Ingilizce Kitap Tiresiz

TURKISH – ARMENIAN RELATIONS (1918-2008) M. Serdar PALABIYIK* Yıldız DEVECİ BOZKUŞ** Introduction he relations of Turkey with Armenia, is a rarely studied subject in the Tliterature, in general. When speaking of the relations between the two countries, the first thing that often comes to mind is the Armenian “genocide” claims, which has resulted in the undermining of the political, economic and socio-cultural dimensions of the Turkish-Armenian relations. Recently, during the period when the “genocide” claims have frequently been put in front of Turkey, Turkish-Armenian relations, especially the last ten years, has become a subject of study and some articles have been published on this issue. Nevertheless, the publications, especially concerning the relations in the early years of the establishment of Armenian Republic, have remained limited. This article is written to examine the relations between Turkey and Armenia as a whole and to analyze how these countries perceive and assess each other. In doing this, the structure of the problems between the two countries, including the “genocide” issue, and the proposals for a solution that have been developed throughout the years are examined without ignoring the roles of different political actors in foreign policy making. In other words, the aim of this article is to chronologically analyze the relations of Armenia with Turkey since the year 1918 when the Armenian state first gained its independence until today. The article is mainly composed of four parts. In the first part, the direct relations of Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) – the short-lived state that appeared on the historical scene – and the indirect relations established with Turkey after it fell under Soviet control (1920-1991) is examined. This is followed by the second part where Turkish-Armenian relations in the period of Levon Ter- Petrossian (1991-1998), the first President of the State of Armenia that again * Research Assistant, Middle East Technical University, Department of International Relations ** Coordinator, TRT External Broadcasting Divison, Multi-Language Channel Department 231 TURKISH – ARMENIAN RELATIONS (1918-2008) became an independent republic, are analyzed. The third part, which is the focal point in the article, constitutes an examination of the course of relations between the two countries in the period of Robert Kocharian, who has occupied the seat of the Armenian Presidency after Ter-Petrossian. In the final part, Turkey- Armenia relations during the period of Serzh Sarkisyan’s Presidency (2007 and after) is analyzed. As it is stated above, the article will continue in a chronological structure. However, from time to time, different dimensions of the relations between the two countries will be displayed with thematic subsections. This chronological classification is made by considering Armenian history, not Turkish history; while Turkish foreign policy with regard to Armenia exhibits continuation despite some nuances, it is possible to observe a relative differentiation with regard to political factors, especially in the Armenian Republic’s foreign policy for Turkey. Emphasis of this differentiation will be extremely useful for a better understanding of the course of relations between the two countries. This article does not claim to make a detailed analysis of all the events within this long time period. While some issues are excluded since they are not well- suited for the general course of the article, some issues are merely examined narrowly when emphasizing some periods or themes. If the transformations experienced in the relations between the two countries can be generally presented to the reader, then it can be said that this article achieves its purpose. 1. The Historical Background of the Turkish-Armenian Relations: From the Democratic Republic of Armenia to the Independence of Armenia (1918-1991) When examining Turkish-Armenian relations, it will be useful to return to the era of the first independent Armenian Republic rather than starting immediately from 1991 and to examine the historical background of the relations between the two countries by departing from this point in order to understand the subject better. For this reason, in this part, Turkish-Armenian relations from 1918 to 1991 will be analyzed on the basis of the relations of the independent governments of Armenia and the subsequent Soviet administration with Turkey. The Russian government, which was established after the October Revolution that had started in 1917 and had abolished the Tsarist regime in Russia, aimed to institute control in the periphery regions after it had gained control at the center. Within this regard, a mission that was composed of three delegates who were representing the three communities of the region (Turkish, Armenian, and Georgian) was sent to Caucasus.1 Meanwhile, the peoples of the region, who perceived the turmoil that was created as a result of the October Revolution as an opportunity, attempted to establish independent states. The convening of the Armenian National Assembly in 1917 September was one of the 1 This mission was composed of Babajanian from Armenian origin, Chengeli from Georgian origin, and Caferof from Turkish origin. See Esat Uras, Tarihte Ermeniler ve Ermeni Meselesi, İstanbul: Belge Yayınları, 1998, p. 639. 232 M. Serdar PALABIYIK - Yıldız DEVECİ BOZKUŞ examples of these independence movements. However, the revolutionaries did not initially allow for independence and established an administrative structure in the region under the name of the Caucasus Executive Assembly. They tried to prevent these separatist movements by giving the right of representation to the three major communities living in the region. The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was proclaimed with the establishment of this Assembly. After the proclamation of this state, a government was established among the Caucasus Executive Assembly where five of the ministers were Georgian, three were Armenian, and three were Turkish.2 Following the Russian peace proposal to the Ottoman State to quit the war, the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was signed with this state on 3 March 1918 and the Ottoman State took Kars, Ardahan, Batum and Erzurum back from the Russians. This situation led to a great conflict between the three states that formed the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. Especially the Armenians were reacting against the silence of the other two communities by claiming that the territories which the Ottomans had taken back were theirs. As a result of this disagreement, the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was dissolved on May 1918 by seizing the opportunity while the revolutionaries were in conflict among themselves. Georgia and Azerbaijan declared independence on 26 May, and Armenia on 28 May. Thus, the Democratic Republic of Armenia, whose life lasted only in two years, was established. The Prime Minister of the Armenian Government, which was mainly composed of the Dashnaks, became Hovhannes Katchaznouni. Just after its establishment, Armenia began to come into conflict with almost all of its neighbors. It firstly attacked Georgia under the pretext of the border conflict in the Lori and Cevahati regions. When it was defeated, a ceasefire was signed between the two states with the mediation assistance of Britain. In 1919, Armenia attacked Azerbaijan this time and invaded the surroundings of Shusha; but the Azerbaijan army flung back the Armenians from the occupied territories in early 1920.3 Meanwhile the Ottoman State withdrew from Kars, Ardahan and Batum by signing the Armistice of Mudros in 1918. The Armenians seized this opportunity to attack Kars and Ardahan and capture them; they held the de facto control of the region for nearly one and a half years. Beginning from the summer of 1920, the Turkish forces under the command of Kazim Karabekir took action to put an end to the Armenian occupation. They took back Oltu on 3 September, Sarıkamış and Kağızman on 29 September; they surrounded Kars on 28 October. On 30 October they took Kars back. This was followed by the seizure of Gumru on 7 November. On 8 November, Armenians demanded peace from Kazım Karabekir who had set up his headquarters in Gumru. Following the peace negotiations that had started on 26 November, the Gumru Treaty was signed on the night between 2 and 3 December. According to 2 Uras, op. cit., p. 640. 3 Richard Hovannisian, “The Republic of Armenia.” In Richard Hovannisian (Ed.), Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Volume 2, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004, p. 318. 233 TURKISH – ARMENIAN RELATIONS (1918-2008) this treaty, the Kars region would be handed back to Turkey; all the agreements that Armenia signed with the other states against Turkey would be nullified; the line lying from Aras River to Çıldır Lake would be drawn as the Eastern border; the Armenian government would not accept the Treaty of Sèvres and the treaties which were contradictory to the Turkish interests; the Armenians in Turkey and the Muslims in Armenia would enjoy the equal rights like other citizens; diplomatic relations, telegraph and telephone communications would be established between the two countries at the earliest time; the Itur and Nakhcivan cities, to which local autonomy would be granted under the guardianship of Turkey, would determine their own destiny; Turkey would give military help to Armenia if Armenia was attacked and demanded help; Armenia would not import arms; both sides would not demand war

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