“TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP” Between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Armenia

History

“TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP” Between the Governments of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Armenia Batumi, June 4, 1918 … Article 3. The protocol of the agreement concluded between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the determination of their mutual borders shall be communicated to the Imperial Ottoman Government. …

Source references: Archival code АИ РА, f. 200, op. 1, d. 24, (pt. 2), pp. 99–100 verso. Published in: Badalyan, H. German-Turkish Occupiers in Armenia in 1918, Yerevan, 1962, pp. 172–178; Collection: From the History of Foreign Intervention in Armenia in 1918, Yerevan, 1970, pp. 154–161; Armenia in Documents of International Diplomacy and Soviet Foreign Policy, Yerevan, 1972, pp. 531–537; The Republic of Armenia in 1918–1920 (Political History), Document Collection, Yerevan: Gitutyun, 2000, pp. 36–40.

Document No. 231 Letter from the Diplomatic Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan To the Armenian National Council regarding the formation of a commission for territorial delimitation Tiflis, June 23, 1918

The government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, now commencing the determination of its state borders, considers it its duty to first enter into discussions on this matter with all neighboring states, including Armenia.

Informing the Armenian National Council of this, I hereby notify that the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan considers it most expedient to establish a special Azerbaijani-Armenian delimitation commission, which could begin addressing and resolving all issues related to the territorial division between both parties in the nearest future. Should the Armenian National Council agree with the proposal of the Azerbaijani government, please indicate the location and date for the meeting of both sides’ delegates.

Diplomatic Representative of Azerbaijan, Jafarov Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, f. 200, op. 1, d. 17, p. 23. Original. Typescript. (Emphasis added by us – Yu. B.)

Document No. 232 Telegram from the Head of the Armenian Delegation at the Constantinople Conference to Ohandjanian in Berlin Regarding Armenia’s claims and rights to Zangezur, Nagorno-Karabakh, Surmalu, Nakhichevan, Daralagez, Sharur Constantinople, July 8, 1918

We received your letter of June 26 with materials. Your statements on pages 14 and 15 concerning the minimal borders we are demanding must be rectified.

Our claims include Shusha, Karyagin, Jevanshir, Gandzak, Northern Zangezur, Daralagez, Surmalu, and—in a favorable scenario—possibly Southern Zangezur, Sharur, and Nakhichevan.

The Batumi negotiations, having entirely lost their significance, are now seen as incoherent. These talks concerned the borders of three Transcaucasian districts, not three independent states, and had to be ratified by the respective national councils.

In new discussions with the Muslim National Council in Tiflis regarding Karabakh, we presented our well-founded claims, although no final agreement was reached. A detailed report was sent on June 6.

Agaronyan Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, f. 200, op. 1, d. 656, p. 25. Copy. Typescript. (Emphasis added by us – Yu. B.)

Telegram from Member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasian Front

G. Ordzhonikidze to G. Chicherin Regarding the Situation in Armenia Following the Turkish Invasion Vladikavkaz, October 12, 1918

“…The situation in Armenia is tragic. On a small patch of land comprising two districts of the Erivan Governorate, 600,000 refugees have gathered, perishing from hunger and cholera. In the occupied districts, the Turks have massacred half the population. In Karabakh, the Shushi and Zangezur districts have been seized by Turkish forces. The population is offering fierce resistance…”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chicherin Fund. File 56822, sheet 14. See also: The Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire: Collection of Documents and Materials. Edited by M.G. Nersisyan. 2nd revised edition. Yerevan: Hayastan, 1983, No. 247, pp. 527–528.

Report of the Armenian Information Bureau in Georgia

To the Armenian Republic’s Envoy to Georgia on the State of Karabakh Before and After the Turkish Invasion October 1918

The situation in Karabakh is dire in every respect, especially in recent weeks. Nine months ago, a regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Melik-Shahnazarov was formed for the city of Shushi and dispatched from Tiflis. However, the regiment has still not reached the city. Believing the regiment’s arrival imminent, residents prepared only for self-defense—hampered by a lack of dynamite, gunpowder, coke, and other vital supplies. Despite these obstacles, within 7–8 months, they managed to establish a workshop and a small foundry, casting two or three six-inch mortars, producing tens of thousands of cartridges, hand grenades, and so forth.

Severe shortages of currency exacerbated the hardships, making it nearly impossible to carry out this work. No funds arrived in the region for eight months. Food supplies were entirely absent. If Karabakh’s population did not perish entirely from starvation, it was thanks only to rapid barter of movable property—clothes, carpets, furniture exchanged for grain from Muslim and Armenian neighbors. Still, starvation loomed. Mass deaths occurred, especially in the Dizak region. In one village, 70 starvation deaths were recorded in a single week—a grim but not isolated event.

