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Again in contrast to the former period, the idea of establishing a Confederation was
accepted as the most viable and realistic solution for the future of the Caucasus.
The ideal of the Confederation was now not only a word for coalescing the leaders
seeking a return to power, but it was the solution to the intractable internal
problems the region faced because of nationalism and religious differences.
In Paris, the representatives of the North Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia, in response to Bolshevik occupation, decided to form a kind of a platform
or unified body of structure.
329
In order to strengthen their positions in defending
their peoples’ rights, they drew up basic plans for the future Caucasian
Confederation and outlined methods of cooperation. They signed a declaration on
10 June 1921
330
and submitted it to the Secretariat of League of Nations on 6 July
via the representative of Georgia in Paris, in his name and the name of the
representatives of the three other Caucasian republics. The Secretary-General
communicated a copy of the Declaration to the Council and the members of the
League of Nations on 19 July 1921.
331
328
Haydar Bammat, 1936. “Türkiye ve Kafkasya,” Kafkas Almanağı, F. Daryal, eds., 70. Hereafter
Almanak.
329
See M. E. Resulzade, June/July 1952. “Kafkasya Meseleleri V: Kafkasya birliği fikri
muhacerette,” Kafkasya (Der Kaukasus), (Munich), 11/12: 5-9; and D. Vaçnadze, March/April
1953. “Hariçte Kafkasya Birliği Hareketi Tarihi I,” Birleşik Kafkasya (Vereinigtes Kaukasien),
(Munich), 3/4 (20/21): 9-11.
330
‘Declaration des representants des Republiques d’Armenie, d’Azerbaidjan, du Caucase du Nord
et de Georgie, Paris 10 Juin 1921’ signed by A. Aharonyan, A. M. Topçubaşı, A. Chermoev, A. I.
Chkhenkeli, the representatives of the republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, North Caucasus, and
Georgia respectively. See D. Vaçnadze, “Hariçte Kafkasya”.
331
Note by Secretary-General, League of Nations, 19 July 1921, on the alliance, enclosing
translation of declaration [FO 371/6273] in Caucasian Boundaries: Documents and maps 1802-
1946, 1996. In Anita L.P. Burdett, eds., Archive Editions, London: Oxford, 763-768. Hereafter
Caucasian Boundaries.
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This Declaration could be accepted as the first common manifesto of the
Caucasian peoples in which the basics of the state structure and policies were
clearly defined.
In this Declaration, the signing parties declared their desire to eliminate all
grounds of conflict which caused a discord in the current history of the region and
stressed their wish to establish an union to ensure the benefits of independence,
democratic government and economic prosperity for the peoples of the Caucasus.
The Declaration accepted that the establishment of a close and brotherly
union as absolutely essential for the consolidation of the independence of these
republics as well as enabling the Caucasus to act as a connecting link between West
and East, and between the Christian and Muslim worlds. Their common fate was
the main basis of the Union. In order to promote a degree of confidence among the
member nationalities, article IV of the Declaration, stated that the Caucasian
Republics would refrain from entering into any agreement, action or understanding
of an international character which might be prejudicial to this alliance. To secure
independence it proposed the formation of a defensive military alliance among the
confederate states against foreign aggression.
While little emphasis was put on common economic interests with a word,
significantly enough, the future promises and the relations with the foreign powers,
and especially the neighbouring states, Turkey, Russia and Persia (Iran) were
analyzed in detail.
In the article VII, the Confederation’s possible relations with Russia and
Iran were seen in terms of mutual economic and trade relations. In relations with
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Turkey, however, the demarcation of borders had precedence. In the article it was
stressed that:
“they attach equal importance to the establishment of friendly and
neighbourly relations with Turkey, the Caucasian Republics will endeavour,
by their joint efforts, to strengthen these relations, subject to Turkey’s
observing and respecting the inviolability of Caucasian territory as
constituted by the frontiers of 1914.”
332
The Confederation was thus made reference to the problems between the
Armenians and Turks. According to the declaration, this was one of the chief
obstacles to establishing a union of Caucasian states. Therefore, the declaration
accepted the solution of the problem as a condition for managing the establishment
of a true Confederation. The signing parties uttered that:
“[A] prompt and equitable territorial delimitation of Turkey and Armenia in
accordance with their mutual interests and within the limits of Turkey will
be guarantee for peace and quiet in the Near East, and that the strength and
very existence of the Caucasian Republics and of their Union will depend to
a large extent on this settlement, to which the Caucasian States will, by the
joint efforts, contribute.”
333
In article IX by contrast, both Russia and Turkey were defined as occupying
states and asked for all kinds of diplomatic means to put an end to this occupation.
All treaties and agreements on the ceding of territory forced on the Caucasian
States by neighbouring powers were regarded as having no legal force, and as
being null and void.
Nevertheless the atmosphere and the attitudes of the Great Powers at the
Paris Peace Conference did not favor small nationalities. Therefore, these demands
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Caucasian Boundaries, [FO 371/6273].
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