Don’t Say the Name Armenia

Similar to Israel and the Middle East, Azerbaijan and Armenia have a close relationship. Since 1988, they have been at odds over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area. Even mentioning the term causes skepticism and brows to furrow. A generation ago, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees were driven from their communities in the Karabakh. People remain resentful. Tensions are high. Regularly, cease-fires are broken.

Avoid bringing up Armenia, Armenians, or the incredibly tense Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with neighboring Armenia, which occupies the secessionist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Due to the fighting, Azerbaijan has lost 20% of its territory and now needs to provide for 800,000 refugees and internally displaced people. Armenians are the target of a great deal of bitterness and hostility.