On August 31, Melik-Shahnazarov signaled from the village of Dyg in Zangezur; on the morning of September 1, three cannon shots launched an offensive. From Kaladaras, Armenian fighters advanced heroically and reached the Akarin Bridge within 3–4 hours. However, the assault from Dyg ceased on that first day for unknown reasons, and the regiment’s fate remained unclear. Armed Tatar forces then attacked the supply convoy en masse, pushed toward Kaladaras, and after a three-day battle, set the village ablaze. Armenian forces escaped to Shushi with a large influx of refugees.

Thus, Kaladaras—Shushi’s southern buffer—fell. All munitions reserves were lost in battle, leaving the city defenseless. Kaladaras’ refugees strained the already impoverished Shushi, prompting a village congress to decide on returning them via negotiations with local Tatars. The Tatars insisted any discussion must be held with Turkish authorities in Aghdam.

A delegation—Ayrapet Musaelyan, Ashot Melik-Osipov, Gerasim Melik-Shahnazarov, Arshavir Kamalyan, and an unknown member named Daniel—set out for Aghdam. There, they received a Turkish ultimatum: recognize Azerbaijan and disarm the Armenian population of Karabakh. They were told to remain and communicate this demand to Shushi. After prolonged negotiations, Musaelyan and Daniel returned with official letters from Jemal Jevat Bey, commander of the 1st Caucasian Division.

A congress of representatives from all Karabakh villages convened in Shushi. Despite a report from the chief of staff confirming zero military supplies, the mood was combative. On the fifth day, Arso Ioannesian’s impassioned speech convinced participants of the gravity of refusal. The congress resolved to:

  1. recognize Azerbaijan
  2. strive to remove disarmament from the agenda

While these talks continued, a delegation from Elizavetpol arrived in Aghdam with Nuripasha. They managed to bring back three Shushi delegates who had been held hostage by the Turks under harsh conditions, subsisting on their own provisions. Nuripasha issued an urgent ultimatum, setting Karabakh’s response deadline for 7 p.m. on September 20.

The Turks, receiving no answer by the deadline, launched an offensive across Armenian villages near Askeran—Kyatuk, Khanabad, Pirjamal, Nakhichevanik, Aranzamin, Khramort, and others. As machine gun and artillery fire commenced, Armenian forces withdrew, and Turkish troops flanked Askeran. A delegation escaping Khanabad and halted in Askeran managed to reach Turkish command and succeeded in halting hostilities temporarily.

Responsibility for Shushi’s disarmament was assigned to Turkish commander Hasan Basri Bey. Lacking stockpiles, Armenians were forced to collect rifles door-to-door. On the first day, they gathered 65 Berdan rifles—prompting ridicule from Hasan Basri Bey, who issued an ultimatum for 4 p.m., September 24. After tremendous effort, 75–80 rifles were assembled, but saboteurs attacked the transport cart. The incident was reported immediately.

Hasan Basri Bey responded that disarmament was suspended pending formation of a joint commission. On September 26, at 10 a.m., Turkish troops entered Shushi in formation. Jemal Jevat Bey arrived by car at the Armenian Kazanchi Church, accepted bread and salt, gave a short speech in Turkish in the tone of a victor, then left for the Tatar section. Armenian military facilities were occupied, including the Real School, the Mariam Gukasyan Armenian Girls’ Gymnasium, the Ambrumov residence, and all available barracks. Turkish and Tatar sources estimated 5,000 soldiers entered.

The Armenian mood was deeply dispirited. A commission was formed to negotiate with Turkish command: Krikor-bek Minasbekov, Grigoriy Sergeevich Kalantarov, Alikobek Pirumov, Ruben Nikolaevich Shahnazarov, and others. The commission was given until 7 p.m. on September 27 to surrender all arms. Martial law was declared; curfew began at 8 p.m., later extended to 9.

Villages off the main road refused to disarm. The Armenian population’s condition was critical. Turkish command demanded that a delegation be sent to Zangezur to propose surrender. Departing were Arsen Bakunts, Sergey Bagirov, Mushegh Zakharyan, and Priest Tarkhanyan. The Turks evidently sought to arrest or neutralize Andranik, rumored to be in Zangezur.

Karabakh was in torment—lacking both seed grain and money. The city would collapse without assistance. The Armenian population was utterly exhausted. Help in any form is urgently needed.

Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, f. 276, op. 1, d. 78, pp. 278–279 verso. Copy. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923. Yerevan, 1992, Doc. No. 29. 235

Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”

Artatsolum

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