- You are here:
- Home
- › Travel & living abroad
- › Travel advice by country
- › Country profiles
- › Europe
- › Armenia
Europe
Armenia |
|
|
Last reviewed: 24 April 2008 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Relations with Neighbours
Armenia's closest political and economic relationship is with Russia. Armenia joined the CIS on 21 December 1989 and has signed a Friendship Treaty with Russia. There is a Russian division currently stationed in Armenia, as well as Russian border guards on the Iranian and Turkish borders. A treaty was signed by Presidents Yeltsin and Ter-Petrosian in 1995 establishing the legal status of the base and agreements on military co-operation have been signed since. Armenia is 1 of 6 parties to the CIS Treaty of Collective Security signed in Tashkent in May 1993.
Armenian relations with Turkey have a troubled history and continue to be sensitive. Turkey recognised Armenia along with Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1991. But diplomatic relations between the two countries have not been established and the Turkish/Armenian border has been closed since May 1992. Despite the troubled bilateral relationship, Turkey has provided a limited amount of humanitarian assistance to Armenia in the past. The Turks and Armenians also work together in the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organisation. In 1995 an air corridor between the 2 countries was opened.
Relations with Georgia are generally good, particularly in economic terms, with many Armenian imports coming through the Georgian border.
Relations with Azerbaijan are affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh issue (see below).
Relations with the International Community
Armenia seeks integration into European and international structures. It has also been able to look to the large Armenian Diaspora (particularly in the US and France) for support.
EU and International Organisations
A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Armenia was signed on 22 April 1996. The PCA governs political, economic and trade relations between the parties and lays a basis for social, financial, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation between them. The UK formally ratified the PCA on 22 April 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 1999.
In June 2004, Armenia was included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The European Commission is intensifying relations with Armenia, through the implementation of the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan.
Armenia joined NATO’s 'Partnership for Peace' (PFP), launched at the NATO Summit on 10 January 1994 and hosted the Co-operative Best Effort PfP exercise in June 2002. Armenia joined the Council of Europe in January 2001 and the World Trade Organisation in January 2003.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Recent History
The present phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict began in 1988 after the Regional Soviet of NK adopted a resolution on the transfer of NK to Armenia. The resolution was rejected by the USSR and Soviet troops deployed to NK to suppress nationalist sentiments. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union NK declared its independence. Azeri forces then attempted to re-establish control but met fierce resistance. In 1992 NK forces captured Shusha (a previously Azeri-populated town within NK) and established a corridor to Armenia through Lachin. And in 1993 NK forces, with help from Armenia, retook northern NK and occupied the entire south-west corner of Azerbaijan, some 20% of Azeri territory. This encroachment onto Azeri territory led to wide-scale international condemnation, including four UN Security Council Resolutions demanding that 'local Armenian forces' withdraw from the most recently occupied areas outside NK.
The 1994 spring offensive began in early April with each side accusing the other of renewed attacks and shelling of civilian targets. Fighting was intense along the entire front line, with both sides seeming better prepared militarily than in previous years. However, on 12 May 1994 a cease-fire was brokered in direct talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on 27 July 1994 the Armenian and Azerbaijani Defence Ministers and the Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Army signed an agreement consolidating it. With the exception of minor violations the cease-fire has held. Armenia, Azerbaijan and the authorities in NK have all confirmed their readiness to continue it indefinitely until a political agreement is concluded. The number of deaths in the conflict probably exceeded 15,000 with at least 900,000 Azeris and 300,000 Armenians displaced. As of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia.
The Issues
The issues in dispute include the future political status of NK and the nature of any international guarantees of that status. Armenia points to a 1991 referendum (ruled illegal by the Azerbaijani Government) in which the people of NK voted for independence. The Armenian Parliament refuses to accept any solution to the conflict, which refers to NK as part of Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan has annulled NK's former autonomous status.
International Efforts
In 1992 the (then) CSCE established an international peace process, known as the Minsk Group, with the aim of undertaking negotiations with the parties to the conflict, to reach a peaceful political settlement. At its December 1994 Summit in Budapest the OSCE agreed to integrate the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation and the Minsk Group making Russia a co-chair of the Minsk Group (initially with Sweden, then with Finland, and now in a Troika with the US and France). The summit also agreed in principle to the deployment of a multi-national peacekeeping operation, following the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict, and establishing a High Level Planning Group (HLPG) to work on details of an operation. There is as yet no sign of a political agreement being reached. The Minsk Group now comprises Russia, USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Turkey, Belarus, Austria, Norway and Finland. The UK is not a member.
Since the 1994 ceasefire, the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have met regularly to discus the NK dispute. Negotiations continue.
As a result of the conflict, the OSCE imposed an arms embargo on both Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992. The UK observes this embargo.
UK Position
The UK (and our European partners) have argued that any solution should be based on the sovereignty of Azerbaijan with real autonomy for the people of NK. The international community does not recognise NK independence. Our policy on the NK dispute is that we will support any mechanism for its resolution, which both parties can accept, and which has a realistic chance of delivering a lasting political settlement. Although the UK is not a member of the Minsk Group, it strongly supports the Group's work.
Relations with the UK
The UK recognised Armenia on 31 December 1991 and diplomatic relations were established soon afterwards. There is an Armenian Embassy in London. The first resident British Ambassador, David Miller OBE, arrived in Yerevan in July 1995 (the Ambassador in Moscow had previously been cross-accredited).
Cultural Relations with the UK
A Cultural Agreement between the UK and Armenia was signed in London on 9 February 1994. The British Council opened in June 2001 in Yerevan. The British Council in Armenia aim to create an enduring partnership between the UK and Armenia in the areas of arts, English language, education, information, governance and science. It also helps administer the Chevening and John Smith Fellowship scholarships. The Council enjoys a successful and high profile in Armenia and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Recent Visits
Outward
Minister of State, Douglas Hogg, visited Armenia twice in 1992/93. The Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, visited Armenia in January 1996. Viscount Goschen, Minister for Transport, visited Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in September/October 1996. Minister Keith Vaz attended the State Funerals of those murdered in the Parliament shooting in October 1999. The FCO PUS, Sir John Kerr, visited Armenia in October 2000. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited Armenia in November 2001 as part of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity celebrations. In November 2005, the Minister for Environment, Elliot Morley, visited Yerevan for the conference of EECCA Ministers of Finance/Economy, Water and Environment on Financing Water Supply and Sanitation in EECCA. Geoff Hoon MP, FCO Minister for Europe, visited Georgia and Armenia in October 2006. In the same month, Baroness Scotland, Minister for Criminal Justice at the Home Office, visited Yerevan for the CoE Justice Ministers conference. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, visited in September 2007 and co-hosted the Queen’s Birthday Party at the Armenian Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
Inward
The Armenian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister visited the UK in May 1993. President Ter-Petrossian visited London as a Guest of Government from 8-11 February 1994, returning for VE Day commemorations in May 1995. Presidential Adviser Libaridian visited the UK in October 1995 and March 1996. Dr Ararktsian, Chairman of the National Assembly, visited the UK in November 1996. The Governor of Shirak Province, Gomtsian, visited the UK in March 1997. A visit to the UK by Foreign Minister Oskanian took place from 15-18 March 1999. During the visit Oskanian had calls on the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary, as well as Dr Kim Howells, a PUSS at the DTI. Mr Armen Martirosian, Deputy Foreign Minister visited from 13-17 March 2002. His programme included a meeting with Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and a talk at the London School of Economics. Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourtian were on sponsored visits in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The former Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdian attended a course organized by the Public Administration International. Opposition MP Tatul Manaserian and leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisian have attended Wilton Park conferences.