The keys to the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan …

Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement to end the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh. This implies a defeat in Armenia because it loses control of the territories it had occupied during the 1992-1994 war. Within these is the second city of the enclave, Shusha, located just 11 kilometers from its capital, Stepanakert. In addition, Armenia must allow on its territory the preparation of a corridor between Azerbaijan and the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan, linked to the latter country. Russia participated as a mediator of the treaty and will be responsible for ensuring its compliance.

Azerbaijan has claimed revenge for Armenia’s resounding defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh war 26 years ago. At the time Baku had lost 20% of its territory. Much of this land will now be reclaimed under the agreement signed between the Azeri President, Ilham Alíev, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinián, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Poutine. The treaty contains nine points where a total ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the conflict zone. As for the territories to be returned by the Armenian government, four of them had already been taken by Azerbaijani forces during the 44 days of the war. The other three (Agdam, Lachín and Kalbajar) must be delivered before December 1.

In addition Armenia must open a passage through its territory to allow communication between Azerbaijan and one of its enclaves in the Caucasus region, Nakhichevan, located between Armenia, Iran and Turkey. The opening of this corridor is of strategic importance for the Azerbaijani government: in addition to providing a fast route for transporting citizens and goods to this location, allows you to connect by land with Turkey, your great ally in the region.

For its part, the Armenian government It will preserve the Lachín corridor (5 kilometers wide), to guarantee the connection with Nagorno-Karabakh. By agreement of the parties, a construction plan for a new route for this corridor will be drawn up within the next three years. The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safe transit of citizens, vehicles and goods through the Lachín Corridor in both directions.

The pact also states that Russia to send contingent of peacekeepers, something that began to do on Tuesday, to ensure respect for the cessation of fighting and the security of the withdrawal of Armenian troops. The Kremlin forces will consist of 1,960 soldiers with small arms, 90 armored transport cars, 380 automobiles and other special equipment. The duration of the Russian army will be five years, extendable by five years if neither party opposes it.

The war ended after these last days Azeri forces will take the strategic city of Shusha. In this way, they managed to put the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh in check. Faced with the imminent attack, the Armenian Prime Minister promoted the signing of the treaty. He also said they were ready to defend Karabakh, but the involvement of “Turkey and its mercenaries” made the situation untenable. In Azerbaijan, the tone was very different. “Karabakh is ours”, “Karabakh is Azerbaijan” he was heard in the streets of Baku and other cities.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory populated mainly by Christian Armenians. Had realized his defeat Azerbaijan, Turkish-speaking Shia Muslim country, in 1991, shortly before the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Thus began the war between the two countries in 1992, which left 30,000 dead. is a new war would have killed 5,000 people since its eruption on September 27, according to Russian government calculations.