What's Happening?
Gerard J. Libaridian, a former senior Armenian government official and diplomat, has released a two-volume work titled 'Where the Cold War Never Ended and the New World Order Never Arrived: Karabakh Diplomacy in the 1990s.' The publication offers an insider's
perspective on the negotiations surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during the decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Drawing on his firsthand experience as Senior Advisor to Armenia’s first president, Secretary of the Security Council, Ambassador-at-Large, and First Deputy Foreign Minister, Libaridian details how critical decisions were made, why peace opportunities were missed, and how regional and international interests influenced the diplomatic process. The book examines the roles of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, the United States, Turkey, Iran, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Volume I provides a historical account, while Volume II features extensive interviews with diplomats, negotiators, mediators, and political leaders involved in the peace process, including Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrossian, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, and various American and European diplomats.
Why It's Important?
Libaridian's work is significant as it provides a comprehensive historical and analytical account of a pivotal period in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. By combining an insider's perspective with testimonies from numerous participants, the publication illuminates the complex political calculations, diplomatic challenges, and missed opportunities that contributed to the conflict remaining unresolved. This detailed examination offers valuable insights for historians, policymakers, researchers, and those interested in Armenian history and international relations. The analysis of how Cold War strategic thinking persisted and undermined hopes for a more cooperative international order highlights the enduring impact of geopolitical dynamics on regional conflicts. Understanding the historical context of these negotiations can inform current and future diplomatic efforts in the region, emphasizing the complexities of achieving lasting peace when multiple international and regional actors have competing interests.
Beyond the Headlines
The deeper implications of Libaridian's work extend to understanding the long-term consequences of unresolved conflicts and the challenges of post-Cold War diplomacy. The book suggests that the failure to achieve peace in the 1990s was not merely due to a lack of effort but was deeply intertwined with the lingering effects of Cold War-era geopolitical rivalries and the emergence of a new, yet still complex, international order. This historical analysis can serve as a cautionary tale about the difficulties of transitioning from conflict to lasting peace, especially when external powers exert significant influence. The differing perspectives presented through the interviews underscore the subjective nature of historical events and the importance of considering multiple viewpoints to grasp the full scope of diplomatic failures and successes. The work implicitly calls for a re-evaluation of diplomatic strategies in protracted conflicts, urging a more nuanced approach that accounts for historical grievances, regional power dynamics, and the often-conflicting interests of international mediators.
