ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER DETERMINED BY WODROOW WILSON ARBITRATION AWARD
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.09.2007 15:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The interest is explained by the fact that
the emphasis was laid on history while the legal aspect was
quite forgotten. From 1918 to 1923 five treaties determined the
Armenian-Turkish border.
The Sevr Treaty was signed on 10 August, 1920. It was followed by the
Alexandropol Treaty (3 December, 1920), the Moscow Treaty (16 March,
1921), the Kars Treaty (13 October, 1921), and finally, the Lousanne
Treaty (24 July, 1923)," diplomat and historian Ara Papian said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.
"On the whole, international agreements may be signed by the subjects
of international law, i.e. by the legitimate government through its
plenipotentiary.
>From this stand, only the Sevr and Lousanne treaties are valid. The
Alexandropol Treaty was concluded at the time when Kemalists had
not come to power in Turkey while Dashnaktsutyun had already lost
the power. The Moscow and Kars treaties have no legal effect at all,
since they were signed by Kemalists, although Sultan was formally the
head of the state till 1923. By the way, on 11 May, 1920 the Turkish
tribunal demoted and sentenced to death General Mustafa Kemal (later
known as Kemal Ataturk). The court verdict was approved by the Sultan
on 24 May, 1920," he said.
"As to Soviet Russia, it has not been recognized by legitimate states
until 1 February, 1924. Thus, its signature is not valid either,"
he noted.
"As a matter of fact, the Sevr Treaty was not ratified. However, it
remains valid. The most important point is that the Armenian-Turkish
border was determined by the arbitration award of U.S.
President Wodroow Wilson. Not all remember that Armenia was among
the winners of the World War I and it put signature to the Sevr
Treaty. France, UK and Italy turned to President Wilson for arbitration
award. This award cannot be appealed. Signed on 22 November 1920,
it was conveyed to the Parisian Conference on 6 December, but
unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia was occupied by the 11th Red
Army on 3 December.
With proclaiming independence in 1991, Armenia has become a subject of
international law again. According to the arbitration award, Armenia
was entitled to receive 4 vilayets: Van, Bitlis, Erzrum and Trabzon,
which ensured outlet to the sea.
33 countries of the world have no outlet to the sea.
These are the states of Central Africa, a couple of states in South
America, several states in Eurasia and Armenia…" Ara Papian said.