HASKELL-USUBBEYOV DISGRACEFUL “NEUTRAL ZONE” AGREEMENT AS OF AUGUST 29, 1919 AND THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Abstract

In the summer of 1919, the Armenian government tried to resolve the internal issue of
suppressing the divisive movements of the Turkish-Tatar population through diplomacy. On
that occasion, RA Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Khatisyan twice
addressed a telegram to the President of the Paris Assembly G. Clemenceau in August, 1919.
Soon after that, U.S. Army Colonel William Haskell, who was appointed High Commissioner
of Armenia on July 5, 1919 by the “Five Councils” of the Paris Assembly approved by G.
Clemenceau, arrived in Armenia. On August 23, 1919, W. Haskell left for Baku to settle the
Sharur-Nakhichevan issue with the Azerbaijani government. On August 29, 1919, without
consulting the Republic of Armenia, he signed a “Neutral Zone” Agreement consisting of 21
Articles on Sharur-Daralagez and Nakhichevan with the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Nasib
bey Usubbeyov, which completely contradicted his promises given to Armenians in Yerevan.
According to the Agreement, Zangezur, Nakhichevan and Sharur-Daralagez were handed over
to Azerbaijan. W. Haskell's comprehensible note was discussed in the RA Parliament and the
Government sittings of September 3 and 6, 1919. As a result, an Agreement was signed
between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, A. Khatisyan and N. Usubbeyov,
American Colonel James Ray, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Interim President of Georgia E.
Gegechkori on November 23, 1919 in Tbilisi.