by Martin Aslan While war rages in the Middle East or in Ukraine over claims to ancestral lands, the South Caucasus remains a battleground of discord between Turkic and Armenian populations. This region has been crossed by serious ethnic and geopolitical events since the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Armenia is perceived as an obstacle to the free movement of Azeri populations towards Nakhichevan exclave and more broadly between the Baku and Ankara axis. Negotiations to find a compromise are underway to stabilize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Origins of the conflict At the end of the First World War, Armenia, very weakened, won three battles (Battles of Sardarapat, Bach Abaran and Karakilisa) against Türkiye, which recognized Armenian independence on June 4, 1918 with the Treaty of Batum. Armenian territory represented only 10,000 km² around Yerevan. By refusing the Treaty of Sèvres, Mustafa Kemal took up arms again against Armenia between September and Decembe...