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Index

Armenia

The Urartu Civilisation

Victory for Independence

Artashisian Dynasty on the Armenian Throne

Armenia caught between Rome and the Arsacids

The Acceptance of Christianity

Defending Christianity

Armenia Under the Bagratouni Dynasty

Cilicia - the New Armenia

Armenia Under Turanian Rule

The Renaissance or the Resurrection of Armenia

The Eastern Question

Russia in the Caucasus

The Armenian Question

Battle on Two Fronts

Tsarist Russia Against the Armenians

The Revolution of the Young Turks and the Armenian People on the Eve of World War I

The First World War

The Resurrection of Armenia

Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

- Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

Eastern Armenia

Western Armenia

"The Fateful Years" (1914-1917)

"Hopes and Emotions" (March-October, 1917)

The Bolshevik Revolution and Armenia

Transcaucasia Adrift (November, 1917

Dilemmas (March-April, 1918)

War and Independence (April-May, 1918)

The Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

The Suppliants (June-October, 1918)

In conclusion

Soviet Armenia

The Second Independent Republic of Armenia

Epilogue

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The Republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan

Many Georgian deputies of the now defunct Seim did not leave the chamber, for the Georgian National Council was to assemble there less than two hours later. Calling that meeting to order just before five o'clock, Council President Noi Zhordania welcomed the members and many honoured guests, among whom were Count von Schulenburg and ranking clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Zhordania recounted the events that had led that day to the death of one government and the imminent birth of another. Georgia was obliged to save herself from the present storm, he continued, and, having done so, would then assist others. The thousands of Armenians living in Georgia would be protected by the new republic, just as their forebears had been shielded by the Georgian kings. 10 Adhering to a very carefully prepared schedule, the National Council wasted no more time on words. Instead, immediately after his introductory remarks, Zhordania called for the reading of the act of Georgian independence. The seven-point declaration established an independent democratic republic, which was to pursue a neutral course during international conflicts, foster friendly relations with all neighbours, guarantee civil and political liberties for all citizens, and provide for the unhindered development of its component nationalities. 11 Unanimously acclaiming the act, the Georgian leaders approved the temporary cabinet nominated by the Council's Executive Committee. Noi Ramishvili became the Republic's first Minister-President and Minister of Internal Affairs, while Akaky Chkhenkeli, having already proved his competence, served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. 12 Georgia was on the road to salvation. German soldiers taken prisoner and interned in Georgia during the World War had already been released and were training in the courtyard of the Swedish Consulate. Immediately following the Georgian declaration of independence, General von Kress ordered these men to occupy strategic points in the city and to place pickets along the railway. The German flag was hoisted over Tiflis. 13

Minister-President Ramishvili then hastily departed by train for Poti. He was joined en route by Chkhenkeli and the other Georgians returning from Batum. In Poti, General von Lossow waited aboard the "Minna Horn," where, on May 28, the "Provisional agreement for the settlement of preliminary mutual relations between Germany and Georgia was signed. The Kaiser's government recognised the Republic and accorded it jurisdiction over an area up to the borders determined at Brest-Litovsk. Thus, the Turkish-coveted western districts of the Tiflis and Kutais guberniias were confirmed as integral parts of Georgia. In return, Germany was allowed to use of the railways, with permission to transport troops and material of all four Central Powers and to manage the railway stations and the port of Poti. Other articles provided for the exchange of diplomatic representatives and the conclusion of a formal treaty at the earliest possible date. 14 Supplementary agreements intended to satisfy the German desire for Georgian raw materials were also signed by Chkhenkeli, Nikoladze, Avalov, and several other national leaders sailed with von Lossow toward Constanta. The general had assured them that when they reached Berlin the German government would cooperate in efforts to gain Russian recognition of the Georgian Republic. 15 Hamo Ohandjanian and Arshak Zohrabian, arriving in Poti just before departure time, were also invited by von Lossow to join the company sailing for Berlin aboard the "Minna Horn." Once there, they could plead the Armenian case before more influential authorities. Armenia, shattered by invasion, teeming with refugees, and lacking readily raw materials, could not be given immediate German protection, but something might be gained in Berlin. 16

The Moslems of Transcaucasia were not perturbed by the demise of the Seim. Not acting as swiftly as the Georgians, the Moslem National Council convened in Tiflis on May 27 and endorsed a proposal to declare "Eastern and Southern Transcaucasia" an independent, sovereign, democratic state. The official act establishing the Republic of Azerbaijan was proclaimed on the following day. 17 The Tatars now became "Azerbaijanis." 18 For several reasons, they joined the most favourable position of the Transcaucasian peoples. There were not only the strongest numerically and the most widespread geographically, but they had nothing to fear from a Turkish invasion; on the contrary, they had much to gain. The suppression of Armenian armed bands, the assurance that Mountainous Karabakh would constitute part of Azerbaijan, and, above all, the deliverance of Baku, the Republic's natural capital, were dependent on Turkish benevolence and assistance. On June 2, Vehib Pasha reported to Enver that, in response to an Azerbaijani appeal, Turkish units would join in the struggle against the Bolsheviks. 19 Already Nuri Bey was in Ganja busily organising hundreds of irregulars into the "Army of Islam" to conquer Baku. In the middle of June, 1918, the Moslem National Council transferred from Tiflis to Ganja, the temporary capital of Azerbaijan, and with sanction of Nuri formed the Republic's cabinet, headed by Fathali Khan Khoisky. 20 From June through September, the gaze of the government and its Ottoman ally was to be concentrated eastward upon the Apsheron Peninsula.