Details of 'Mutual Understanding' Leaked

A friend just forwarded to me a link to an article which lists several points that were validated between the Turkish and Armenian authorities last week in the agreement of "mutual understanding." Below is the complete article published by Trend News:

The "road map" which was signed between Turkey and Armenia on April 23 has been divulged, the Turkish SABAH newspaper reported. The "road map" comprises 5 paragraphs:

Armenia must accept the Kars agreement which was signed between Turkey and former USSR in 1921.

A joint commission of historians must be formed to investigate Armenians "genocide" claims and the third country can join the commission.

The Armenia-Turkey borders will be open and relevant documents will be signed to launch trade relations.

Direct diplomatic relations will be established when Armenia and Turkey accredit their ambassadors to Georgia to Ankara and Yerevan.

Parliament will directly discuss the issues of the "road map" which must be confirmed by any legislative body.

According to SABAH newspaper, although the document does not comprise the Karabakh issue, the two countries' approaching will take place simultaneously with ways of the conflict settlement.

In a nut shell the Treaty of Kars defined the modern day borders of Armenia, nullifying the expansive borders of the envisioned greater Armenia devised by US President Woodrow Wilson in the Treaty of Sevres. Within those boundaries were several Western Armenian lands and an ample border with the Black Sea in the Trebizond region. 

You can find the entire text of the Treaty of Kars here.

Below is some background information that I happened to find about the Treaty of Kars written by Dr. Andrew Andersen, who is heads the Center for Military and Strategic Studies (CMSS):

The Soviet-Turkish borders established as a result of the wars of Sept./1920 – March/1921 were adjusted and confirmed by the treaty of Kars signed by the representatives of Turkey and the four Soviet republics of Russian federation, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan on October 13, 1921. According to the provisions of the treaty of Kars, the treaties of Sevres and Alexandropol were denounced and both the Turkish and Armenian sides agreed to forgive each other all the “military crimes and mistakes” committed by their representatives during all the wars, conflicts and ethnic cleansings of 1915-1920. The treaty of Kars left Turkey with most of the territories conquered during the Turkish-Armenian war and the Soviet-Turkish war against Georgia. Turkey re-gained almost all the territories lost to the Russian Empire during Russo-Turkish war of 1[8]78, except northern half of Achara, with the towns of Artvin, Ardahan, Olty, Sarykamysh, Kaghyznman and Kars. Turkey was also granted the large part of the former Yerevan province to the south of Araxi river with the town of Ighdyr and the mountain of Ararat (the national symbol of Armenia). The latter territory had never been a part of Turkey, except a short period between 1724 and 1735. In turn, Turkey returned the area of Alexandropol to Soviet Armenia and dropped all the claims to Sharur-Naxcivan-Ordubad area under the condition that the area is not to be incorporated into Armenia but becomes a Muslim-dominated autonomy within Azerbaijani SSR.

The above territorial losses were and still are regarded by many Armenians as a national catastrophe, and the borders as defined by the treaty of Kars, are far from been fair from the point of view of Armenian nationalists many of whom still consider the treaty of Sevres as the basis for the resolution of Turkish-Armenian conflict.

By agreeing to recognize the current border (whether informally or formally is not exactly clear) Serge Sarkisian can now be legitimally considered as working against the interests of the entire Armenian nation by not securing its collective consent. If this border is the final accepted one, it will mean the virtual death of the Armenian cause, including the demand of Turkey's recognition for having committed genocide, and any hopes of ever reclaiming the historical Armenian lands will be completely lost.

Notes From Hairenik strongly condemns this agreement between the Turkish and Armenian governments. President Serge Sarkisian and Prime Minister Edward Nalbandian must be held accountable for their actions in refusing to consult with the Armenian people and hearing the Armenian nation's reactions to the proposals contained in the agreement before they were validated. The principles of this agreement were apparently leaked to the Turkish press before they were signed, but the Armenian authorities have yet to reveal their true intentions to the Armenian people. Furthermore, Turkey should in no way be allowed to act as a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. The actions of the Armenian authorities demonstrate both cunning and cowardice on their part by withholding vital information concerning the statehood and future of the Armenian nation.

These are dangerous times. The Armenian people have to wake up. Genocide continues, it clearly never ended.