Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. More to the story than meets the eye?

    Source:  Video Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty

#Armenia has been characterizing itself as a "victim" of "genocide" since the last 90 years with loads of sympathy from the West, as expected. We are seldom told that this ""victim of genocide"" has been an occupying country for over two decades. #NagornoKarabakh, a province of #Azerbaijan, was taken over by Armenia in 1994, after a protracted war between Armenia and Azerbaijan that began soon after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. While 200,000 Armenians were displaced from Azerbaijan, over 800,000 Azeris were displaced from Nagorno Karabakh at the end of that war. Though the #UN recognizes Nagorno Karabakh as a province of Azerbaijan, never does the West refer to it as an occupied territory.

After a gap of some 20 years, fighting suddenly erupted in Nagorno Karabakh five days ago, April 3rd 2016.  Several civilians have reportedly been killed by Armenian forces. The international media says it's not clear who started it and why. But eyewitnesses based in Nagorno Karabakh confirm shots began being fired by Armenian forces with the appearance of tanks for no immediate or recent causes they know of. 

    Volunteers going to the frontline to join self-defense army of Nagorno Karabakh.

     Source of image: Reuters/Hrayr Badalyan/PAN Photo

#Russia has carefully been maintaining a neutral stance. Peace in this region is of utmost importance to the Russians because of its close proximity to their homeland.

The entire belt comprising of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Armenian-occupied Nagorno Karabakh form a buffer zone between Russia and #Turkey. Trouble in Nagorno Karabakh at present would be hugely beneficial to #France, #UK and #US (aka #FUKUS). It would be a welcoming distraction if Russia got bogged down in the old conflict of Nagorno Karabakh, taking precedence over Russian interest in #Syria.

Cajoling Armenia to work in favor of FUKUS by fanning the embers of a smouldering fire would be no difficult deal to make.

Last but not least, despite Turkey's officially friendly ties with Azerbaijan, #RajjabErdogan would silently but joyfully love the idea of Armenian aggression in Nagorno Karabakh, if that facilitates his own aggression in Syria.