YEREVAN–On the anniversary date of the Treaty of Moscow–signed on March 16–1921 between Soviet Russia and the Turkish government in Ankara–the National Council of Nakhichevan Armenia’s held a special meeting in Yerevan–attended by prominent political–cultural and academic figures–as well as representatives of Armenian political parties.
The meeting approved two documen’s to be sent to the Russian State Duma and the president of the (Majlis) Parliament of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. Also it was decided to send copies of the letter to the Majlis of Nakhichevan–to the Mejlis of Azerbaijan and to the UNESCO presidency as well.
In the first case–the National Council recommended the Duma consider null clauses of the said treaty pertaining to the Armenia’s.
In its appeal to the Nakhichevan parliament–the council proposes cooperation for the realization of this effort.
After a detailed historic overview–the appeal to the Russian Duma says–"Today–about 400,000 Armenia’s of Nakhichevan–deported to the Republic of Armenia and to many countries of the world–are deprived not only from the right of resettlement on the land of their ancestors–but also from the right and possibility of visiting the dwellings–the churches–the monumen’s and the cemeteries built by them."
The appeal goes on to suggest that "The Russian Federation–being the legal inheritor of Soviet Russia which forcibly annexed the Nakhichevan region to Azerbaijan by an illegal and illegitimate treaty–bears direct responsibility for that obvious injustice."
In conclusion–the National Council Of Nakhichevan Armenia’s "appeals–as the representative body of Nakhichevan Armenia’s– to the Russian State Duma to declare null & void articles related to Armenia and embodied in the illegal Russo-Turkish Treaty of Moscow of March 16–1921–signed under the name `Friendship and Brotherhood’. These articles hinder the fortification of the Armenian-Russian friendship–the establishment of confidence and sincere comprehension between the peoples of the two countries."
Council chairman Raphael Hambartsoumian–in his letter to the Nakhichevan parliament–urged the convention of a meeting to discuss various issues on cooperation including trade between Armenia and Nakhichevan.
"The National Council of Nakhichevan Armenia’s pursue to revive the trade between the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and the Republic of Armenia–so that villagers of the Autonomous Republic can sell their goods in the Republic of Armenia," read the appeal.
"As it is known–the Christian World is celebrating this year the 2000th anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ–and the Armenian people will celebrate next year the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as state religion in Armenia. On these occasions–the National Council of Nakhijevan Armenia’s intends to organize pilgrimages to the churches and holy places in the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic– beginning from the summer of this year," informed the letter
The letter also calls on Nakhichevan authorities to work together with the council and list all Armenian monumen’s which can be visited during pilgrimages to the area.