The attached is my aided translation of two postings in ANI, Armenian Research Center about Khalil Pasha’s visiting Yerevan and the Holy See Etchmiadzin. The reports are reproductions of reports by the local Armenian press at the time, in 1918. The links of the original postings are attached below. Vahe H Apelian
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| Aram Manougian's residence where Khalil Pasha was received. |
“On the 30th of this month [August] at 10 o’clock, the commander of the Caucasian Front of the Ottoman Empire, Khalil Pasha, the diplomatic representative of the German Empire in the Caucasus, General Von Kress, and the representative of the Austrian diplomacy, Mr. Frankenstein, arrived here.
In honor of the distinguished guests, a ceremonial dinner was given by the Armenian government, which was attended by all the ministers, the Chairman of the Council of Armenia, A. Sahakyan, the representative of the government in Georgia, Jamalyan, the commandant of the city, Shahkhatuni, and others.
At 3 o’clock, the distinguished guests received breakfast, after which a dinner was held in the garden of the Orient Hotel. There was a military orchestra. Speeches of political importance were delivered by Khalil Pasha, Mr. Frankenstein, and General Von Kress. The dinner ended at 6:30, and as the distinguished guests were leaving the hotel, the crowd gathered at the door greeted Khalil Pasha and the other distinguished guests with thunderous cheers. Everyone dispersed in high spirits and full of hopes for the near future.
At 4:30 on Sunday afternoon, Khalil Pasha, accompanied by the Minister of Internal Affairs Aram Manukyan, his chief of staff, General D. Bek Pirumyan, the commandant of Yerevan Shahkhatuni, and other persons, came to visit His Holiness the Catholicos.
Before dinner, the conversation revolved around the refugees. His Holiness expressed a desire that the refugees be allowed to return to their places. Khalil Pasha replied that negotiations were underway with the Armenian government on this matter.
After drinking coffee, the guests, led by Bishops Mesrov and Zaven, looked at the antiquities of the monastery, after which they were invited to dinner. His Holiness proposed to drink Khalil Pasha's toast, wishing that good neighborly relations between the two neighboring peoples be restored and justice prevail.
In response to this toast, Khalil Pasha proposed to drink a toast to His Holiness the Catholicos... Khalil Pasha promised to do everything possible to alleviate the Patriarch's grief. After the toasts, a conversation took place on several issues.”
***
“The visit of the commander of the Turkish troops of the Caucasian Front, Khalil Pasha, to Yerevan has long been eagerly awaited. The reason for this wait is that the Armenian people expect not only words from their high-ranking guest, but also real steps that should improve Armenian-Turkish relations.
After the separation of the Transcaucasian Republic from Russia, Turkey twice violated the concluded treaty. Contrary to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, it resumed the war and occupied new parts of Armenian territory, contrary to the Treaty of Batumi, it still does not vacate the regions that are within the borders of the Republic of Armenia, and still does not allow the refugees to return to their places, to restore economic relations in neighboring countries.
These circumstances have created an unbearable situation for the Armenian people, in particular for the Republic of Armenia, these circumstances greatly hinder the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations.
We are convinced that the interests of the Armenian people require the establishment of normal, good-neighborly relations with neighboring nations, especially the Turkish people, we consider “foreign” policy to be absolutely harmful for the Armenian people. From this point of view, we are ready to forget everything that has happened in Turkey in recent years towards the Armenians. We are ready to sincerely extend our hand to the neighboring state. But, at the same time, we have the moral right to demand that the same be done towards us.
We owe the revival of Armenian statehood to Turkey, this very circumstance gives us the right to demand that the infant republic be placed in favorable conditions for its development. For this, it is necessary that the Armenian people be given enough territory for normal development. In other words, it is the desire of the Armenian people that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk be implemented as soon as possible. Then the Armenian people want our refugees to be finally allowed to return to their places, ensuring their lives and property, and for roads to be opened and economic relations to be resumed. It is with the implementation of all this that the Armenian people will sincerely resume good-neighborly relations with the Turkish people.
We are convinced that the Armenian people will in the nearest future take real steps in turn to show their neighbors that they are radically changing their policy.
All this cannot go unnoticed by the Turkish government, and since a prominent Turkish figure is coming to us under the current circumstances, the visit has political significance.
We are convinced that Turkey also considers it necessary to improve our relations and for this reason has sent its representative to us.
We can only wish that Khalil Pasha’s promises will be fulfilled as soon as possible. We welcome the visit of the representative of the Turkish government to the capital of Armenia as the first signal of the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations.”
Link 1: «Խալիլ [Կուտ] փաշայի այցը Երևան և Էջմիածին` Մայր Աթոռ․ 30 օգոստոս, 1918թ» -
Link 2: «Խալիլ փաշայի այցը Երևան 1918-ի օգոստոսի 30-ին. խմբագրական «Ժողովուրդ» թերթի» -
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