Today marks the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres for peace between the Allies and Turkey.
The Treaty of Sèvres is the only treaty signed by both Turkey and the Republic of Armenia, with the free will of the Armenian side. Not only does the Treaty of Sèvres recognize Turkey as responsible for its war crimes, it also demands that Turkey take steps to facilitate the process of punishing those directly involved in the crime. The Treaty also demands that Turkey repeal the 1915 Abandoned Property laws and the supplementary provisions thereof, compelling it to return all confiscated properties to individual or community owners. Finally, the Treaty of Sèvres provides a legal basis for the arbitration appeal to US President Woodrow Wilson to determine the Armenia-Turkey border.
For the past 100 years, Turkey has continued and continues to deny its crime against humanity, the Armenian Genocide. Not only has Turkey avoided and continue to avoid responsibility for the crime and its consequences, it also continues to treat Armenia as an enemy since the republic’s 1991 independence, and in recent days it has intensified its belligerent rhetoric against Armenia, Artsakh and Armenians in general through threats of possible military aggression.
The Treaty of Sèvres is a valid international treaty. Although it has not been ratified by all signatories, it has not been legally replaced by any other international instrument. At least from the point of view of the Armenian Cause, and the interests of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation, it remains a legal obligation based on international law, compelling it to return all confiscated properties to individual or community owners.
Moreover, the arbitral award of the President of the United States of America Woodrow Wilson, published on November 22, 1920, continues to be the only international document delineating the legal border between Armenia and Turkey.
100 years after the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres, the Republic of Turkey continues to show hostility towards the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people. Until Turkey fulfills its obligations under the provisions contained in the Treaty of Sèvres based on international law, Turkey is obliged to:
a. End the 27-year illegal land blockade of the Republic of Armenia
b. Stop its aggressive steps against Armenia, especially recently
c. Stop its anti-Armenian policies within Turkey – including on our historic and occupied lands – or outside, against the Armenian diaspora formed as a result of the Genocide
We are confident that the day will come when, as the author and perpetrator of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey will have to bear its responsibility and compensate all losses of the Armenian people.
We declare that as in the past also in the future we, in cooperation with other Armenian political forces, and especially with the Republic of Armenia, will continue our struggle until the restoration of historical justice.
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Central Committee
Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramkavar) Central Committee
August 10, 2020
What is the point mentioning about Sèvres Treaty or Kars Treaty, or any other Treaty, when Armenian Organizations and Armenian Government hasn’t done anything about it, for example, by applying to international Court to get justice or demand our lands per all this Treatise.
Republic of Armenia MUST insist for Russia to withdraw all Soviet Era treaties with the Turks and Azeries and officially make a territorial claim against Turkey. It’s time for Russians to stop playing both sides of the fence at the expense of the Armenian Nation. At the same time, Armenia needs to ask the Europeans and the Americans to establish military bases in Armenia as deterrent to Turks and Azeries.
Why so far NATO has not kicked out Turkey out the alliance and instead started a new chapter of partnership with Russia remains to be another puzzling question! The enemy of the Western Civilization and Eastern Europeans is the Islamist Nationalist Turkey and other similar fanatical countries like Pakistan.
Well said, Ari. All Soviet-era agreements with Turkey must be denounced.