreign media on current international issues:https://t.co/fanVsAUAiU pic.twitter.com/ir4DM1mDeO
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) November 13, 2020
Around three-decade occupation
Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory recognised as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.
Fresh clashes erupted on September 27, and the Armenian army continued its attacks on civilian and Azerbaijani forces, even violating humanitarian cease-fire agreements for 44 days.
Baku liberated several cities and nearly 300 of its settlements and villages from Armenian occupation during this time.
Before the second Karabakh war, about 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory had been under illegal Armenian occupation for nearly three decades.
On November 10, the two countries signed a Russia-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive solution.
Turkey welcomed the truce, terming it a “great victory” for Azerbaijan.
READ MORE: Victors of the Karabakh war: Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey
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