Statement to the UN – Adoption of the DECLARATION “On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) and Its State Border with the Republic of Turkey”

STATEMENT
of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations on the Adoption of the

DECLARATION
of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)
“On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia
(State of Armenia) and Its State Border with the Republic of Turkey”

I.  Based on:

– The Declaration of the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia «On the right of self-determination of Armenians of Western Armenia», Shushi, Republic of Artsakh, December 17, 2004;

– The Declaration of the National Council of Western Armenia

«On the beginning of Government formation of Western Armenia in Exile»,

Paris, France, February 04, 2011;

– The Declaration of the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia and the Government of Western Armenia in exile «On the formation of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia», Yerevan, Armenia, May 24, 2013;

Taking into consideration that the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

– Fully accepted the statutory goals and objectives of the United Nations;

– Recognized and ratified the Charter of the United Nations;

– As a subject of international law — being a continuation state (Continuity) of the continuity of the State of Armenia of the 1920s — has assumed all rights and obligations of the State of Armenia;
– As a subject of international law (in accordance with the Montevideo Convention of December 26, 1933), according to Article 1 “…has the the following knowledge and skills:

1. a) a permanent population;
2. b) a defined territory;
3. c) government;
4. d) ability to enter into relations with other states”.

And according to Article 3 of this Convention: “… has the right to protect its integrity and independence to ensure its preservation and prosperity, and consequently to organize itself as it sees fit, to take legislative measures in its interests, administer its services, as well as to determine the jurisdiction and competence of its courts”;

– Declared its permanent, armed and positive neutrality;

– By adopting the relevant Laws, recognized, acceded to and ratified the Charter of the United Nations and all the most important international Treaties, Conventions and Declarations.

III. Taking into consideration:

– The Charter of the United Nations, of June 26, 1945;

– The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of December 10, 1948;

– The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Rome, November 4, 1950;

– The Convention “On the Rights and Duties of States” (“Montevideo Convention”), of December 26, 1933;

– The UN Convention “On the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”, of December 9, 1948;

– The UN Declaration “On the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”, of December 14, 1960;

– The UN Declaration “On the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination”, of November 20, 1963;

– The UN Convention “On the Non-Applicability of the Statute Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity”, of November 26, 1968;

– The Vienna Convention “On the Law of International Treaties”, of May 23, 1969;

– The Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and cooperation betyween states in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 24, 1970;

– The UN Convention “On the Definition of Aggression”, of December 14, 1974;

– The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, of December 10, 1982;

– The UN Declaration “On the Right of Peoples to Peace”, of November 12, 1984;
– The UN Declaration “On the Right to Development”, of December 4, 1986;

– The UN Declaration “On the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities”, of December 18, 1992;
– The UN Declaration “On the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, of September 13, 2007;

– The UN Declaration “On the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels”, of September 24, 2012.

Considering and taking into account:

– The Joint Statement of the Governments of Russia, France and Great Britain condemning the crime committed by the Turkish Government against Armenians as a crime against humanity and civilization, of May 24, 1915;

– The Decree of the Government of Russia (Council of People’s Commissars of Russia) «On Turkish Armenia» («On Western Armenia») of January 11, 1918;

– The first Constitution of the RSFSR (Article 6, Chapter III, which declares the freedom of self-determination of Armenia), July 10, 1918;

– The Decision of the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers, adopted during the Paris Conference, on the de facto recognition of the independence of the State of Armenia, of January 19, 1920;
– The Decision of the Supreme Council of the Allied States, adopted during the Paris Conference, on the de jure recognition of the independence of the State of Armenia, of May 11, 1920;

– The Declaration of Independence of Armenian Cilicia, of August 4, 1920;

– The discussion of the Armenian Mandate held in the US Senate on May 29 –  June 1, 1920, which signifies that the United States de facto recognized the right and title of the Armenian State in relation to the Armenian territories, thereby invalidating the right and title of the Ottoman Empire (and its successor – the Republic of Turkey) in relation to these Armenian territories;

– The Treaty of Sèvres (Articles 88-93 of which concern the State of Armenia), of August 10, 1920;

– The First International Treaty between the main Allied States and the State of Armenia on National Minorities and Commercial Relations, “The Treaty between the Main Allied States and Armenia signed at Sèvres on August 10, 1920” (Appendix to Article 93 of the Treaty of Sèvres). The Treaty was signed on behalf of Armenia by Avetis Aharonyan, Chairman of the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia, and Boghos Nubar, Representative of the United Armenian Council in Constantinople;

– The Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, of November 22, 1920 — “The Decision of the President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson on the establishment of the state border between Turkey and Armenia, access of Armenia’s borders to the sea, and the demilitarization of Turkish territories adjacent to the Armenian border”.

Based also on the decisions taken by the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

– The Decisions of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) on the formation of the institution of national identity and citizenship of the Armenians of Western Armenia, adopted on the basis of the United Nations Declaration “On the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, of September 13, 2007;

– The Law of the Republic of Western Armenia “On the state structure of Western Armenia, the status of deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and the regulations of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia”, of January 21, 2014;

– Presidential Decree on the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) No. 12 «The Republic of Western Armenia as a Continuity State», – on the Republic of Western Armenia as a continuity State of Armenian State recognized in 1920, of February 23, 2014;

– The Decision of the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia “On the Permanent, armed and positive neutrality of the Armenians of Western Armenia and Western Armenia itself”, of March 29, 2011;

– The Decree of the National Council of Armenians of Western Armenia “On the establishment of the self-defense forces of the Armenians of Western Armenia”, of December 26, 2012;

– The Decision of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia “On the formation of the defense forces of the Armenians of Western Armenia”, of January 10, 2018.

Taking into account the political and legal foundations of the formation of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

1) On the basis of the United Nations Declaration “On the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, of September 13, 2007, the institution of national identity and citizenship of the Armenians of Western Armenia was formed, and the legal and political foundations of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) and its state structures were legitimately established;

2) In accordance with Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, since 2013, the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) formed absolutely legitimate state authorities — the National Assembly (Parliament), the Government and the institution of the Presidency;
3) From November 22 to 30, 2013, for the first time in the world, elections of deputies to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation were held by direct electronic voting via the Internet, conducted on the basis of universal and equal suffrage by free and secret ballot. The elections were held in 41 countries, in which 17,155 voters — registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia  participated and voted, and 64 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected.
On January 18, 2014, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation, the mandates of the deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and his deputies were elected, and 13 standing parliamentary commissions were formed.

On January 20, 2014, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 1st convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government of the Republic of Western Armenia in Exile was formed, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia was approved.

4) From September 1 to 5, 2018, the elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation were held, in which 51,505 voters — registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia from 47 countries of the world  participated, and 101 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected on a single electoral list.

On September 27, 2018, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation, the mandates of the newly elected deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and his deputies were elected, and 16 standing parliamentary commissions were formed.

On September 28, 2018, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 2nd convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government was formed, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia was approved.

