With the beginning of the Artsakh liberation struggle, that is, since February 1988, the way to overcome the challenges and threats facing the Armenian people is the way of nationwide protection and protection of rights.
Azerbaijan proposes delimitation and demarcation of border with Armenia?
However, the only legal document on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is the Proposal Report of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference of February 24, 1920, which was signed by the plenipotentiary representatives of the member states of the Council of the League of Nations – France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan.
Turkey offers Armenia to recognize the existing border between Turkey and Armenia?
However, the only legal document on the border between Turkey and Armenia is the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, issued on November 22, 1920, the full title of which is: “The decision of the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson on the establishment of the state border between Turkey and Armenia, the issue of Armenia’s borders maritime access and about the demilitarization of the Turkish territories adjoining the Armenian border”.
International players and co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group suggest finding a political solution to the Artsakh problem?
However, political and legal solutions to the aforementioned problems were made back in 1920 as part of the settlement of the Armenian Cause, and if these decisions are ignored, then the peoples and states of the region are exposed to new challenges and threats that we witnessed in September 2020: aggression, war and genocide against Artsakh – crimes committed by Turks, Azerbaijanis, mercenary terrorists and a much wider coalition.
Let us briefly outline the decisions taken by the Paris Peace Assembly in 1919-1920, but before that we note why they were taken. Firstly, because the Armenian people were among the victorious states, and it is no coincidence that the Treaty of Sevres was signed on the one hand by the victorious states, among which was Armenia, and on the other, by the Ottoman Empire. And secondly, as compensation for the losses suffered by the Armenian people during the First World War and the Armenian Genocide.
Let us briefly outline the decisions taken by the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920, but first we note why they were taken. Firstly, because the Armenian people were among the victorious states, and it is no coincidence that the Treaty of Sevres was signed on the one hand by the victorious states, among which was Armenia, and on the other hand, by the Ottoman Empire. And secondly, as compensation for the losses suffered by the Armenian people during the First World War and the Armenian Genocide.
Here are the solutions.
- In response to the submitted requirements of the Armenian united national delegation the Allied General Council adopted on January 19, 1920 the following decision and «de facto» recognized the State of Armenia: a) The Government of the Armenian State is recognized as the Government, b) This decision does not predetermine the Armenian State’s border issue. On January 27, 1920 the Paris Peace Conference Secretariat formally presented these two decisions to the delegation of the Armenian national united d
- On May 11, 1920 the Turkish delegation was invited to the Paris Peace Conference where they received the «Conditions of peace». The Armenian State delegation was also among the Allied Powers. In the Preamble of the «Conditions of peace» which later became the Preamble of the Treaty of Sevres Armenia is mentioned along with the Allied Powers. Thus, the Armenian State was recognized «de jure».
- At the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920), the Special Commission defining the borders of Armenia presented the “Proposal Report on the definition of the dorders of Armenia” on February 24, The only legal document adopted by the international community on the borders between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia is the report-proposal of February 24, 1920 by the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) defining the borders of the State of Armenia. The principles and provisions proposed in the report were included in the Sevres Peace Treaty (August 10, 1920) in which Article 92 is noted: «The boundaries between Armenia and Azerbaijan and as well as between Armenia and Georgia will be determined by direct consent of the States concerned. In the event that the States concerned up to the day of the decision-making referred to in Art. 89 of the Treaty, will not be able by agreement to determine the borders, then the border that is the problem will be determined by the Supreme Allied forces, which will demarcate the border locally».
- Nevertheless, the adoption of the mandate of Armenia was discussed in the US Senate from May 29 to June 1, 1920, which means that the United States of America de facto recognized the right and title of the state of Armenia to Armenian territories and thereby annulled the right and title Ottoman Empire in these territories. The political and legal meaning and meaning of the discussion of the mandate of Armenia should not be confused with the meaning of the Arbitral Award. From a legal and political point of view, these are different decisions.
- On August 10, 1920, the Sevres Peace Treaty was signed between the victorious states, including Armenia, on the one hand, and the defeated Ottoman Empire on the other hand. The Treaty of Sèvres is one of the treaties of the Versailles-Washington system, which were signed by the victorious states on the one hand, and on the other by Germany (Versailles, 1919), Austria (Saint-Germain, 1919), Bulgaria (Neuil, 1919), Hungary (Trianon, 1920). ) and the Ottoman Empire (Sèvres, 1920).
- On November 22, 1920, the 28th President of the USA, Woodrow Wilson, made an Arbitration Decision, the full name of which is “Decision of the President of the United States of America regarding the border between Turkey and Armenia, the exit of Armenia to the sea, and the demilitarization of the Turkish territory adjacent to the Armenian border.” The Arbitral Award is inalienable, inviolable and enforceable. Additionally, we note that in this way, if the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was regulated in accordance with the proposal of the Report of February 24, 1920, then the border between the State of Armenia and Turkey was demarcated by the Arbitration decision adopted by the 28th US President Woodrow Wilson.
- January 18, 1919 the Paris Peace Conference began its work in Paris, the purpose of which was the comprehensive review of all matters relating to the war and the preparation of peace treaties. One of the most important issues was reparations of material losses by the countries responsible for warmongering. Accordingly, a special Commission on the issue of reparations (The Commission on Reparations of Damage /Valuation of Damage/) was part of the Paris Conference. After almost 2 months of work, it became clear that not only the countries directly involved in the war sustained the material losses. Therefore, on March 7, 1919, the said commission formed a separate body – the Special Committee, whose purpose was to summarize the material losses of countries and nations that are not represented on the Commission, and give an official course to their compensation. The Special Committee had the following composition: members: General McKinstry (USA), Colonel Peel (Great Britain), Mr. Jouasset (France); secretaries: H. James (USA), Mr. P. Laure (France). Within one month of the Special Committee summarized the documents submitted by delegations, as well as obtained from other sources, and presented a preliminary report on April 14, 1919. Although calculations for Western and Eastern Armenians were carried out separately, however the losses were represented by a single final digit. In accordance with this, the losses of the Armenian nation in 1914-1919, on the whole, amounted to 19,130,982,000 French francs (as per 1919 prices). Obligations for material compensation were assigned to all the defeated states: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. Germany, for example, fully repaid the material compensatory debt imposed on it only in June 2010. The Ottoman Empire, and later its successor Republic of Turkey, has avoided this obligation to this day.
We see and are convinced that the package of rights granted to the Armenian people is weighty. Among them are decisions and Arbitration, which to this day have not been canceled and cannot be canceled. Therefore, the policy of ignoring them by both Armenian and international state-political circles does not withstand any criticism and cannot be justified.
The Republic of Western Armenia (Armenia) has long adopted a political and legal agenda and strategy for the defense of the country and the protection of rights, and is faithful to them.
Accordingly, in January 2018, a decision was made to establish the Western Armenian Defense Forces on a regional basis based on the Convention on Permanent Armed Neutrality and Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Accordingly, in 2018, it was decided to send appeals to the UN, the UN Security Council and the European Parliament with a request to implement and exercise the rights granted to the Armenian people.
- Application of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) “On the membership of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) in the United Nations”. (May 25, 2018).
- Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the UN “On the execution and implementation of the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson of November 22, 1920, which full name is “the Decision of the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson on the establishment of the state border between Turkey and Armenia, on access of Armenia’s borders to the sea and the demilitarization of the Turkish territories adjacent to the Armenian border. (May 29, 2018)
- Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the UN “On demilitarization of Western Armenia and Cilicia, withdrawal of occupation troops of the Republic of Turkey from these territories ”, according to the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States Woodrow Wilson. (November 20, 2018).
- Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the UN “On the demarcation of the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan”, for the delimitation and demarcation of the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, based on the principles and provisions of the Proposal Report of the Special Commission on Boundary Determination of Armenia of the Paris Peace Conference of February 24, 1920. (7 August 2019).
- Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the European Parliament “On the errors, omissions and unacceptable wording contained in the Resolution of the European Parliament “On the political solution of the Armenian Question” of June 18, 1987, and on the need to amend and re-edit it”. (December 5, 2020).
Unfortunately, the challenges and threats against Armenia have remained the same, moreover, the scenario of the recent Artsakh war and the forcedly imposed results indicate that this was undertaken to weaken Armenia’s positions in the negotiations.
That is, the tasks of Armenia yesterday and today not only did not change, but became even more complicated. Therefore, the demand not met yesterday must be met today, and in short, we must quickly and competently prepare for a comprehensive all-national defense and protection of the rights of the Armenian people. It is preferable to organize the defense along the lines of the organization of the Swiss Armed Forces.
In the modern world, this is the only way to ensure the right of the Armenian people to existence, development and future.
Tigran Pashabezyan
Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia (Armenia)
20.01.2023
