For Armenians the violence evoked memories of the 1915 Genocide when the world powers sat on their hands as up to 1.5 million Armenians were marched towards their death. Armenians from across the globe, from Yerevan, LA, Paris, even Moscow, rushed to arms and united beneath the battle cry �never again� pushed back the superior Azeri forces.
After 30,00 death, a million refugees and total land devastation a ceasefire was announced and peace talks started up. That was ten years ago - and there is still no clear end in sight.
For the moment people of Nagorno �Karabakh live in relative peace except for the on again - off again gunfire across the boarder and unexpected land mines going off taking still more victims.
They have set up their own functioning democratic government, created a national anthem and flag - yet only Armenia recognizes them. According to the international community Nagorno �Karabakh does not exist and so next week, no matter how carefully you look, you will not see their team marching behind their banner into Olympic Stadium.
THE END