There is still tension existing between Armenia and Azerbaijan though a quarter century has passed after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the French newspaper article “Le Monde” says.

The author notes that the personal freedoms in Azerbaijan were limited on the eve of the presidential elections held in the country.
“The authorities have become extremely sensitive and aggressive,” the young people sitting in the terrace of one of Baku’s café say.
One of them told that he had returned to Baku after studying abroad. “In my opinion, the authorities look at the young people who have studied abroad with suspicion: they probably think that seeing democracy in action, they will demand it here as well. All of these beautiful buildings and “Mercedes” that you see here is just the facade, Azerbaijan is completely mired into corruption, lack of freedom and justice, and it prevents many citizens to live suitably,” he noted.

The author continues that in Armenia freedom of speech allows young people to criticize the situation existing in the country. Varsik, 25-year-old student, who was born in Gyumri shares this opinion.

The article says that migrant workers from Nagorno-Karabakh mainly leave for Russia. Suren, 29 years old, said he plans to sell his home and leave for Russia together with his family. In the same time, Suren noted that he was proud of being Armenian.

The young people in Azerbaijan are also proud of their country, in spite of the hostility they feel towards the President Aliyev’s regime, the author writes. Teimur, a young lawyer, says: “I would like to go abroad, but to work always for Azerbaijan and to help my country.”
At the same time, Teimur called for a peaceful solution of the Karabakh conflict, “I do not want war. It has lasted for 4 years, that’s enough! It is violence, it is an economic chaos. ”

In Azerbaijan, few people believe in the peaceful settlement of the conflict, the article says. Ani, a young Armenian from Yerevan says: “Nagorno-Karabakh is our territory, and if we will have to give up even one inch of land, I’ll go to war. This is our history. ”

Memories in Nagorno-Karabakh are still too fresh to think about opening the border, writes the reporter. Everyone in Karabakh is ready for war. “If the war ever starts, many young people will come as volunteers, just like Suren, who wants to leave for Russia, but says: “I’ll be back to fight. I must do this,” the article reads.