Authors

Gulshan Pashayeva¹;  ¹ Center of Analysis of International Relations, Azerbaidjan

Discussion

The humanitarian dimension is one of the most important areas of post-conflict rehabilitation process. It refers to the wide range of activities which seek to reintegrate lives and livelihoods in the circumstances of transition from conflict to relative peace.

After Azerbaijan’s battlefield victory during the Second Karabakh war Azerbaijani government initiated a large-scale reconstruction work in its all conflict-affected territories. In addition, within the framework of the First State Programme on the Great Return to the liberated territories, the return of the Azerbaijani IDPs has been underway to the restored cities and villages since July 2022.

However, Azerbaijan did not have an executive jurisdiction over that mountainous part of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh economic region that remained under the control of the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily deployed there. At the same time, the separatist regime has continued its illegal activities in that territory. After Azerbaijan’s localized anti-terrorist activities carried out on September 19-20, 2023 Armenian separatists agreed to surrender and become a full part of Azerbaijan. However, it contributed to more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to leave Azerbaijan who did not want to live under the authority of the Azerbaijani state. To date, between 50 and 1,000 ethnic Armenians still remain in the Karabakh region. Their initial registration on the basis of the Constitution, laws and international obligations of the of Azerbaijan has just started. But one of the most difficult issues ahead is the reintegration of both Azerbaijanis and Armenians into Azerbaijan’s Karabakh economic region.

This research is based on desk review and latest publications on state of play.