Azerbaijan-Ottoman Political and Military Relations (1917-1918)

Abstract

The focus of the following article consists in a discussion of the assistance supplied by the Ottomans to the Nahchivan, Zengezur and Karabagh regions of Azerbaijan. The acts of savagery committed by the Armenians against the Turco-Muslim peoples of Azerbaijan at the end of the year 1917 and the beginning of 1918 instigated the commencement of military operations by the Ottoman armed forces. The Accord of Friendship between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Azerbaijan signed on 4 June 1918 represented an important event and phase in the political-military relations between Azerbaijan and the Ottomans. Examination of Article Four of this agreement makes it apparent that the subject of political-military aid by the Ottoman Empire to Azerbaijan occupied a very place of prominence. The mission of the Ottoman military forces in Azerbaijan is characteristically labeled in Soviet historiography in a biased and contrary-to-factual manner as a "Turkish occupation." In point of fact, Ottoman military personnel arrived in Azerbaijan at the invitation of the national government and in conformity with certain agreements. They assisted the Azerbaijanis in preserving their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The value of this political and military assistance has been sufficiently appraised by Azerbaycan.