Armenian Genocide is the issue of present and future

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).

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.

As to Soviet Russia, it has not been recognized by legitimate states until 1 February, 1924. Thus, its signature is not valid either.

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…

There is a habit to think that everything will go well after the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. It won't. Open border is just a result of normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations. I am confident that our Foreign Ministry has chosen the right way. Turkey says it recognized independent Armenia in 1992. However, it was de facto recognition only.

We should not forget about security issues either. If the border problem is settled in compliance with the arbitration award, Armenia can raise the issue of demilitarization of Turkey's near-border provinces, what supposes presence of international observers and exclusion of any aggression against Armenia.

The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railroad is a menace, since Turkey obtains the possibility to supply Azerbaijan with weapons. The greater is amount of armament in the region, the more possible is war. All are interested in stability in the region, except for Turkey, which hasn't identified itself so far and is terrified by the outlook to lose territories. The idea of territorial integrity, so artificially cherished by the government, will sooner or later lead to decline of the state.

The problem is not in the Genocide recognition but in Turkey's policy. Turks suffer from the guilt complex while Armenians cannot overcome the victim complex. The Turkish nation should mature for the Genocide recognition. We are neighbors and this fact is unchangeable. However, Turks deprived us of motherland and do not even allow us to visit it directly. Armenians should speak of all genocides and understand that it's not a historical issue but the issue of present and future. International pressure on Turkey will increase.

Presently, Turkey faces a choice: either to become a European state or remain as such, i.e dangerous for its neighbors. Nationalism proclaimed by Ataturk rests on the General Staff. On the other hand, Islamists do not share European values. Just go 200 km away from Istanbul and you will see Turkey living as if in the 19th century, not to mention the vilayets bordering with Armenia.

Strengthening and enlargement of Armenia is in the interests of Russia, the European Union and the U.S. Armenia can also play an important role in the Middle East. Being a Christian state it enjoys respect of Muslim states, of Saidu Arabia for example. We can be civilizing mediators between East and West.