Population seen as crucial for vote on Garabagh status
The number of the residents living in Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region under Armenian
occupation, is turning into a subject of political discussions as
claims persist on the future determination of its status through a
referendum.
"According to official statistics, the population of the Upper Garabagh Autonomous Province was about 180,000 prior to the outbreak of the war with Armenia in the early 1990s," says Bayram Safarov, the leader of the region`s Azerbaijani community.
According to Safarov, Armenians then accounted for some 120,000 of the population, while Azerbaijanis made up 52,000, with the rest being people of other nationalities. However, in the past 18 years the Azerbaijani population has increased.
"According to the estimates acquired at the congress of Upper Garabagh`s Azerbaijani community, their number is 65,000," Safarov said. "However, later calculations revealed that the figure is even higher. Therefore, we want to conduct a new census to obtain [accurate] data."
Safarov said that as early as during Soviet times there were challenges facing the residents of Upper Garabagh. Considering the problems caused by the war, an improvement in living standards in Upper Garabagh does not appear likely.
The community leader emphasized that in general, population growth increases with the bettering of living standards. Rampant economic development in Azerbaijan is positively affecting, overall, the quality of life in the country. Moreover, assistance being provided to persons displaced by the armed conflict with Armenia, and their relocation to newly-built settlements, have considerably contributed to the increased number of the Azerbaijani community of Upper Garabagh.
Some political analysts believe that, in any case, the increasing Azerbaijani population in the region is in Azerbaijan`s favor during the process of settling the long-standing Garabagh conflict. This is due to the fact that one of the most disputed issues reflected in the Madrid principles, an outline for the Garabagh settlement submitted by the international mediators to the sides in late 2007, is a determination of the region`s status through a referendum, and an accurate counting of the population is crucial in such a vote.
Rasim Musabayov, an Azerbaijani political analyst, says that if holding a referendum which has long been in the public spotlight is confirmed, the population issue could spark political disputes.
"Azerbaijan reserves the right to submit a list indicating population growth, but it should also be ready for the same move from the opposing side," Musabayov said.
Upper Garabagh is an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Years of peace talks have brought few tangible results.
"According to official statistics, the population of the Upper Garabagh Autonomous Province was about 180,000 prior to the outbreak of the war with Armenia in the early 1990s," says Bayram Safarov, the leader of the region`s Azerbaijani community.
According to Safarov, Armenians then accounted for some 120,000 of the population, while Azerbaijanis made up 52,000, with the rest being people of other nationalities. However, in the past 18 years the Azerbaijani population has increased.
"According to the estimates acquired at the congress of Upper Garabagh`s Azerbaijani community, their number is 65,000," Safarov said. "However, later calculations revealed that the figure is even higher. Therefore, we want to conduct a new census to obtain [accurate] data."
Safarov said that as early as during Soviet times there were challenges facing the residents of Upper Garabagh. Considering the problems caused by the war, an improvement in living standards in Upper Garabagh does not appear likely.
The community leader emphasized that in general, population growth increases with the bettering of living standards. Rampant economic development in Azerbaijan is positively affecting, overall, the quality of life in the country. Moreover, assistance being provided to persons displaced by the armed conflict with Armenia, and their relocation to newly-built settlements, have considerably contributed to the increased number of the Azerbaijani community of Upper Garabagh.
Some political analysts believe that, in any case, the increasing Azerbaijani population in the region is in Azerbaijan`s favor during the process of settling the long-standing Garabagh conflict. This is due to the fact that one of the most disputed issues reflected in the Madrid principles, an outline for the Garabagh settlement submitted by the international mediators to the sides in late 2007, is a determination of the region`s status through a referendum, and an accurate counting of the population is crucial in such a vote.
Rasim Musabayov, an Azerbaijani political analyst, says that if holding a referendum which has long been in the public spotlight is confirmed, the population issue could spark political disputes.
"Azerbaijan reserves the right to submit a list indicating population growth, but it should also be ready for the same move from the opposing side," Musabayov said.
Upper Garabagh is an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about one million Azerbaijanis from their homes. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Years of peace talks have brought few tangible results.
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