Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests Page: 4 of 19
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MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On February 15, 2006, Georgia's legislature unanimously approved a resolution calling
for the president to revoke a 1992 agreement providing for Russian "peacekeeping" in
Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region, on the grounds that it is counter-productive and
an attempt by Russia to annex the region. The resolution urges greater involvement by the
international community in peacekeeping and peace settlement. Russia's foreign ministry
denounced the resolution as "anti-Russian" and destabilizing, and its defense minister hinted
that Russia might retaliate economically if relations continue to worsen. The U.S. State
Department has urged Georgia not to abandon the existing peace process.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 31, 2006, rhetorically asked why Russia
should not recognize the independence of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia
regions if some countries recognized Serbia's Kosovo region.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia The Caucasus Region: Basic Facts
are located south of the Caucasus
Mountains that form part of Russia's Area: The region is slightly larger than Syria:
borders (see Figure 1). The South Armenia is 11,620 sq. mi.; Azerbaijan is
Caucasus states served historically as a 33,774 sq. mi.; Georgia is 26,872 sq. mi.
north-south and east-west trade and Population: 16.1 million, similar to Netherlands;
transport "land bridge" linking Europe Armenia: 3.2 m.; Azerbaijan: 8.3 m.;
to the Middle East and Asia, over which Georgia: 4.6 m. (Economist Intelligence
the Russian Empire and others at Unit and regional governments, 2004
various times endeavored to gain est.)
control. In ancient as well as more GDP: $17.6 billion; Armenia: $3.7 b.;
recent times, oil and natural gas Azerbaijan: $8.5 b.; Georgia: $5.4 b.
resources in Azerbaijan attracted (EIU and regional governments, 2004
outside interest. Although Armenia and est., market exchange rate)
Georgia can point to past autonomy or
self-government, Azerbaijan was not
independent before the 20th century. After the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917, all three
states declared independence, but by early 1921 all had been re-conquered by Russia's Red
(Communist) Army. They regained independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
(For background, see CRS Report RS20812, Armenia Update, by Carol Migdalovitz; CRS
Report 97-522, Azerbaijan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests; and CRS Report
97-727, Georgia: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests, by Jim Nichol.)
Overview of U.S. Policy Concerns
By the end of 1991, the United States had recognized the independence of all the former
Soviet republics. The United States pursued close ties with Armenia, because of its
profession of democratic principles, and concerns by Armenian-Americans and others overCRS-1
02-23-06
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Nichol, Jim. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, report, February 23, 2006; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817020/m1/4/: accessed May 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.