Nakhichevan

Image:Nakhichevan Mausoleum.jpg

The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası, Armenian: Նախիջեվան, Turkish: Nahcivan Özerk Cumhuriyeti, Russian: Нахичеванская Автономная Республика) is an exclave of Azerbaijan. The 5,500 km² region borders Armenia (221 km), Turkey (9 km) and Iran (179 km) and consists of 7 rayons: Babak, Julfa, Kangarli, Ordubad, Sadarak, Shahbuz and Sharur. The main city is Nakhichevan, home to the Nakhichevan State University.

Climate and Resources

Nakhichevan is extremely arid and mountainous and contains large salt deposits. Major industries in the region include: the mining of minerals such as salt, molybdenum, and lead, cotton ginning/cleaning, silk spinning, fruit canning, meat packing, tobacco producing, growing of grain and market garden produce, and, in the dryer regions, sheep farming. The Republic contains very basic facilities and lacks heating fuel during the winter.

History

The city of Nakhichevan was first mentioned in Ptolemy's "Geography" as Naksuana and was said to be established in 4400 BCE. Naksuana is ancient Greek for "the land of sweet water". Since it frequently changed empires, sultanates, and khanates, the name of Nakhichevan was altered many times, changing to: Nakshijahan, Nuhchikhan (the place where Noah landed), Nesheva and etc. Throughout history Nakhichevan land brought up prominent persons such as Hindushah ibn Nakhchivani, Abdurrakhman en Neshevi, Ekmouladdin Nakhchivani, Ejemi Nakhchivani, Generals Ehsan, Kelbali, Ismail, Hussein, Jamshid khan Nakhichevanski, Presidents of Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliyev and Abulfaz Elchibey and others.

The oldest material culture artifacts found in Nakhichevan date back to the Neolithic Age. The region was part of the states of Mannae and Media in 8 – 7 BCE, Achaemenid state in 6 BCE, and later became part of the state of Atropatene. In 3 century Nakhichevan was conquered by Persia, in 623 by Byzantium, and in the middle 7th century by Arabs. In 8th century this area was the arena of Babak uprising. Nakhichevan was part of feudal states of Sajids and Salarids in 9 – 10 century, and fell under control of Seljuks in 11th century.

In 12th century the city of Nakhichevan became the capital of the Ildegezid state. The magnificent 12th century mausoleum of Momine khatun, the wife of Ildegizid ruler Jahan Pehlevan, is the main attraction of modern Nakhichevan. In 13 – 14 centuries the region was invaded by mongols and Tamerlane. In the 15th century, the territory of Nakhichevan became part of the states of Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu. In the 16th century control of the region passed to the Safavid dynasty of Persia. Because of its geographic position, it frequently suffered during the wars between Persia and the Ottoman Empire in 14th – 18th centuries. In 1604, Shah Abbas I, concerned that the lands of Nakhichevan and the surrounding areas would pass into Ottoman hands, decided to institute a scorched earth policy. He forced most of the local population, particularly Armenians, to leave their homes and move to Persia, settling many of them in a neighborhood of Isfahan that was named New Julfa since most of the residents were from the original Julfa (a very rich Armenian town which was looted and burned)^{[citation needed]}. The Nakhichevan khanate emerged in the region in 1747 after the death of Nadir Shah Afshar, the ruler of Persia. After the two Russo-Iranian wars and the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Nakhichevan khanate passed into Russian possession in 1828. With the onset of Russian rule, Russian government organized massive resettlement of Armenians from Persia to the Caucasus with the purposes of changing the demographics of the region. This process was described in the letters of Russian envoy to Persia A.S. Griboyedov^{[{{fullurl:}}#endnote_Griboyedov]}. Nakhichevan khanate was dissolved in 1840, and the area became Nakhichevan uyezd of Erivan governorate of the Russian Empire.

After the February Revolution the region was under the authority of Special Transcaucasian Committee of the Russian Provisional Government. In 1918 Musavat Party proclaimed in Nakhichevan the Republic of Araks, while the Armenian Republic claimed Nakhichevan for itself, as 57% of the population were Azeris, and 42% were Armenians^{[{{fullurl:}}#endnote_Brokgauz-1]}. At the same time, Azeris constituted plurality (49%) of population of Erivan, which became capital of Armenian Republic, while Armenians were 48% ^{[{{fullurl:}}#endnote_Brokgauz-2]}. The ethnic clashes led to forceful exchange of population. In late 1918 Nakhichevan was occupied by British troops. After withdrawal of British troops Nakhichevan was occupied by 11th Red Army troops and Soviet Socialist Republic of Nakhichevan was proclaimed on 28 July 1920. On 9 February 1924 Nakhichevan Soviet Socialist Autonomous Republic within the Azerbaijan SSR was formed. In January 1990 Nakhichevan declared independence from USSR to protest suppression of national movement in Azerbaijan, and became Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic within newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan a year later. It now exists and is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan governed by its own elected parliament.

Footnotes

1. ^  A.S. Griboyedov. Letter to count I.F.Paskevich. (In Russian)
2. ^  Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. Nakhichevan. St. Petersburg, Russia, 1890-1907 (In Russian)
3. ^  Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. Erivan. St. Petersburg, Russia, 1890-1907 (In Russian)

Geography

Nakhichevan is an atmospheric, semi-desert region that is separated from the main portion of Azerbaijan by Armenia. A range of arid mountains make up the border with Armenia and Iran.

Demographics

As of 1990, Nakhichevan's population was estimated to be 350,000. 98% of the population are Azeri. Ethnic Russians constituted the remaining population.

Disputes

Image:Jugha-khachkar-CIMG1581.JPG

• Nakhichevan's border with Armenia has been closed due to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1989. The primary routes to mainland Azerbaijan are via the international air corridor through Armenia and through the Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran, which has become unaffordable due to high taxes imposed by the Iranian government.

• Armenia has occupied Nakhichevan's exclave village of Karki since 1989.

• Nakhichevan issued a declaration in the late 1990's recognizing the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and calling upon Azerbaijan to do so. While sympathetic to the TRNC, Azerbaijan has not followed suit because of Greek Cypriot threats to recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Armenian-occupied Azeri territory).

• Armenian governing coalition partner ARF claims that Nakhichevan belongs to Armenia. The programme of the party states: The borders of United Armenia shall include all territories designated as Armenia by the Treaty of Sevres as well as the regions of Artzakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Javakhk, and Nakhichevan.^{[{{fullurl:}}#endnote_ARF]}

• Armenia has accused the Azerbaijani government in systematic destruction of centuries old Armenian khachkars (intricately carved stone crosses) and other historical Armenian monuments in Julfa (in southern Nakhichevan). For the second time since independence, Armenia is presenting international organizations (such as UNESCO) with photos and video in support of these accusations, appealing these organizations to intervene. According to the Armenian authorities, this latest evidence shows Azeri soldiers carrying out the destruction of the monuments. On January 19, 2006, the European Parliament called on the Azerbaijani authorities to put an end to the demolition of medieval Armenian cemeteries and khachkars in southern Nakhichevan, which according to the Parliament was in breach of the terms of Azerbaijan's 1993 ratification of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Azerbaijani authorities view these accusations as a propaganda campaign on part of Armenia to distract international attention from destruction of Azeri monuments, which according to Azeri authorities takes place in Armenia as well as in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.^{[{{fullurl:}}#endnote_PACE]}

Footnotes

1. ^  A.R.F. Programme
2. ^  Reply from the PACE Committee of Ministers, adopted at the 907th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

External links

• Official website of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic
• Nakhchivan State University
• Guide to Armenian sites of Nakhichevan

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