Стр. 26 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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1906, called the “Armenian-Muslim Clashes,” Armenian armed forces began a wide-scale war
against Azerbaijanis. In addition to Baku, Nakhchivan, and Karabakh, in June 1905 andAugust
1906, Armenians waged open war against Azerbaijanis in Iravan city and county, Uchkilse
(Echmiadzin), and Zangazur and committed massacres, robberies, and genocide.
Creation of an Armenian Government in Western Azerbaijan
Republic of Armenia (Ararat) 1918 - 1920. After the destruction of the Transcaucasian Seym
(May 26, 1918), the Dashnaks declared the foundation of the Republic of Armenia (Ararat) on
May 28, 1918 in Tbilisi.
Forfeit of Iravan to Armenians. On May 29, 1918, the Azerbaijani National Council held a
meeting in Tbilisi. According to Protocol 3 of the meeting, Fatali khan Khoyski delivered a
speech concerning the results of the negotiations held between the council members and the
Armenian National Council in connection with the borders of the territories of Azerbaijan and
the Armenian Federation. After reporting that Armenians would need a political center to cre-
ate an Armenian Federation, and that since Aleksandropol (Gumru) was transferred to Tur-
key, Iravan was the only choice to become such a center, Khoyski stated that it was necessary
to forfeit Iravan to the Armenians. Khalil Khasmammadov, Mammad Yusif Jafarov, Akbar
Sheykhulislamov, and MaharramMaharramov delivered speeches on this issue and called the
“compromising of Iravan to Armenians” a historical necessity, but inevitable misfortune. As
a result of voting on this issue, sixteen out of the 28 council members voted in favor of forfeit-
ing Iravan, one voted against it, and three people abstained (as stated in the protocol). In this
context, the Azerbaijani National Council adopted a decision to forfeit Iravan to the Armeni-
ans without seeking the opinions of the Azerbaijani public. On May 29, the Chairman of the
Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Fatali khan Khoyski, wrote to
the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mammad Hasan Hajinski: “We put an end to all the disputes
with Armenians; they will accept this ultimatum and end the war. We compromised Iravan.”
This issue was discussed in the meeting of the National Council on June 1 and a protest was
proclaimed against this decision. Three members who were originally from Iravan signed the
protest. The National Council decided to add the protest to the meeting protocol without ever
discussing it. Despite all the cited evidence requiring this action, the adoption of the decision
to forfeit Iravan was a complete misstep from a political point of view.
On the basis of the Batumi treaty signed June 4, 1918 between the Republic of Armenia and
the Ottoman Empire, a large part of Surmeli, Aleksandropol (Gumru), Sherur, Echmiadzin,
and Iravan counties were transferred to the Ottoman Empire. Less than one third of the Iravan
governorate’s territory remained in the hands of Armenia. However, the Mudros settlement
of 1918 following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War did not allow
for reestablishment of these lands. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic therefore could not
establish its government in the areas of the Iravan governorate.
Aggressive policy of the newly founded Republic of Armenia (Ararat) against Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and the Ottoman Empire. Armenia put forth ungrounded claims against Akhalkalaki
and Borchali counties of the former Tbilisi governorate. Although the Azerbaijan Democratic
Republic implemented an active foreign policy to unite its historical lands within its own bor-
ders, it could not join the war. However, Armenia took the path of war to achieve its hostile
plans. Based on the 1918 Batumi treaties signed between the Ottoman Empire and the repub-
lics of the southern Caucasus, Turkish troops were positioned on the border between the two
regions. On October 18, Turkish troops left this position and German troops defending Georgia
took over. When German troops, who were defeated during the First World War (1914-1918),
left these areas, a considerable part of Borchali County remained under the supervision of the
Georgian government. Armenia sent a notification to Georgia demanding that it leave Akhal-
kalaki. Mutual accusations between the parties became tense in the months of October and
November, and Armenians began to cause provocations and armed conflict in Akhalkalaki
and Borchali. Armenia sent a cavalry squadron to Akhalkalaki and units of the 4th Armenian
regiment to Borchali. On December 9, military operations were launched. Fighting took place
in Borchali County where Azerbaijanis lived, as Borchali historically belonged to Azerbaija-
nis. According to the announcement of Armenia, Georgia should have relinquished a part of
Tbilisi County in addition to Borchali and Akhalkalaki counties. On December 17, Georgia
officially declared war and cut diplomatic relations with Armenia. December 18-31, military
operations were carried out between the parties. Azerbaijan’s historical lands and population
suffered serious damage due to the war. With its positions strengthened in the Caucasus after
victory in the First World War, England participated actively in halting the war between Ar-
menia and Georgia. On December 31, Armenia consented to a ceasefire and the Georgian gov-
ernment agreed. January 9-17, 1919, an Armenia-Georgia conference was held in Tbilisi. Until