5) From August 29 to September 3, 2023, elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation were held, in which 63,724 voters — registered citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia from 53 countries of the world participated, and 135 deputies of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia were elected on a single electoral list.

The elected deputies come from 30 regions and provinces of Western Armenia.
On September 23, 2023, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation, the mandates of the newly elected deputies of the Parliament of Western Armenia were approved, the President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and his deputies were elected, and 17 standing parliamentary commissions were formed.

On September 24, 2023, at the 1st session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia of the 3rd convocation, the President of the Republic of Western Armenia was elected, the Government was formed, and the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Western Armenia were approved.

6) Currently:

The President of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) is the nominee for the Nobel Prize in Economics and the Nobel Peace Prize, deputy of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia, academician, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Martik Gasparyan.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) is re-approved Tigran Pashabezyan, an active participant in the latest armed liberation struggle of the Armenian people and a prominent public and political figure.

The President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia is re-elected Armen Ter-Sarkisyan, a prominent figure of the Armenian Diaspora and an active participant in the national liberation struggle.
The Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) is approved Radik Khamoyan, an active participant in the national liberation war in Artsakh, the second President of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia), and deputy of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia.

VII. Taking into account the following Statements submitted by the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations and the European Parliament:

1) The Application to the United Nations on the accession of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to membership in the United Nations, of May 25, 2018.

2) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations “On the Implementation of the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson of November 22, 1920, ‘Decision of the President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson on the establishment of the state boundary between Turkey and Armenia, access of Armenia to the sea, and the demilitarization of Turkish territories adjacent to the Armenian border’”, with the aim of establishing the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) within the territories determined by the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States Woodrow Wilson, of May 29, 2018;

3) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations “On the demilitarization of the territories of Western Armenia and Cilicia and the withdrawal of the occupying forces of the Republic of Turkey from there”, of November 20, 2018;

4) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations “On the Demarcation of the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan”, of August 7, 2019;
5) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the European Parliament “On  errors, omissions and unacceptable formulations contained in the Resolution of the European Parliament ‘On a political solution to the Armenian Question’ of June 18, 1987, and on the necessity of its amendment and new edition”, of December 5, 2020;

6) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations “On compensation for material losses incurred by the Armenian People during the First World War”, of September 25, 2022;

7) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations on the adoption of the Decision of the Republic of Western Armenia “On the recognition of the Independence of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic)”, of February 22, 2022;

8) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations “Call for decisive action for the peaceful, just and final settlement of the Artsakh conflict and proposal to demarcate the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan under the auspices of the United Nations”, of July 17, 2023;

9) The Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) to the United Nations on the adoption of the decision “On the obligation to represent the Republic of Artsakh and the People of Artsakh on international platforms and to protect all their legal and political rights”, of September 29, 2023.

All these Statements in fact concern decisions regarding the rights of the Armenian people that have already been adopted by the international community, which have been made but have not been implemented yet.

VIII. Taking into account the background of the question when:

– At the beginning of 1919, the Armenian National Congress was convened in Paris. Among the most important results of the Congress was the election of the “Delegation of Integral Armenia” under the co-chairmanship of Boghos Nubar and Avetis Aharonyan, and the approval of the joint Memorandum on Armenian requirements, prepared in advance and submitted to the Paris Peace Conference on February 12, 1919, which justified the necessity of creating an independent Armenian state and specified its territory, uniting the seven regions (vilayets) of Western Armenia (including the regions of Van, Bitlis, Karin (Erzerum), Hamshen (Trebizond), Sebastia (including Kesaria), Tigranakert (Diarbekir) and Kharberd), as well as the Republic of Armenia (including the Kars region and the regions of Artsakh, Nakhichevan and Javakhk) and Armenian Cilicia;

– On February 26, 1919, the Armenian united delegation attended a meeting of the Council of Ten, where it repeated the principal requirements of the Memorandum;

– On April 17, 1919, the Armenian delegation was also received by the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson and assured them that he would do everything possible to protect the territorial claims of the Armenian people;

– In response to the submitted requirements by the united Armenian national delegation the Supreme Council of the Allied States adopted the following decision on January 19, 1920 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 officially presented this decision to the united Armenian national delegation;

– On May 11, 1920 the Turkish delegation was invited to the Paris Peace Conference where they received the «Terms of Peace». The Armenian State delegation was also among the representatives of the Allied States.

In the Preamble of the «Terms of Peace» which later became the Preamble of the Sevres Peace Treaty Armenia is mentioned along with the Allied States.

Thus, the Armenian State was also recognized «de jure»;

The recognition of the state occurs once, and this decision is not subject to change or cancellation.Issues of Recognition and Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and Full Compensation for its Consequences

1. Contrary to human morality and law, and instead of recognizing the legitimate rights of the Armenians, the most ancient autochthonous people of the Armenian Highlands, to their historical Homeland, in 1894-1923 three successive Turkish governments —Sultan, Young Turk and Kemal — with the active and direct participation of Kurdish armed gangs, committed a monstrous crime on the territories of Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia, the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Armenia — the Genocide of the Armenian people — the murder of more than 1.5 million innocent Armenians and the deportation of the greater part of the surviving Armenian population from their historical Homeland, as well as the occupation of Western Armenia, the western part of Eastern Armenia and Armenian Cilicia, which in turn led to tragic demographic changes, resulting in an unprecedented reduction in the number of indigenous Armenian population in the region and a change in the natural ratio between the peoples within the boundaries of the Armenian area.For more than 100 years, the territory of Western Armenia, the western part of Eastern Armenia and Armenian Cilicia has remained occupied by Turkey.

The Armenian Genocide was also committed in 1918-2024 on the territories of Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nakhichevan and other Armenian territories by the governments of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (Musavatists), the Azerbaijan SSR (Bolsheviks), and finally, the current Republic of Azerbaijan.
As a result of the Armenian Genocide committed by the Azerbaijani authorities demographic changes also occurred in these territories with a sharp reduction in the indigenous Armenian population and other autochthonous peoples of the region.

Throughout this period, the Greatest Cultural Genocide was also carried out.

The Genocide of the Armenian people was first condemned by the governments of Russia, France and Great Britain, which in their Joint Statement of May 24, 1915, characterized this monstrous crime of the Turkish Government against the Armenians as follows: “…In view of these new crimes committed by Turkey against humanity and civilization, the allied governments of Russia, France and England publicly declare to the Sublime Porte that they hold all members of the Turkish Government personally responsible for these crimes, as well as those of its local representatives who are involved in such massacres”.

It is noteworthy that the Ottoman Empire itself also condemned the Armenian Genocide.
In 1919-1920, the Special Military Tribunal of Constantinople organized the trial of the leaders of the Young Turks — members of the Turkish Government and governors — presenting against them two charges:

a) involving the Ottoman Empire in the war;

b) organizing the massacre, the Genocide and the deportation of Armenians — subjects of the Empire, as a result of which the leaders of the Young Turks were sentenced to death both in person and in absentia.
And with regard to those criminals sentenced to death who managed to escape from justice, the sentence was subsequently carried out by Armenian avengers as part of the retaliation operation “Nemesis”.

