Global crisis shook one of the main Azerbaijani economy sectors — oil industry, however “misinformation industry” still exists and moreover it flourishes.

Firstly, Azerbaijan convinced its readers that Armenian writer and public figure Zori Balayan in his “Resurrection” monograph supposedly tells about Armenian violence towards Azerbaijani prisoners (this book never existed), then they got at the roots of the publishing house named Vanadzor (surprisingly it does not exist either). Secondly, Azerbaijani authorities flared up tension spreading rumors that “Hayastan” Hungarian Armenians organization demands to execute the officer Ramil Safarov in Yerevan (there is no such organization in Hungary). The fact that Armenia appeared in world map in May, 1918 is not even worth commenting. Eventually, Azerbaijan started studying New York Times archive.

On March 29, 2009 Day.az published a real masterpiece of Azerbaijani information or better to say misinformation war. New York Times publication of August 4, 1920 available in Azerbaijani website was aimed at proving that Karabakh and Zangezur (South region of Armenia, bordering with Karabakh) were parts of Azerbaijan in 1918-1920. “There appeared another historical proof of the belonging of these regions to the Azerbaijan People's Republic in 1918-1920 and recognition of the said fact by the world community,” Day.az reports, referring to Near East Relief US humanitarian organization press release published in US bulletin.

Well, what did Near East Relief actually report? It reads: “Armenian populated Karabakh and Zangezur regions were not under Armenia’s control, as they were separated from the Armenian republic due to the lack of roads and any means of communication.” That’s it. I wonder which sentence of this text indicates “historical proof” of these regions’ belonging to Azerbaijan that Day.az is speaking about. To tell the truth, the word ‘Azerbaijan’ is not mentioned in the press release at all.

It stands to reason that in 1918-20 communication system was not really developed, mountainous regions were difficult to be ruled by Armenian Government, and temporary commissars with certain autonomy from Yerevan were authorized to govern the region. The Head of Zangezur Garegin Ter Harutyunyan (Garegin Nzhdeh) retained power till July 1921, while Soviet regime was already established in Yerevan. Chronologically Zangezur became the last spot in South Caucasus map that Soviet regime was established in. Bolsheviks did not forgive Nzhdeh’s steadfastness and he was arrested in 1943 in Bulgaria and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Nevertheless, let’s go back to The New York Times archive.

The articles from July 18, 1856 are scanned and available on U.S. Congress Library and other websites. Searching system can find all the articles of New York Times on the necessary subject for mentioned period. It can be affirmed that typing the word “Karabakh” Azerbaijani side found the mentioned article. It is difficult to search anything on the site another way.

Spending several days in the library, one can definitely state that there is no article in the archive that mentions Karabakh, Zangezur and Nakhichevan to be the parts of Azerbaijan in any historical period. Once Baku finds this document, they will immediately use it as a means of propaganda.

What did The New York Times write about Karabakh region in 1918-1921?

July 26, 1920 article titled “Bolsheviki marching to join the Turks” reads: “Considerable Russian Bolshevist forces, chiefly cavalry, are overrunning the Karabagh district of Armenia, known as the ‘Black Garden,’ apparently with the purpose of joining the Turkish Nationalists.”

March 17, 1918 article about 19th century Russian-Persian and Russian-Turkish wars reads: “…Armenian regions Kars, Erivan and Karabakh are joined to Russia.”

July 19, 1919 U.S. Air Force Major Joseph Greene reports from Tiflis: “Turks and Tatars are advancing towards Karabakh and Alagez. The considerable part of Russian Armenia is occupied. Armenian Government called for military mobilization.”

July 16, 1921 during the revolt against Bolsheviks in Armenia, New York Times writes: “Radiogram from Armenian Cabinet Chairman Simon Vratsian reports: Bolsheviks are defeated and all the country from Karabakh to Alagez, that is the territory not under Turkish occupation, is controlled by Armenian Government.”

We can go on with examples.

Obviously, the above mentioned publications could not be skipped by Azerbaijani expert working in the archive. However laying aside many articles of US newspaper with information about Karabakh, Azerbaijani side chose and promoted the press release with the “proof of the belonging of these regions to the Azerbaijan” (Azerbaijan is not even mentioned). It is nothing but deliberate fallacy of Azerbaijani society.

While searching the articles on Azerbaijan one can make an interesting discovery. No article of US newspaper before 1918 contains the geographical name “Azerbaijan”, as an area that we today refer to as Republic of Azerbaijan. Till 1918 Azerbaijan was implied as North part of Persia, not Apsheron, let alone Karabakh. The word ‘Azerbaijanian’ is not used at all. The newspaper writes about Caucasian Tatars or more generally — Muslims.

But, certainly Day.az hidden this fact.

References:

1. http://www.azeriunited.com/content/blogcategory/21/52/lang,english/

2 “Hayastan organization demands Ramil Safarov to be executed in Yerevan”, “Ekho” 17.02.2005

3. “Bolsheviks marching to join the Turks”, “New York Times”, July 26, 1920.

4. “New situation in Turkey”, 17.03.1918, “New York Times”

5. “Turkish army moves to destroy the Armenians”, 31.07.1919, “New York Times”

6. “Greeks said to plan new drive on Turks”, by Edwin James, “New York Times”. 16.03.1921

Haykaram Nahapetyan