CMU Debate

Motion 1:

Background: Armenia and Azerbaijan were both former constituent states of the Soviet Union. Tensions during that time arose between the two countries over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian-dominated region internationally recognized to be part of Azerbaijan, though they were largely kept under control by the Soviets. After the fall of the Soviet Union, tensions boiled over into the 6-year-long First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The war ended with the occupation of large amounts of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia, and parts of Nagorno-Karabkah itself forming a de facto government in the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh.

Tensions remained stagnant for 24 years, until 2020, when the Second Nagorono-Karabakh War broke out. Azerbaijan, with significant strategic planning and international diplomatic peddling, recaptured its lost territory from Armenia and portions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia withdrew from the area and left Artsakh on its own. In September of 2023, Azerbaijan launched a new offensive targeted at Artsakh, which saw them capture all of Nagorno-Karabakh and disband the government there. Over 120,000 Armenians fled the area in droves, with several Human Rights Organizations issuing alerts over concerns for genocide.

In December, Armenia backed Azerbaijani’s bid to host the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, as an expression of goodwill. PoW exchanges have since followed, and the two countries now seem to desire peace in the region.

Case Statement: TH, as Armenia, would not have backed Azerbaijan’s bid to host the 2024 UN Climate Summit.

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