It should be noted that during the 1920s the Armenian Genocide continued already on the territory of Armenia (both Western and Eastern) occupied by Turkey.

In fact, the Armenian Genocide continues to this day.Subsequently, many progressive countries of the world recognized and condemned this monstrous crime of Turkey. And this process of recognition and condemnation continues to this day.As of 2024, already 40 states, including two superpowers — the United States of America and the Russian Federation, as well as the leading countries of Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide committed in 1894-1923 on the territories of Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia, the Ottoman Empire, Eastern Armenia, in the cities of Baku, Shushi and many other Armenian and Armenian-populated territories.The international community has recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide both formally and officially by a significant number of states, as well as international (interstate) and religious organizations, and to an even greater extent through world public opinion.The Armenian Genocide is an international crime against humanity and humankind, and fully complies with the articles and provisions of the UN Conventions “On the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” of December 9, 1948, and “On the Non-Application of the Statute of Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity” of November 26, 1968.

And no statute of limitations is applicable thereto.

The fact that  the Turkish Government carried out the Armenian Genocide has been substantiated, recognized and confirmed by eyewitness testimonies, including those of diplomats, military personnel and journalists, archival documents, laws, resolutions and decisions of various states and international organizations.

And the concealment, ignoring and even denial of the very historical fact of the Armenian Genocide by unscrupulous politicians and biased structures in fact constitutes the complicity of the latter in this monstrous crime against humanity and humankind — the first Genocide of the twentieth century.One hundred years ago, the Great Powers of the victorious countries at the Versailles Conferences and the League of Nations (the predecessor of the United Nations), established on the basis of the fundamental research of Nobel Prize laureate and 28th President of the United States Woodrow Wilson, adopted concrete decisions aimed at overcoming the consequences of the Armenian Genocide committed by Turkey, namely — on the creation of a unified Armenian State, determined the boundaries of the Armenian area, but the victorious countries, exhausted and weakened as a result of the First World War, did not bring the initiated process to completion.Unfortunately, there is every reason to assert that the Armenian Genocide continues to this day, and will continue until this crime is condemned and compensation for damages is carried out, and until the Armenian people create firm and unshakable political, legal and national-state foundations to ensure the realization of their right to life, development and progress.

The Issue of Compensation for the material losses suffered by the Armenian people during the First World War

In 1919, according to the estimates of the Special Committee acting as a part of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference, the material losses of the Armenian people during the First World War amounted to more than 19 billion (19,130,982,000) French francs, which today, according to a professional expert assessment, amounts to 286,964,730,000 euros or more than 310 billion (312,791,555,700) United States dollars.

Calculations for Western and Eastern Armenians (the Republic of Armenia), were carried out separately, however the losses were represented as a single final figure. In accordance with this, the losses of the Armenian nation in 1914-1919, in general, amounted 19,130,982,000 French francs at 1919 prices.

According to the report, the material losses of Armenians were as follows:

A) Western Armenia (or, as stated in the document, Turkish Armenia):

a) personal material losses of the rural population 4,601,610,000 francs

b) personal material losses of the urban population 3,235,550,000 francs

c) collective material losses 6,761,350,000 francs

Total: 14,598,510,000 francs

B) The Republic of Armenia and other Armenian-populated territories of the Caucasus:

a) population losses of those settlements, whose population has been completely expelled – 1,831,872,000 francs

b) population losses of those settlements, whose population has not been expelled – 1,293,600,000 francs

c) other material losses – 1,407,000,000 francs

Total: 4,532,472,000 francs

Thus, the total material losses amounted 19,130,982,000 French francs at 1919 prices.

Thus, the reparations obligations of the Republic of Turkey, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire, toward the Armenian people amount to 19,130,982,000 francs, according to the report and calculations of the Special Committee acting as the part of the Special Commission on Reparations of the Paris Peace Conference, presented on April 14, 1919.

To this day, the Republic of Turkey has not paid this amount to the Armenian side.

This decision on compensation for damage does not take into account the numerous and diverse losses inflicted upon the Armenian people by Turkey and Azerbaijan as a result of the long series of crimes of Genocide committed by them.

It should be particularly noted that during the Armenian Genocide (1894-1923, 1918-2024 and continuing to this day), the Armenian people suffered much greater losses, and not only material as indicated in the report, but also human, territorial, civilizational, cultural, spiritual, educational, architectural, economic, financial and other forms of losses. In other words, the Armenian people suffered huge losses of their civilizational heritage.

Therefore, it should be especially emphasized that the calculations of the Special Committee relate solely to the above-mentioned assessment and only to the material losses sustained by the Armenian people during the First World War.

The report of the Special Committee in no way addresses the losses suffered by the Armenian people during the Armenian Genocide, including not only material ones, namely the Armenian Genocide of 1894-1923 carried out by successive governments of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide of 1918-2024 carried out by successive governments of Azerbaijan.

It should also be noted that the genocidal policy and practice of Armenian hatred and Genocide carried out by the governments of the these states continue to this day.

In the issue of full compensation, it is necessary to take into account the crimes committed by successive governments of Turkish governments against the Armenian people in the years 1894-1896, 1909, 1915-1918, 1919-1923 and continuing to the present day, as well as the crimes committed by successive governments of Azerbaijan against the Armenian people in the years 1905-1906, 1918-1920, 1921-1987, 1988-2024 and continuing to the present day.

The damage caused to the Armenian people and Armenia as a result of the crimes committed by successive governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan includes not only the material losses of the urban and rural population, but also the following losses of the Armenian people: human losses as a consequence of the perpetrated Genocide, forced deportation and Islamization, including children and women, the loss of the Homeland — Patriocide, the loss of the Armenian people’s habitat, economic losses, losses of bank deposits and jewelry, insurance premiums, intangible assets, intellectual property, objects of historical, cultural, archaeological, architectural and ecclesiastical heritage, educational and enlightenment institutions, worldwide and national cultural values, and other losses of the Armenian people.

At the initiative of the Special Commission of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia on Restitution and Reparations in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, the International Independent Expert-Legal Center for Reparations and Restitutions (full name — “The International independent expert legal center for accounting, analysis, inventory, audit, qualimetric assessment and forensic examination of material and non-material losses as a result of the Armenian Genocide for reparations and restitutions”) conducts a qualimetric assessment of the full replacement value of the material and non-material property and lost benefits of the Armenian people on the territory of the Ottoman Empire (its successor is the Republic of Turkey) and Azerbaijan, including separately for Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia, Nakhichevan, Artsakh and the Western Caspian region for reparations, restitution and contributions after 1919 over the past more than 100 years in peacetime, from military actions, terrorism, blockade and reservation of the Armenian people.

Currently, the above-mentioned losses of the Armenian people are being qualimetrically assessed, and a statement with the corresponding report and expert opinion of the professional international community for comprehensive reparations and restitution will soon be submitted to the relevant international structures.

