The total land area is 7,634 km2. The outer perimeter of these territories is a line of direct contact between the military forces of the Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan.
History
At the outset of the Karabakh conflict, the majority-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast / Republic of Artsakh was surrounded by regions with Azerbaijani and Kurdish majorities and had no land border with Armenia. During the Nagorno-Karabakh war Azerbaijan had subjected Artsakh to a total blockade, which resulted in famine. As reported by the Human Rights Watch,
By the winter of 1991-92, as a result of Azerbaijan's three-year economic and transport blockade, Artsakh was without fuel…, electricity, running water, functioning sanitation facilities, communication facilities and most consumer goods.
United States assistance under this or any other Act may not be provided to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President determines that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
On 24 October 2001 the Senate adopted an amendment that would provide the President with the ability to waive Section 907, and he has done so since then.
18 May 1992, Armenian forces took Lachin, opening the Lachin corridor for land communications between NKR and Armenia. However, the corridor was under constant threat from Azerbaijani forces who repeatedly tried to cut it. A strong offensive by Armenian forces occurred in 1993, resulting in the securing of further territory to act as a "security zone".
27 March 1993, Armenian forces launched an offensive in Kelbajar and by 5 April had completely captured the area of Kalbajar Rayon, creating a strong link between Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia and removing from the Lachin corridor the threat of attack from the north.
23 July 1993, after 40 days of fighting, officially known in Armenia as the "suppression of enemy firing points", Agdam was taken. Then followed attack in the south:
During this phase of the war, Azerbaijan would not agree to sign a ceasefire until after these territories passed under the Armenian control and there was a danger that Armenians would advance further to take territories of vital importance for Azerbaijan. As described by Russian mediator Vladimir Kazimirov,
Azerbaijan for too long a time was counting on military solution of the problem… those who for more than a year ignored the UN Resolutions that called for the ceasefire… were supposed to realise their direct responsibility for the consequences – for the loss of more regions and the increasing the number of refugees and IDPs.
Since then, Armenians have been in control of most of the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, with Azerbaijan controlling parts of east Martuni and east Martakert. In addition, since that time, Armenians have controlled all of the territory between the former NKAO to Iran, as well as all of the territory between the former NKAO and Armenia, and some areas to the east surrounding Aghdam. Nagorno-Karabakh also claims but does not control the region known until 1992 as Shahumian, which although being majority-Armenian before 1992, was not part of the NKAO. Shahumian's Armenian population was driven out during the war, and the Armenian and Azeri forces have been separated on the northern front by the Murovdag mountain chain ever since. Since 1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan have held talks on the future of the security belt territories. The Republic of Artsakh has not been involved in these negotiations because Azerbaijan does not recognize the existence of such parties to the conflict. The Armenian side has offered to act in accordance with the "land for status" formula, Azerbaijan, on a formula of "land for peace". Facilitators have also offered, in particular, another "land for status" option. The involved parties have failed to reach any agreement.
Legal status
From the standpoint of the Republic of Artsakh, the security belt is territory of Azerbaijan temporarily controlled by the Artsakh Defense Army until the receipt of security guarantees for the Republic of Artsakh and the establishment of control over the whole of the territory declared by the Republic of Artsakh, with the exception of the Lachin corridor linking Artsakh with Armenia . According to Article 142 of the Constitution of the Republic of Artsakh "to restore the integrity of national territory of the Republic of Artsakh and clarifying boundaries public power is exercised in the territory actually under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Artsakh", that is, including the territory of Azerbaijan, outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and Shaumian district, which borders was proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From the standpoint of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 adjacent districts are a territory occupied by Armenia.
In the documents of international organizations, these areas are also considered as occupied by "Armenian forces", but there are recognized two entities on the Armenian side of the conflict: The Republic of Armenia and "Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan".
Armenian historical monuments
Some Armenian sources use the term "liberated territories", emphasising Armenian historical and religious monuments in the area and the presence of an Armenian population since 350BC. Some of the historical and religious monuments of note in these territories:
