Jamil HASANLI, doctor of historical sciences, professor
Nagorno-Karabakh: old misconceptions in new interpretation
(beginning in the previous issues)
The arbitrariness of Soviet Russia in attitude to Azerbaijan caused N. Narimanov’s disturbance. He understood that the main organizers of these provocative games were G. Chicherin – national commissar over external affairs who had been standing opposite to east politics since summer of 1919 and his deputy L. Karakhan. Both they had leading posts allowing them define and practically realize foreign and especially, East politics of the Soviet Union. The only escape in the fights with Chicherin seemed to be N. Narimanov about preventing V. I. Lenin who had made many wonderful promises till the sovietization. Still believing in justice by Lenin about Azerbaijan, N. Narimanov wrote the followings in the middle of July: “It seems in telegram of Mr. Chicherin that your information is one-sided or the Center has strongly affected to those who are still together with denikians against Soviet power in Azerbaijan. If the Center plans to make Azerbaijan as a victim and keep only Baku for its oil and completely refuse East politics, then I warn you: it is impossible to keep Baku without entire Azerbaijan in the neighborhood with dashnaks and Georgian Mensheviks. From the other side, I’d know how the Center looks at us – Muslims and how it can solve such important problems without us. The Center can consider us as unreliable, but also the high officials as Orjonikidze and Mdivani disagree with the resolution of the Center. I openly say that the Center has taken out gun from our hands and strengthened the provocation of Musavat with its resolutions about Karabakh and others which always says that as if Muslim-communists sold Azerbaijan to Russia which recognizes independence of Armenia and Georgia, and however considers the lands as disputable where were indisputable until formation of Soviet regime in Azerbaijan. Mr. Chicherin talks about subordination of the Center to the politics, but also it seems the Center doesn’t feel that it makes us be a curtain… They openly say us: “You can’t even tie the indisputable lands to Azerbaijan and talk about liberty of the East”” (N. Narimanov’s letter to V. I. Lenin. July, 1920. P. 41-42). In another letter to V. I. Lenin N. Narimanov informed about the great danger for Azerbaijan: “The situation is very terrible. The Center has confirmed the independence of Georgia and Armenia, also Azerbaijan, but at the same time, the Center gives the completely indisputable territories of Azerbaijan to Armenia. If these territories were compromised to Georgia, it would be a bit more possible to struggle against the public view, but to give the lands to Armenia is irreparable mistake” (N. Narimanov’s letter to Lenin. N. Narimanov. In the edge of history of our revolution (Letter to I. V. Stalin). Baku, 1990. p.117).
Although the hard and strong opposite position of N. Narimanov, the Soviet Union preferred the politics of humiliation of Azerbaijan which was prepared by the National Commissariat of External Affairs. At the diplomatic dispatch sent to N. Narimanov by G. Chicherin on 20 July, there was written with sarcasm: “Neither you, nor Orjonikidze has explained us yet why engagement of Karabakh and Zangazur by Russian army doesn’t satisfy you and other communists there, and why you require the certain formal annexation for Azerbaijan… We need to rebuild relations with Armenia, because if Turkey stands against us, Armenia will be the outpost in the fights against the attacking Turks” (Urgent dispatch of G. Chicherin to N. Narimanov. 20.07.1920. p.1). In another letter G. Chicherin warned the Political Bureau of CC of RCP that it was necessary to approach to Armenian-Azerbaijani relations considering the position of Turkish politics. He wrote: “I always noted in discussion of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict that in condition of overturn of Turkish politics to plan of invasions in Caucasus, Armenia would be a barrier against Turkey and would defend us” (G. Chicherin’s letter in Political Bureau of CC of RCP. 05.10.1920//Archive of External Politics of Russian Federation, file number 232, p.40).
For strengthening the position of Soviet powers in Azerbaijan, the republic has always been an outpost for regional politics of Bolsheviks and designed to cradle Georgian and Armenian bourgeois republics with its natural resources and territories and to create condition for sovietization of Armenia. Plans of Soviet Russia for Azerbaijani territories are explained at the following manner in the encrypted telegram of Legran to V. I. Lenin on 23 September, 1920: we shouldn’t fear of giving Zangazur and Nakhchivan to Armenia. It is a utopian idea that these territories are necessary for us for rescuing military operations in Turkish and Tabriz directions. And it is just impossible to disagree with territorial pretensions of Azerbaijan. Objective and grounded calculations of Moscow will absolutely satisfy Azerbaijan. But maybe it will insist for joining of Karabakh to Azerbaijan (B. Legran’s telegram to V. I. Lenin. 23.09.1920. p.144). In another telegram to G. Chicherin, B. Legran describes his agreement with Armenians over Azerbaijani territories: “Armenia requires confirming Nakhchivan and Zangazur immediately as their lands. I said that this problem couldn’t be solved without participation of Azerbaijan and we could put this problem before Azerbaijan only in condition of refusal of intensions for Karabakh by Armenia. Armenians agreed to refuse their pretensions over Karabakh” (Secret telegram of B. Legran to G. Chicherin. 24.10.1920. p.20). But this refusal was temporary and in the end of November in 1920 – with the establishment of soviet regime in Armenia, the fights for the mountainous part of Karabakh passed to new level.
(to be continued)
Nurani GASIMOVA, political analyist
History of Armenian terrorism
(beginning in the previous issue)
Dashnaks “Nemesis”
Details of those events became known later, and what is most surprising, they became known from memoirs of participants, more precisely, of culpable participants, which soon after convinced that they will not face judicial responsibility and started to paint their “feats”. In the autumn of 1919 in Yerevan “Dashnaktsyutun” party held its ninth congress. Shagen Natali, who entered into ARFD ten years earlier, was among attendants of the congress. He insists to create a special organization “Nemesis” with its special mission: “to take revenge for sufferings of Armenians”. They formed responsible body (head – Armen Garo) and a special fund (head – Shagen Satchaklyan), supervision and financial provision were governed to Shagen Natali and Grigor Merjanov. As headquarters they used offices of two newspapers: “Chakatamart”, published in Istanbul occupied by Britons and “Droshak” of Boston. There was considered the list of those “subject to extermination” consisted of 650 names, of which 41 were urgent. Later, in accordance with “technologies” of international terrorism the preparation of “bloody” actions started. Information was collected by Grach Papazyan, shown himself as “Turkish student”.
In May of 1920 Armenian terrorist-dashnak shot Nasib bey Yusifbeyli- prominent political and public activist of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). In a period less than a month, on June 19 of 1920 one more bloody action was fulfilled by Aram Erkamyan and Misak Grigoryan: in Yerevan square in Tiflis, terrorists shot to death Fatali khan Khoyski, one of founder of ADR and heavily wounded Khalil bey Khosmamedov. In a month, on July 19 of 1920 Armenian bullets reached Hasan bey Agayev.
On this background the killing of Talat pasha in Berlin represented some sort of “probing action”, check of reaction of European justice on Armenian ravings about “genocide”. When Sogomon Teyleryan was freed after short proceeding, his “partners” in “Nemesis” evaluated this as a command “Fire!”. On July 18 of 1921 in Istanbul occupied by Britain’s troops, in front of hotel “Pera Palas” Armenian terrorist Torlakyan shot to death Behbud khan Javanshir, former minister of internal affairs of ADR. The case was considered in Britain’s court-martial, which almost repeated scenario of trial in Berlin: the court-martial a few months later decided that he had committed a crime, but pleaded him as not guilty stating as if in 1918 in Baku the relatives of Torlakyan were killed and he had shot B.Jevanshir being mentally unfit. Several months later in Rome another Dashanak terrorist- Arshavir Shirakyan- killed Said Khalim pasha, former minister of foreign affairs of Ottoman empire. Only in four months period, on April 17, 1922, Shirakyan takes Aram Erganyan as a partner, shot to death Baheddin Shakir Bey and Kemal Azmi Bey in one of streets of Berlin. Several months later in Tiflis two Armenians killed another Turkish official – Kemal pasha. Kemal pasha, who according to Doctor Joan Lepsius (named as “fierce Turcophobe and friend of Armenians” by Austrian scientist Erik Faygl) regarded Armenians with sympathy: “Kemal pasha, head of the fourth army in Syria, hold a certain distance to those who were in power in Konstantinopol. He warned about serious revolts in his district and helped refugees and forced migrants”. On July 25 of 1922 Jemal pasha, former defense ministry of Ottoman empire was shot to death in Tiflis. “Operation” was fulfilled by two dashnak fighters: Zare Melik-Shahnazaryan and Stepan Tsagikyan.
The other fact is less known: among victims of “Nemesis” there were a certain number of Armenians, which were blamed by dashnaks in excessive loyalty to Turkish authorities: Amayak Aramyants, Arshavir Yesayan, Vage Yesayan, Artin Mkrtchyan…
But there was another fact during Bacchanalias of Armenian terror. On August 4 of 1922 Enver pasha was killed in surroundings of Bukhara. According to official version Enver-pasha was killed in the battle with Red army soldiers. Unofficial version becomes known only now.
(to be continued)
Occupied territories of Azerbaijan
Appeared the 20th anniversary of occupation of Kalbajar region
Occupation of Kalbajar region – one of the highest and rich of beautiful nature and natural resources, of Azerbaijan by armed bandit groups of Armenia was an operation which had been planned by this aggressor country before.
Invasion and realization of genocide of habitants of the Azerbaijani village Aghdaban of the underlined region a year before – on 8 April 1992 – was one of the steps towards the plan of invasion of the whole Kalbajar. Attacking to the village, Armenian bands which one of leaders was the former president of the country Robert Kocharyan, organized real fights there which as the result 779 peaceful habitants of the village were exposed to inhuman behavior by Armenians, 67 persons were wildly killed whose 8 were aged persons in age between 90 and 100, 2 babies, 7 women were lively burnt, 2 lost without any news, tens of people were strongly wounded. At the same time with killing people, the invaders annihilated all historical monuments; also they burnt manuscripts of Ashig Gurban – great master of classic Azerbaijani poesy which had great cultural-historical meaning and his son Ashig Shamshir, destroying their native homes having an important historical essence, with special ferocity typical for Armenians.
In the eve of realization of large-scaled attack of armed forces of Armenia to Kalbajar region in the end of March of 1993, the main radio-station in Kalbajar region got an order from staff radio-station (GSM-7) in Vardenis region of Armenia for emergency message to all existing in the region mobile radio-stations, which the text was recorded in beginning of April of the same year by Ministry of National Safety of Azerbaijan. It was required at the order to kill and bury citizens of Azerbaijan immediately who had been taken as captives during military activities including the aged people, women and children. The reason was that there was an international delegation together with correspondents in the region at the same time, that’s why it was required to kill those people for losing the tracks of brutalities committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis.
Beginning from 27 March, there were started simultaneous attacks to Kalbajar from the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomic Province (NKAP) and territory of Armenia. In this condition, together with the great support of our famous neighbor, Kalbajar region was occupied on 2 April 1993. As the result of the invasion of the region by Armenians, the habitants appeared in factually desperate situation. The only way for escaping from this clamp was the road through Murovdag Mountain. And although the passage was completely covered with snow, the people had to cross this lethal road. Moving against snow and mist with hellish difficulty, the tired, frozen women, aged people carried children. Snow and mist also prevented Armenians to shoot. That’s why they attempted to close the passage: two Armenian tanks T-72 suddenly appeared on the road. They started firing at the people with machine-guns. Then, when the snow melted, there were found many dead bodies of women, children whose majority didn’t die of the fires, but of the frost as they were running in their night clothes. But in general, majority of the habitants of Kalbajar lost their lives as the result of Armenian bullets.
Occupation of Kalbajar region with the territory in 1936 sq. km. by armed groups of Armenians happened in convoy of mass inhuman crimes against local habitants. At the conclusion, 511 peaceful habitants of the region were killed, 321 were taken as captives or lost without any news. 55 soldiers died during fights at the territory of the region. 24279 children suffered from Armenian terror, 734 of them became to orphans. More than 500 industrial, trading buildings, enterprises of social supply and consumer services, 97 schools, 76 hospitals, 9 child gardens, 116 libraries, 43 clubs, 42 cultural houses, 13000 private houses were destroyed. Armenian bands robbed and burnt 132 habituated points, Kalbajar city, world-famous resort Istisu and other buildings, also many historical monuments having republic and worldly essence. They annihilated 37852 hectare forest, natural resources were robbed including rich deposits of gold, mercury, stone used in construction, peat, perlite, marble, jade, obsidian e. t. c. Also forest resources having 32774 hectare area, all flora and fauna of the region were destroyed or robbed. 53340 habitants of Kalbajar became to IDP and were temporarily settled in 59 regions of the country. According to preliminary counting, the region harmed material damage in amount of one billion 774 million dollars.
UN Security Council adopted resolution № 822 on 30 April 1993 related with occupation of Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan by Armenia. The mentioned resolution required Armenians to stop all military activities and immediately drive out their powers from Kalbajar and other occupied regions of Azerbaijan. By the way, the underlined international organization also adopted 3 more resolutions (№ 853, № 874, № 884) in 1993. And all of them is being ignored today and not executed by Armenia with baseless stubbornness. The most egregious moment in this problem is that the UN is considered to be the most authoritative international organization on the Earth and it calmly tolerates ignore of its resolutions and absolutely doesn’t take any measure against Armenia – the occupier country which neglects its resolutions. Besides, on the contrary to the existing principals of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations, Armenia continues realizing illegal settlement of Armenian people at the territories of Kalbajar and other invaded regions.
It should be mentioned that the fact of participation of Armenia and its armed forces in Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and in the invasion of Kalbajar region, was confirmed also in compilation of non-governmental organization “Human Rights Watch/Helsinki” “Azerbaijan. Seven years of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh” (New-York, 1994, p. 67-73).
No doubt that Kalbajar and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia will be liberated from the aggressor, peaceful habitants of these wonderful lands will return to home, and the enemy will meet the deserved punishment. And if the world society doesn’t do it, then Azerbaijan will do it itself, because it has full right for all these.
G. ZEYNALOGLU,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Armenia before storm
The present year is special one for Armenia and Armenian nation for several points. It is related with the sixth presidential elections in the country. The underlined event has to have direct relation with any citizen of the republic, because the present hard situation which the country is in, concerns every person. Exactly this factor was the main catalyzer of the real stormy situation in Armenia.
It should be mentioned that according to conclusions made by Central Election Commission of Armenia, at “election” of the leader of the country organized on 18 February of the present year, as if 58.64% electors (861373 votes) supported the existing leader of republic, head of the leading Republic party Serj Sarkisyan. His main rival at elections – Californian, former minister for external affairs and leader of the opposite party “Heritage” Raffi Ovanisyan collected 36.74% votes (539693), and the rest 5 candidates collected from 2.15 to 0.42% votes.
Double inauguration in Armenian
According to existing rules, new-elected president starts executing his authorities after inauguration ceremony. Inauguration of S. Sarkisyan – as if the elected president of Armenian for the second term, was organized on 9 April of the present year. The ceremony, in difference with the previous ones, happened in Erevan Sport-concert complex named after Karen Damirchiyan – the largest hall in the country.
As mass media informed, many high-ranked officials from 20 countries, nearly 60 foreign delegations, ambassadors, deputies of National Council of Armenia took part as guests. Also there was Russian delegation under leadership of the chairman of the presidential administration of Russia Sergey Ivanov. Also “the great friend” of Armenia, general secretary of Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolai Borduzha, president of International chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, deputy general secretary of NATO Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovich, minister for external affairs of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi, minister for culture of Georgia Sirane Adisharia, counselor of the president of Georgia over problems of national minorities Van Baiburd, deputy minister over civil problems of China Gu Chazhosi and others took part. Former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and “president” of the separatist regime of Karabakh Bako Saakyan, also other high-ranked officials of Armenia were invited to the ceremony too.
Due to traditions, S. Sarkisyan said the words of oath and swore, putting his hand on the Constitution of Armenia and Bible. Then the Catholicons of all Armenians Garegin Second read the pray about blessing the activity of the elected president, after which the president made a speech which we will touch below. But now we have to mention that the ceremony was very dimly and caused any special affection on neither the Armenian society, nor the whole world. It is enough just to pay attention that on the contrary with existence of many foreign guests, there wasn’t any president of neighbor or other countries among them. At the same time, there was organized “the inauguration of New Armenia” by the leader of “Heritage” party. This is the moment of holding of two inauguration ceremonies in one country at the same time – really new matter which was observed firstly in Armenia.
Chattering by “illegal” and “legal” presidents
So, Armenia appeared in confusion: if there were organized two inauguration ceremonies, it meant that there were two presidents in the country. And each of them considers themselves “legal” and another one “illegal” although both of them are illegal.
S. Sakisyan, “invading” the presidential post for the second term, due to his manner of occupier and being considered illegal by the majority of Armenian population, boasted of “the gained successes” for his first term of presidency at his speech in the ceremony, touching “some existing problems” including immigration, unemployment, poorness, and promised Armenia gold hills in the following five years as “I’ll do everything that these expectations and requirements would be realized”.
Of course, he also gave a place to Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in his speech where he again hinted at Azerbaijan as always: “Compulsion, violence, intimidation, war – it is the description of our rival in real. The realities which they force their nation, want force us too. We refused these conditions and will never adopt them… We suggested to our neighbor the peace based on humane costs. But the practices showed that they weren’t ready for recognition this suggestion. Much they create hard conditions for us, we stand more and more strong. And it will be clearer…”
How much does a person must have impudence that he would tell lie to his nation shamelessly? Which lucks in economic, political, social spheres can the president of the country talk about which is at the first place in the list of the poorest countries of the world? What “suggestion about peace” and “based on humane costs” does he talk about?
Ovanisyan, not accepting the presidency of S. Sarkisyan and stating himself as the president, making a speech in the meeting, named Sarkisyan’s oath “false and impudent” as he considered that Armenian nation had elected him as the president, but not Sarkisyan. As Armenian mass media informed, participants of the meeting were delivered samples of the constitution which all the participants swore on symbolizing “return of powers to nation”.
R. Ovanisyan called everyone to raise the Constitution and repeat the oath after him: “In the name of faith and Motherland, I, the citizen of Armenia, today refuse my connection with existing illegal powers, I state that I don’t recognize the false powers, false laws and illegal orders, I’m provided with my right which is defended by Constitution and don’t afraid, I’m not sold out, I won’t give up. We – citizens of Fourth Republic of Armenia, swear for dreams of our grandfathers, our future children and Constitution that we will fight, we will fight with love, belief and respect, we won’t stop fighting, we will give hope and power to each other and will win”.
Armenia in position of stormy sea
As the Armenian press informs, approximately 15 thousand people took part at the meeting organized by R. Ovanisyan in the square of Liberty against inauguration of “the false president”. It should also be mentioned that this isn’t the first and it seems, won’t be the last great meeting of population who are not satisfied of results of the presidential elections. Armenia has been in the situation of stormy sea since March, 2008 – beginning from the previous presidential elections. By the way, results of the same elections, making Serj Sarkisyan the president of Armenia, were accepted by major people as faked. Mass meetings of protest of followers of Ter-Petrosyan, not recognizing the results of elections, turned into clash between police and the opposition on 1 March 2008 and at the conclusion 10 persons died and more than 200 were wounded. Date of the first inauguration of Sarkisyan coincided with the day of mourning for the dead that was stated after 40 days. Parallel to the inauguration ceremony, the opposition was holding mourning meeting.
As the end of the meetings of the opposition in Erevan held on 9 April of this year, the participants wished to realize their plan about making march towards the presidential administration, but they were forbidden to walk in streets leading to resident of the president and building of parliament. When the police didn’t let Ovanisyan go to street leading to presidential administration, he struck curses in address of the powers which after there was happened fracas between representatives of the opposition and police and as the result, tens of participants of the meeting get wounded in different levels. R. Avonisyan also lost his balance and fell down.
And the activist Vardges Gaspari organized unusual meeting of protest in the entrance of the sport-concert complex named after Karen Damirchiyan where the inauguration of S. Sarkisyan would be organized. He wore bag in his head and, closing his face, lied down on the ground and put on face the image of father of a common policeman Tigran Abragyan who died on 1 March 2008 during the forcible crackdown of followers of the candidate for presidency Levon Per-Tetrosyan.
Abgaryan’s father died in 2011 when he was 62 years old. As his relatives say, he had problems with his heart after the death of the son.
Yes, it isn’t clear when and how this storm will end. But one moment is clear: this way will lead it to the bitter end.
G. JABRAYILLI,
“Voice of Karabakh”