Taking into account the status of the three republics of Eastern Armenia (Republic of Armenia)
1) At the present, the Republic of Armenia (Eastern Armenia), for a number of reasons faces difficulties in directly resolving the Armenian Question and, on that basis, as one possible option, in settling the conflicts in the territory of the Greater Middle East, primarily around Armenia.

2) At the same time, a number of facts and events indicate that the military-political situation around the Republic of Armenia is being methodically and deliberately escalating in order to prevent the Republic of Armenia from undertaking the final and fair resolution of the Armenian Question and, on its basis, including a fair and final settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

3) The First Republic of Armenia, and subsequently the Union Armenian SSR under conditions of aggression and coercion (the Alexandropol Treaty of December 2, 1920 and the Kars Treaty of October 13, 1921) were forced to renounce the rights granted to the Armenian people and Armenian State in 1920 on the basis of unified Armenian claims, being forced to remain only within the framework of rights and jurisdiction of the Republics of Armenia, in other words – Eastern Armenia.

4) The Third Republic of Armenia, through official statements of state leaders, repeated that it remains outside the framework of the rights granted to the Armenian people and the Armenian State (State of Armenia) in 1918-1920 provided on the basis of unified Armenian claims, and is forced to remain only within the framework of the rights and powers of the Republic of Armenia, in other words — Eastern Armenia and this issue defending transfers directly to the Armenian people — to broad circles of Armenian public.

It should be noted that in 2015 the third President of the Republic of Armenia, addressing to the participants of the Pan-Armenian Youth Gathering “Baze-2015” (“Falcon-2015”), assigned the task of resolving the Armenian Question and realizing the right to future generations granted to the Armenian people and, in fact, to the Armenian people scattered all over the world.

On January 19, 2015, at the Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide “Tsitsernakaberd” city Yerevan, the third President of the Republic of Armenia officially read the Pan-Armenian Declaration dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, where Article 2 states: “Reaffirms the commitment of Armenia and the Armenian people to continue the international struggle for the prevention of Genocides, the restoration of the rights of peoples subjected to Genocide, and the establishment of historical justice”.

5) The current officials of the Republic of Armenia, through statements of official representatives, have completely refused from all rights granted by the international community to the Armenian people and the State of Armenia in 1918-1920.

And the current Prime Minister of the Third Republic of Armenia, developing the thesis of the first President of the Republic, is pushing the Armenian people and Armenia toward defeat and capitulation through coercion, violence and the threat of the use of force to sign up a new unjust Alexandropol and/or Kars Treaty.

6) However, all this does not mean that Armenians scattered around the world as a result of the Armenian Genocide can accept such realities imposed on the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

7) On the contrary, Armenians scattered around the world, whose number is much greater than that of their compatriots living in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), have chosen the way of protection of the unified rights granted to the Armenian people and the State of Armenia by the international community in 1918-1920, aimed at the final and fair solution of the Armenian Question.

XII. Issues of the Status and Border of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) with the Republic of Azerbaijan

 A) Issues of the Status and Border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan

It should be particularly noted that the so-called “delimitation and demarcation”, determination and alteration of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan without a bilateral international treaty – solely on the basis of the administrative and territorial division of the USSR – as well as the transfer of parts of the territories of the communities of the Syunik, Tavush and Gegharkunik regions (including Artsvashen), the part of the interstate Goris-Kapan highway of the Republic of Armenia, using the GPS system of a foreign private company to the aggressor are illegal, illegitimate and inadmissible.
The administrative and territorial division of the USSR, especially the illegal and artificial divisions within the Azerbaijan SSR, cannot serve as a basis for the demarcation of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Likewise, the Soviet maps of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces the cannot serve as the only basis for the demarcation of the state border, since even before Armenia joined the USSR, its borders had been determined by the international community.

The only legitimate document adopted by the international community regarding the borders between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan is the Report-Proposal of February 24, 1920, of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920), determining the borders of the State of Armenia, and the maps attached to this Report-Proposal.

In accordance with the Report-Proposal of February 24, 1920, of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference determining the borders of the State of Armenia, the right to demarcate the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was granted to the League of Nations (whose legal successor is the United Nations), while during the demarcation, demographic data concerning the national composition of the population before to the outbreak of the First World War were taken as the principal criterion.
The current national composition in the region, resulting from the criminal policy of Genocide — the extermination, ethnic cleansing and deportation of Armenians and other autochthonous peoples carried out by the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, cannot serve as a basis for political, legal, diplomatic and civilizational decisions — in this particular case, specifically for border demarcation. Since “the consequences of a crime cannot give rise to rights” (ex injuria non oritur jus).

There are two legitimate decisions adopted by the international community regarding the demarcation of the border between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

These are:

a) The Decision of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference “Report-Proposal on the Demarcation of the Border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” of February 24, 1920.
b) Article 92 of the Treaty of Sèvres of August 10, 1920.

 

That is, the maps of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces and the maps of the artificially created Azerbaijan (or Google internet maps) cannot prevail over the legitimate maps and decisions of the international community. Consequently, the demarcation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan cannot be carried out only on the basis of the above-mentioned maps.

 

B) Issues of the Status and Border between the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) and the Republic of Azerbaijan

Taking into consideration:

1) The Appeal of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) to the Parliaments of the countries of the world of October 5, 2020, calling for the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, which is the most effective means of ending the ongoing serious crimes against the peaceful population of the Republic of Artsakh and protecting their rights.

2) The letter of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, of November 22, 1920, addressed to the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers, in connection with his Arbitral Award (on the establishment of the state border between Turkey and Armenia), where it was particularly emphasized the need to take into account that the newly created Armenian State must unquestionably include a significant part of the Transcaucasian Armenian regions of the former Russian Empire (i.e. Artsakh (Nagorniy, Lowland and Northern Karabakh), Nakhichevan and Javakhk).

3) The Report-Proposal of the Special Commission of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920) of February 24, 1920, determining the borders of the State of Armenia, and the maps attached to this Report-Proposal.

4) As a result of the invasion of the XI Red Army, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia were Sovietized respectively on April 28 and December 2, 1920, and the Republic of Georgia – on February 25, 1921.

5) In June 1921, on the basis of the declaration of Soviet Azerbaijan renouncing its claims to the so-called “disputed territories” and on the basis of the agreement between the Governments of Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan, Soviet Armenia declared Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) an inseparable part of its territory.

6) The Act of unification was welcomed both by the international community and by the newly created Soviet Russia.

It was recorded in the Resolution of the League of Nations of December 18, 1920, as well as in the memorandum-note of the Secretary General of the League of Nations addressed to the member states of the League of Nations, and in the annual report for 1920-1921 addressed to the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR and to the supreme body of state authority of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic — the XI Congress of Soviets.

7) On July 5, 1921, at its meeting, the Caucasian Bureau of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), having ignored the corresponding resolution of the League of Nations and the opinion of the people of Artsakh as a democratic tool for determining the borders between Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan, in opposition to the resolution on unification, and with gross procedural violations, adopted an illegal decision on the forcible separation of Artsakh from Soviet Armenia  with the condition of forming a national autonomy with broad powers within Soviet Azerbaijan.

