Стр. 28 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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effective measures to secure the safety of these roads. In the third article, the parties made com-
mitments to solve all the disputes peacefully, including the issues regarding borders. When
peaceful agreement was not reached, both parties consented to accept American Colonel Ray
as a neutral arbiter and to implement his decisions obligatorily. In the fourth article, a deci-
sion was issued to hold an Azerbaijani-Armenian conference in Baku on November 26. The
fifth article considered the agreement in force as of the day it was signed and asserted that it
would come into legal force after it was ratified by the parliament. However, real historical
facts showed that Armenia did not adhere to its commitments as envisaged in this agreement.
The Azerbaijani-Armenian conference that was supposed to be held on November 26 was re-
alized on December 14-21. An adoption of practical decisions did not occur at this conference
either. Discussions carried out among the governments of the southern Caucasus during the
Tbilisi conference in April 1920 did not yield any positive results.
The Azerbaijan-Armenian agreement of 1919 lost its efficacy after the April 1920 invasion of
Azerbaijan. The Armenian Dashnak government carried out a hostile policy against Turkey
also. This policy led to a war between them. The anti-Turkey policy of large countries also
played a significant role in the launch of the war. The Treaty of Sevres (1920) signed during
the Paris Peace Conference (1919-20) as part of the Versailles-Washington System considered
dividing the Ottoman Empire. The Republic of Armenia (Ararat) was involved in signing the
treaty along with the victorious countries of the First World War. According to the treaty, sec-
tions of Turkey’s Van, Bitlis, Erzurum, and Trabzon provinces were to be given to the Arme-
nian Dashnak government. The Great National Assembly of Turkey denied this treaty dividing
the territory of their country and the sultan did not ratify it. Armenia began a war against Tur-
key to accomplish its ungrounded territorial claims. On June 18, 1920, Dashnaks seized the city
of Oltu. During conferences held in Moscow in May and June with the Armenian government
and with Turkey in July and August, the Russian government wanted to interfere in the events.
However, neither of the parties accepted their offer. The Turkish army began to liberate the
invaded lands. First Sarikamish was liberated on September 29 and then Erdehan was freed.
Seeing that it was in a desperate situation and in order to halt the freedom march of Turks,
the Armenian Dashnak government appealed to Western countries, to the “entire civilized
world” and allies, but the successful and fair fight of the Turkish people left these “appeals”
unanswered. On October 30, Turks entered Kars proceeding further towards Aleksandropol
(Gumru). Armenia’s appeal to the U.S., Great Britain, France, and Italy remained unanswered
as well. The Republic of Georgia declared its neutrality on November 6. Using this war, Soviet
Russia tried to reinforce Armenia. However, this dream was not fulfilled when the Armenian
Dashnak government turned down its offer for military assistance. As a result of successful
military operations, Turks liberated Aleksandropol on November 7. A march began towards
Iravan. On November 18, Armenia was forced to sign reconciliation. On November 29, So-
viet government was established in Armenia. It signed the Gumru Treaty in 1920 to mobilize
Dashnak government forces that were defeated following the military operations of Soviet
Russia against the Soviet government. On behalf of Turkey, the treaty was signed by Farid Ka-
zim Karabekir pasha, the governor-general of Erzurum Hamid bey, the deputy from Erzurum
Suleyman Nijati bey, and on behalf of Armenia by Prime Minister A. Khatisyan, Minister of
Finance A. Gulkhandanyan, and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs S. Gordanyan. The treaty
consisted of eighteen articles. The first article stated that the war was halted and that the par-
ties had begun permanent peace negotiations. The border between Turkey and Armenia was
delineated in the second article. Consisting of Iravan and Goyche Lake, the territory of the
Republic of Armenia was returned to its previous borders on June 21, 1918. It was said in the
second part of this article, “Armenia will not interfere in Kuku mountain, Hemeshur mountain,
Gurdgulag village, Sayat mountain, Arpachay station, Komurlu mountain, Saraybulag, Ararat
station, the territory close to the Aras River south of the strip passing through the spot where
the Ashagi Garasu flows (Nakhchivan, Shahtakhti, Sherur); administration would be defined
through a referendum later and the lands covered by this administration, and local office in
the custody of Turkey will be established in that territory.” Taking into consideration the hos-
tile policy of the Republic of Armenia, restrictions for its armed forces were identified in the
treaty. According to Article 4, the Armenian government made a commitment “not to exceed
its military force over 1500 hired soldiers possessing light arms, gendarme forces to defend
its internal security at the needed level, eight mountain or desert guns to protect the country,
and twenty machine-guns.” The Republic of Armenia was not allowed to have a military force.
Concerning Article 5, Turkey’s political representative or ambassador in Iravan was trusted to
oversee the implementation of the terms of the treaty. In return for this, the Turkish govern-
ment made a commitment to provide armed assistance if needed toward the Republic of Ar-
menia. In case danger was created for Turkey from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the
Turkish government had the right to lead troops into Armenia. Articles 6 and 7 were related