Introduction

The three Caucasian republics of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan boast a rich historical and cultural heritage—in the case of Georgia and Armenia, dating back to early Christianity. Their common past includes a brief, shared experience in the Transcaucasian Federation during the early years of Soviet power. Georgia is one of the wealthiest, most highly educated republics in the Soviet Union. With their abundant resources, it is understandable that its people can imagine themselves as citizens of an economically viable state. Nagorno-Karabakh was formally part of the republic of Azerbaijan, but was largely populated by Armenians. While the Soviet position, and the Azerbaijani position, was one of firmly rejecting any changes in republican boundaries, Armenians saw the issue as a question of national self-determination. The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues to preoccupy the two republics, despite an attempt by Boris Yeltsin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to broker a cease-fire.