Thus, a significant part of the historical Armenian and Armenian-populated territories was transferred to Soviet Azerbaijan.

8) It is obvious that from the standpoint of both domestic and international law, this decision is illegitimate and invalid, since any body has the right to adopt decisions only on those matters on which this structure has the appropriate authority. The Caucasian Bureau of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) did not possess such powers.

International law does not grant such powers to party bodies, even if these parties are ruling ones.

9) By another illegal decree of the authorities of Soviet Azerbaijan on July 7, 1923, Artsakh was divided: the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) was established on one part of it, while the territories of Lowland Karabakh were transferred under the direct subordination of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

10) At the same time, the Red Kurdistan was artificially formed.

The purpose of the creating the latter was to abolish the land connection between Soviet Armenia and the NKAO. In 1929, the Red Kurdistan was abolished, and its territory was directly included in the Azerbaijan SSR.

11) From 1918-1920, the Republic of Azerbaijan either participated directly in or independently carried out a policy of Genocide and deportation of Armenians. That is, the same criminal policy of successive Turkish authorities — Ottoman, Young Turk and Kemalist — was carried out against the indigenous Armenian population in 1894-1923.

In fact, it can be stated that the Armenian Genocide also continues on the part of the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan to this day.

12) The Karabakh conflict is not just a question of Armenian and Azerbaijani confrontation, as it is often tried to present. In fact, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, or more precisely — the issue of Artsakh and the Armenians of Artsakh, is an extremely important part of the Armenian Question.

The struggle of Artsakh and the Armenians of Artsakh is a struggle against the genocidal policy unleashed by the Republic of Azerbaijan, a struggle for survival, for the right freely to determine their own destiny in accordance with the right to self-determination.

13) On February 20, 1988, the extraordinary joint session of the deputies of the regional and district councils of the NKAO adopted a Decision and appealed to the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR on the secession from the Azerbaijan SSR, and to the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR on the inclusion of the NKAO into the Armenian SSR. An appeal was addressed to the authorities of the USSR to satisfy this request on the basis of all legal norms and precedents for resolving such controversial issues.

14) However, this step, aimed at resolving the problem in a civilized way and by means of the free expression of will, was followed by a wave of violence against the Armenian population, massive violations of the rights of the Armenian people, the forcible deportation of the Armenian population, a total blockade, and the like. Pogroms and massacres of the Armenian population began in the cities of the Republic of Azerbaijan located hundreds of kilometers away from the NKAO – in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and Shamkhor. As a result, hundreds of people were killed, and even more were injured. Approximately 500 thousand citizens of Armenian nationality of the Republic of Azerbaijan became refugees. Thus, the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized and carried out a real Genocide and deportation against the indigenous Armenian population residing on the territory of the republic.

15) On September 2, 1991, in the capital of the NKAO, the city of Stepanakert, at a joint session of the people’s deputies of the regional council of the NKAO and the Shaumyan district council, the “Declaration on the Proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” on the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and the Shaumyan district was adopted.

16) On December 10, 1991, in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, in the presence of international observers and on the basis of the peoples’ right to self-determination, a referendum on independence was held, in which 80% of the population with the right to vote participated. And the absolute majority of the voters — 99.89% — cast their votes for independence.

17) The Act on the Sovereignty of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, confirmed almost unanimously at the referendum of December 10, 1991, was guaranteed by the USSR Law of April 3, 1990 “On the Procedure for Resolving Questions Related to the secession of a Union Republic from the USSR”.

18) In September-December 1991, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic proclaimed sovereignty over territories not belonging to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

19) In August-October 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan, having renounced succession of the Azerbaijan SSR, proclaimed itself the successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920), to which Karabakh did not belong.

20) On January 6, 1992, the Supreme Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic adopted the Declaration “On the State Independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”.

21) At the referendum of December 10, 2006, the first Constitution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was adopted.

22) At the referendum held on February 20, 2017, the Constitution of the Republic of Artsakh in its new edition was adopted.

23) Even the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, in his official memorandum of September 30, 2009, circulated at the United Nations, confirmed that: “…Karabakh covers the lands from the Araks River in the south to the Kura River in the north, and from the confluence of the Kura and Araks rivers in the east to the eastern borders of the Lesser Caucasus in the west”.

24) To resolve the Karabakh conflict, on March 24, 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was established, within the framework of which the negotiation process aimed at regulating the Karabakh conflict has been carried out.

25) On August 11, 1992, the United States Congress adopted a resolution condemning the actions of the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as Amendment No. 907 to the Freedom Support Act, prohibiting the United States Administration from providing economic assistance to that state at the government level.

26) On September 12, 1988, the European Parliament adopted a special Resolution, in which, in particular, the following were noted:

1. a) the historical status of Armenian-populated Karabakh as part of Armenia;
2. b) the illegal “incorporation of this territory (Karabakh) into Azerbaijan”;
3. c) the just nature of the “demand of the Armenians (of Karabakh) for reunification” with Armenia.

27) Since February 1988, the Republic of Azerbaijan had imposed a total blockade on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Armenia, to which the Republic of Turkey also joined in 1993 by organizing the blockade of the Republic of Armenia.

28) The Republic of Azerbaijan does not even wish to hear about the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to free self-determination and to free life, repeatedly declaring that it does not recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh.

29) For the entire period of its existence, and especially from 1988 to the present day, the Republic of Azerbaijan has pursued an openly Armenophobic state policy, and under such conditions the mediation mission naturally cannot be crowned with success.

30) In April 2016, contrary to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement concluded in May 1994, the Republic of Azerbaijan undertook a new aggression and unleashed a four-day war against the Republic of Artsakh and the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh, committing new war crimes.

31) On September 27, 2020, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the direct participation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey and ISIS international terrorists from Syria using prohibited weapons of mass destruction — phosphorus bombs, grossly violating the UN Charter, launched an armed attack against the Republic of Artsakh along the entire perimeter of the border between the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

32) On September 19, 2023, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), which had been under total blockade since December 12, 2022.

33) The result of this war crime was an act of committing the Genocide – ethnic cleansing and the complete forcible deportation of the entire 120,000 population of the Republic of Artsakh, the illegal arrest and extradition of the military and political leadership of the Republic of Artsakh to Azerbaijani prisons.

34) This war crime of the Republic of Azerbaijan against the autochthonous Armenian population of Artsakh was committed with the absolute inaction of the member states of the OSCE Minsk Group and especially the silence of the current ruling circles of the Republic of Armenia.

35) It should be particularly noted the direct involvement of the Republic of Turkey in the armed aggression against the Republic of Artsakh and its de facto command and control of military operations.

36) The latest aggression of the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh must be considered in the context of large-scale and systematic attacks against the civilian population undertaken by the Azerbaijani side both in peacetime and wartime from the very beginning of the Artsakh national liberation movement in 1988 up to the present day.

37) The committed military aggression is an ongoing violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and an obstruction to their exercise of their inalienable rights, and is nothing more than a crime against humanity.

