YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Yeghishe Ishkhanian’s book "Nagorno Karabakh 1917-20" can be considered an original source. The events that took place in Nagorno Karabakh early this century are depicted so vividly that we have nothing to do but draw lessons from them–noted speakers at the presentation of the book held September 28 at the Armenian National Library.
The author of the book was head of the Nagorno Karabakh government in 1917-20 and left for Persia in 1920 where he carried out great work in the local Armenian community. Later–he went to the US where he died in 1975. Ishkhanian had only two of his articles published before he died. A year before his death–Ishkhanian handed all his papers–including the material that was used for the book–to Hrachya Abrahamian–who–implementing the author’s will–did not published the materials for a long time. At last–Abrahamian decided to publish the book.
"The book Nagorno Karabakh 1917-20 is a king of diary," Abrahamian said. "The events that took place in Nagorno Karabakh at the beginning of the century are depicted here in detail."
Pointing out that the book is of great historical value–the historian–Academician Hrachik Simonian stressed that the reminiscences of other figures of Nagorno Karabakh must be published without fail–which will shed new light on the events that took place early this century.
The book was published with the sponsorship of Managing Secretary of the Commission for the 1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity as a State Religion in Armenia Archbishop Mesrop Ashjian and Diasporan Armenia’s Harry and Alice Sachaklians.