38) The main aim of this confirmed fact of the committed international crime — military aggression by the Republic of Azerbaijan and its allies against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) is to deprive the autochthonous Armenian population of Artsakh of the right to self-determination, freedom and independence, and to occupy part of its ancestral territories.

39) The Republic of Azerbaijan has systematically, at the state level, carried out the appropriation and destruction of Armenian historical, cultural and Christian heritage in the occupied territories, an eloquent example of which are the facts of the destruction of 89 medieval Armenian churches, 5.480 khachkars and 22.700 tombstones in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Artsakh and Nakhichevan, including 400 khachkars in Agulis and the destruction of thousands of original and ancient Dzhugha khachkars  in Nakhichevan in 2005.

40) It can be stated with confidence that the Armenian Genocide committed by the two Pan-Turanian criminal countries — Turkey and Azerbaijan — constitutes a single process.

41) The reaction of the international community is of great significance —  decisions and resolutions condemning the military aggression of the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly with the Republic of Turkey and ISIS international terrorists against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) during the       44-day war of 2020: those of the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Parliaments of France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Chile, Cyprus, Belgium and Austria, as well as the legislative bodies of numerous regions, states and municipalities of France, Italy, the United States, Spain, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other countries.

42) Decisions recognizing the independence of the Republic of Artsakh adopted by the Senate and the National Assembly of France, the Parliaments of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Abkhazia, and the legislative bodies (parliaments) of regions, states and municipalities of France, Italy, the United States, Spain, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Guatemala and other countries are of great importance.

43) And finally, the most important thing!

Regardless of whether other states have recognized the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) or not, in accordance with international law, the Republic of Artsakh exercised its self-determination through a nationwide referendum more than 30 years ago, and no one can deprive the people of Artsakh and Armenians of this right in general.Начало формы

XIII.    Taking into account the existing military and political situation in the region, according to which:

1)  Armed conflicts do not stop in the Middle East and South Caucasus;

2)  The implementation of all the provisions of the Sèvres Peace Treaty can be a decisive step in the establishing real peace and cooperation in the Middle East and South Caucasus;

3)  The borders of the Middle East States, North Africa and Europe, as well as the borders of the State of Armenia were approved by the Sèvres Peace Treaty regarding which the Arbitral Award of 28 US President Woodrow Wilson was also issued on November 22, 1920, but which has not been implemented yet;

4)  In fact it can be stated that the main decisions for a fair solution of the Armenian Question have long been taken, however, have not been implemented yet. It can be emphasized that the time has ripened for their implementation.

And the current tough reality is that not a single country and not a single nation of the Greater Middle East will remain indifferent to the present and future threats  unless each of them chooses the legal and political way to solve peacefully the existing problems and conflicts. All illegitimate strong-willed political decisions will keep the conflicting parties, their countries and future generations as hostages and every fifty years conflicts and confrontations, wars and chaos will flare up with new strength in the Balkans, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Afghanistan.

XIV. On the insignificantce and illegality of some international treaties relating to Armenia:
Let us note those treaties that were signed at the expense of the rights of the Armenians and the Armenian State by illegitimate subjects of international law, as well as those signed under duress and against (at the expense of) the Armenian side and without its voluntary consent.

These imposed illegal treaties were signed during the years 1918-1921, in the period of aggression against the young independent Republic of Armenia.

Namely:
1. The Russian-Turkish Supplementary Treaty to the separate Brest peace Treaty relating to Armenia, concluded in Brest-Litovsk between representatives of Bolshevik Russia on the one side, and Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the other, of March 3, 1918.

On November 13, 1918, by decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the Brest Treaty was annulled. However, the Armenian territories given to Turkey in accordance with this illegal treaty have not been returned to Armenia to this day.

2. The Treaty of Batum is the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the Ottoman Imperial Government and the Republic of Armenia, of June 4, 1918, concluded in Batum.

On October 30, 1918, Great Britain (as the authorized representative of the Entente Powers) and Turkey signed the so-called Mudros Armistice, marking the defeat of Turkey in the First World War. It provided, in particular, for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Transcaucasia. Due to Turkey’s defeat in the war, the Government of the Republic of Armenia annulled the Treaty of Batum.

4. The Treaty of Alexandropol is a Peace Treaty between representatives of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, of December 2, 1920.
   It was signed in the city of Alexandropol (present-day Gyumri) by the Kemalist Government, which at that time was not a subject of international law, and by the Government of the First Republic of Armenia, which had in fact lost power. The Government of the Armenian SSR did not recognize the treaty; however, the loss of the Kars region stipulated in it was subsequently consolidated by the Moscow Treaty between Soviet Russia and Turkey, and later by the Kars Treaty.
5. The Moscow Treaty is the “Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood”, signed in Moscow between representatives of the Government of the RSFSR and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, of March 16, 1921.

In accordance with this treaty, the RSFSR, having no legal right to do so, agreed to transfer to Turkey the ancestral Armenian territories of the Armenian SSR — the Kars region (including Surmalu and Ardahan), and the Nakhichevan region of Soviet Armenia to the Azerbaijan SSR.

The “Pact of Lenin and Ataturk” between the Bolsheviks and the Kemalists is insignificant and illegal, since it was signed by parties that at the moment of the signing were not subjects of international law, and was also signed under duress against (at the expense of) the interests of a third party (i.e. the Armenian SSR), and without its voluntary consent.

5. The Question of Artsakh. The Decision of the Caucasian Bureau of the RCP(b) (Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)) of July 5, 1921.

Contrary to the previously adopted resolution on the unification of Soviet Armenia with Artsakh, and with the gross procedural violations, the Caucasian Bureau of the RCP(b) adopted an illegal decision on the forcible separation of Artsakh from Soviet Armenia. Thus, a significant part of the historical Armenian and Armenian-populated territories of Artsakh (Nagorno, Lowland and Northern Karabakh) was illegally transferred to Soviet Azerbaijan.

6. The Javakhk Question. The Decision of the Plenum of the Caucasian Bureau of the RCP(b) (Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)) of July 7, 1921, and the Decision of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia of July 16, 1921, on the illegal  transfer of the historical Armenian and Armenian-populated territories of Javakhk (the districts of Akhalkalaki, Bogdanovka and Tsalka) to Soviet Georgia.

From the point of view of both domestic and international law, these two decisions of the Bolshevik party bodies were illegitimate and invalid, since any body has the right to adopt decisions only on those issues for which the given structure possesses the corresponding powers. The Caucasian Bureau of the RCP(b) and the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia did not possess such powers. It is obvious that they exceeded the limits of their authority. International law does not grant such powers to party bodies, even if such parties are ruling ones.

7. The Treaty of Kars is the Treaty of Friendship between the Governments of the Armenian SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the Georgian SSR on the one hand, and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the other, concluded with the participation of the RSFSR in the city of Kars on October 13, 1921.

This treaty extended to the new Transcaucasian Soviet republics the provisions of the Moscow Treaty between the RSFSR and Turkey of March 16, 1921, namely the transfer to Turkey of the ancestral Armenian territories of the Armenian SSR — the Kars region (including Surmala and Ardahan), to the Azerbaijan SSR — the Nakhichevan region of Soviet Armenia, and also in fact confirmed the decision of the plenum of the Caucasian Bureau of the RCP(b) of July 7, 1921, and the decision of the bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia of July 16, 1921, on the transfer of the Armenian region Javakhk to the Georgian SSR.

The Treaty of Kars is also insignificant and illegal, since it was signed under coercion against (at the expense of) the interests of the third party (i.e. the Armenian SSR), and without its voluntary consent.

It should be particularly noted that the Union republics of the USSR were not subjects of international law at that time.

8. The Ankara Treaty is a separate treaty between France and Turkey on the partition of Armenian Cilicia, of October 20, 1921.

In accordance with this agreement, in return for France’s renunciation of Armenian Cilicia, Turkey granted France (and French companies), for a period of 99 years, a concession for the iron, chrome and silver deposits located in the Harshida Valley. In addition, the Turkish government agreed to satisfy other statements that could be made by French groups for mining, railway, port and river concessions, provided that the mentioned statements would correspond to the mutual interests of Turkey and France.

Another point, not directly fixed in the treaty, but having the utmost importance, was the fact of reaching an agreement with the Kemalists and refusing to fight them.

Finally, in addition to the published text, the Ankara Treaty contained secret articles. According to the latter, France was supposed to sell Turkey weapons and ammunition for a total amount of 200 million francs, including 10 thousand sets of uniforms, 8 thousand Mauser guns, 5 thousand horses, 12 airplanes, as well as “Creusot” type cannons.

According to international law, the fundamental documents of the United Nations, international Conventions and Declarations, including the Vienna Convention “On the Law of Treaties” of May 23, 1969, any “paper” (declaration, treaty, agreement, decision, statement, etc.) signed under the threat of force is considered invalid. (Article 52 of the Vienna Convention states: “A treaty is void if its conclusion resulted from the threat or use of force in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations”).

It should also be noted that any treaties, agreements, decisions, etc., signed by illegitimate subjects of international law or non-governmental organizations, as well as if they are signed under coercion or against (at the expense of) the interests of a third party and without its voluntary consent, are considered insignificant, void and illegal documents.

 Provinces and regions of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

The Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) declares:

1) To assume responsibility for the formation and establishment of state institutions, the restoration of independence and sovereignty, and the revival and prosperity of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia);

2) To preserve the existence and identity of the Armenian people, the restoration, development of the economy and consolidation of the forces of the entire Armenian nation;

3) In resolving the Armenian Question to satisfy the demands of the Armenian people and to consider fundamental national unity and the perpetual rights of the Armenian people;

4) Only one definition is accepted: Armenian people must live within a self-sufficient, and in the future — in one unified and independent Armenian state — the united Republic of Western Armenia (including Cilicia), the Republic of Armenia (Eastern Armenia) and the Republic of Artsakh;

5) In accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of September 13, 2007, the Armenians of Western Armenia, as the most ancient autochthonous people of the Armenian Highlands, have indisputable and perpetual historical, genealogical, cultural, political and state-forming legal rights to their historical Homeland;

6) Taking into account mentioned in the present Declaration of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) “On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) and its State Border with the Republic of Turkey” the reality and based on the above-mentioned fundamental international legal documents referred to in the present Declaration,

We declare:

that the jurisdiction of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) extends both to the citizens of the Republic of Western Armenia and to the following occupied territories (provinces and regions) of the Republic of Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia and part of Eastern Armenia, which legally (de jure) and in fact (de facto) are provinces and regions of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

1. Van – 39,900 sq. km;
2. Bitlis (including Sasun, Mush) – 27,100 sq. km;
3. Karin (Erzurum) – 72,000 sq. km;
4. Hamshen (Trebizond, including Artvin) – 31,300 sq. km;
5. Sebastia (Sivas, including Caesaria) – 83,700 sq. km;
6. Tigranakert (Diarbekir, including Mardin) – 56,300 sq. km;
7. Kharberd (Kharput) – 32,900 sq. km;
8. Cilicia (including Adana, Zeitun, Ayntap, Antioch, Alanya, Antalya, Mersin) – 46,000 sq. km;
9. Kars (including Surmalu and Ardahan) – 18,700 sq. km;
10. Javakhk (including Akhalkalaki, Bogdanovka and Tsalka) – 6,500 sq. km;
11. Nakhichevan – 5,500 sq. km.

TOTAL: the territory of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) amounts to 420,000 sq. km.

XVI. Borders of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)

 The land border of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):

In the West – along the line: from the coast of the Black Sea, at a point 50 km along the west of the settlement of Kerim (200 km west of Cape Bafra), up to 50 km along the line north of the Ketri Riverbed, then up to 50 km along the line west of its confluence with the Serbest River, further up to 50 km along the line west of the Serbest Riverbed, further to 50 km along the line west of the Galis (Kyzylirmak) Riverbed in the area of the settlement of Beybuku, up to 50 km west of Lake Tuz, further to 50 km along the line west of the settlement of Konya, then through the Taurus Mountains (Armenian Taurus) to the Gulf of Antalya of the Mediterranean Sea in the area up to 50 km along the line west of the settlement of Antalya — the western borders of the provinces of Sebastia (Sivas), Caesaria and Cilicia;

In the South – along the line: from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the area 50 km west of the settlement of Antalya to Mount Jebeli-Akra located on the Syrian-Turkish border near the mouth of the Asi (Orontes) River, then along the state border between the Republic of Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to the border with the Republic of Armenia (Syunik Province) — the southern borders of the provinces of Armenian Cilicia, Tigranakert (Diarbekir, including Mardin), Van (south-eastern border), Kars, Nakhichevan;

In the East – along the line: from the state border between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia (Syunik Province), then along the western border line of the Republic of Armenia to the border with the Republic of Georgia — the eastern borders of the provinces of Nakhichevan, Kars (including Surmalu and Ardahan);

In the North – along the line: the state border of the Republic of Georgia (excluding the province of Javakhk, including Akhalkalaki, Bogdanovka and Tsalka), then along the line of the Black Sea: from the “Sarpi” border checkpoint between the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Turkey to the medline of the coast of the Sinope Gulf, along the line 50 km west of the settlement of Kerim (200 km west of Cape Bafra) — the northern borders of the provinces of Javakhk, Hamshen (Trebizond) and Sebastia (Sivas).

Maritime Border of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)

Based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of December 10, 1982, the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to the adjacent belt of sea, referred to as the territorial sea.

The exclusive sovereignty also extends to the islands and the airspace above the territorial sea, as well as to the exploration and development of the natural resources of the seabed and its subsoil, and also has exclusive rights to living resources within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) establishes the width of its territorial sea at 12 nautical miles, the adjacent zone of 24 nautical miles, the width of the exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, and the outer boundaries of its continental shelf of 200 nautical miles, measured from the baselines determined in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

These provisions apply to the following marine areas:

In the North – on the Black Sea:

From the coast at the “Sarpi” border checkpoint between the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Turkey to the medline of the coast of the Sinope Gulf, along the line 50 km west of the settlement of Kerim (200 km west of Cape Bafra).

In the South – on the Mediterranean Sea:

From the coast in the area 50 km west of the settlement of Antalya to Mount Jebeli-Akra, located on the Syrian-Turkish border near the mouth of the Asi (Orontes) River.

XVII. Taking into account the comprehensive rights of the Armenian people in the world, according to which:

1. The Armenians of Western Armenia, like any people in the world, have the right to live, develop and have a future, and this means that the Armenians of Western Armenia have the right to demand the establishment of their own State on the territory of their Ancestral Homeland — in the Armenian Highlands, in Armenia;
2. The Armenians of Western Armenia and the State structures of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) declare that they undertake to protect the rights granted to the Armenian people by the Sèvres Peace Treaty and the Arbitral Award of the 28th President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson, and to implement these rights, including on the issue of the demarcation of the border between the State of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, acting as a continuation state (continuity) of the State of Armenia recognized de facto and de jure in 1920.

Guided by the above-mentioned documents and provisions, the Republic of Western Armenia
(State of Armenia) appeals to You with the proposal to initiate a legal and political process on the delimitation and demarcation of the border, as well as on the demilitarization of Western Armenia, Armenian Cilicia and part of Eastern Armenia, and the withdrawal of the occupation forces of the Republic of Turkey from these Armenian territories,
and reaffirms the permanent, armed and positive neutrality of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia), in accordance with our Decision of March 29, 2011.

XVIII. The Concept of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)

The term the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) refers to the territories defined in accordance with the present Declaration “On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) and its State Border with the Republic of Turkey”, adopted and proclaimed by the National Assembly (Parliament) and the Government of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) on May 15, 2024, and reported to the United Nations, all states and the mass media.

This clarification is mandatorily indicated in all international treaties signed on behalf of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia).

XIX. Pursuant to the Present Declaration

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Economy and Trade, Industry, Culture, the Departments of Cartography and Cadastre, the Border and Coast Guard, the Customs and Migration Services of the Government of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) should begin preparatory work and negotiations with the Republic of Turkey  first of all, as well as with all adjacent countries — the Republic of Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, Iraq and Cyprus on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia).

We propose that the Republic of Turkey voluntarily and as soon as possible begin the withdrawal of all its occupation forces and local administrative authorities from the territory of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia), specified in Chapters XVI and XVII of the present Declaration.

We also propose that the Republic of Turkey sign a legally binding treaty, under the guarantees of the states — permanent members of the UN Security Council, and begin the process of delimitation and demarcation within the borders specified in the present Declaration.

At the same time, we declare the insignificance and illegality of all decisions of the central, regional and local state authorities of the Republic of Turkey concerning Western Armenia.

The Republic of Turkey will be charged with a claim for full compensation for the benefits it received from the exploitation of mineral resources, the activities of industrial and agricultural enterprises, the use of transport logistics and communications on the territory of Western Armenia, deductions from foreign companies, as well as the damage to the economy and cultural heritage, including its appropriation and destruction.

We also declare that no international organization or company has the right to undertake any actions on the occupied territories of our Homeland without the consent of the Armenian side, and in case of any problems in the future, these companies will not have the right to demand any compensation or reparations if they have not previously coordinated their actions with the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia).

The Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) guarantees the prosperity, freedom and development of all indigenous peoples, freedom of religion, equality between men and women, and social equality on its territory.

All historical Armenian toponyms changed by the occupation authorities will be restored throughout the territory of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia).

In accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of November 5, 1992, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of September 13, 2007, indigenous and minority peoples, in places of their compact residence, will be granted the right, along with the state language of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) — the Armenian language, to use their own languages in education, judicial proceedings, state, regional and municipal authorities, public life, mass media and book publishing, contributing to cultural diversity.

1. The decision on the adoption of the Declaration

The decision on the adoption of the Declaration “On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) and its State Border with the Republic of Turkey” was adopted on May 15, 2024, at a joint session of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia).

XXI. We also hereby inform that:

1. We are prepared to provide additional information and documents that may be required regarding this Declaration.
2. If necessary, we are ready to send an authorized representative of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia) for direct contacts and discussions.

 

Martik Gasparyan
President of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)

Tigran Pashabezyan
Prime Minister of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)

Armen Ter-Sarkisyan
President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Western Armenia

May 15, 2024

***

APPENDIX No. 1

 LIST
of addressees of the Statement of the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia)
to the United Nations on the adoption of the Declaration
“On the State Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Republic of Western Armenia

(State of Armenia) and its State Border with the Republic of Turkey”

Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. António Guterres.

Heads of the states – the Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council:
President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump,
President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin,
President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping,
President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron,
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Mr. Keir Starmer.

Heads of the states adjacent to the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):
President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian,
President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa,
President of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Nizar Amidi,
President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Vahagn Khachaturyan,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan,
President of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Kavelashvili,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze,
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides.

 Presidents of State Parliaments – the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council:
President of the United States Senate, Vice President of the United States, Mr. J.D. Vance,
President pro tempore of the United States Senate, Mr. Chuck Grassley,
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, Mr. Mike Johnson,
Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ms. Valentina Matviyenko,
Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin,
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr. Zhao Leji,
President of the Senate of the French Republic, Mr. Gérard Larcher,
President of the National Assembly of the French Republic, Ms. Yaël Braun-Pivet,
Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord John McFall,
Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Ministers for Foreign Affairs – the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council:
The United States Secretary, Mr. Marco Rubio,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Lavrov,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi,
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and International Development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ms. Yvette Cooper.

Presidents of the Parliaments of the States adjacent to the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly (Majlis) of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş,
Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,
Speaker of the People’s Council (Majlis Al-Shaab) of the Syrian Arab Republic,
Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Haybat Al-Halbousi,
President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Alen Simonyan,
President of the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Shalva Papuashvili,
President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms. Annita Demetriou.

 The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States adjacent to the Republic of Western Armenia (State of Armenia):
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Hakan Fidan,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Abbas Araghchi,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Fuad Hussein,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Georgia, Ms. Maka Bochorishvili,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Constantinos Kombos.

Heads of International Organizations:
President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa,
President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen,
President of the European Parliament, Ms. Roberta Metsola,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset,
Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Mr. Bakytzhan Sagintayev,
Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mr. Sergey Lebedev,

Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Mark Rutte,
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Mr. Taalatbek Masadykov,
Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Mr. Ignazio Cassis,
President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Pere Joan Pons Sampietro,
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Ms. Petra Bayr,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Mr. Volker Türk,
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Barham Salih,
Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ms. Amy Pope,
Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mr. Khaled El-Enany,
Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr. Daren Tang.

Heads of Churches:
His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II,
His Holiness Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I,
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,
His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill,
His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian,
His Reverend President of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of Eurasia, René Levonian.

This Statement is also addressed to:
Heads of States that have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. (Appendix No. 2)
Heads of international organizations that have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. (Appendix No. 3)
Heads of the world’s leading media and analytical centers. (Appendix No. 4)
Heads of Armenian socio-political and diaspora organizations. (Appendix No. 5)

 ***