THE COURSE OF THE RESTORATION OF INTERSTATE RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA AFTER THE DECEMBER 1918 WAR
After the declaration of independence of the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Georgia in May 1918 the establishment of good-neighborly relations was not an easy task, which was due to the consequences of unsolved territorial-border disputes. Although at the beginning of June 1918 the two states undertook attempts to solve existing controversies by means of negotiations, their dialogue was never obtained.
In autumn 1918 the Ottoman government began to withdraw its military contingents from the Borchalu district of the Tbilisi province. This was followed by the entrance of Armenian forces to the Southern Lori district leaded by Drastamat Kanayan in October 1918. The Georgians were surprised which culminated in the diplomatic confrontation between Armenia and Georgia for about a month and a half, culminating in the war in December 13. The representatives of Entente in Transcaucasia undertook measures in order to stop the military operations. The sessions of Armenian-Georgian conference with the participation of the Allies began in January 9. The Armenian-Georgian peace conference was completed in January 16; under the pressure of the Allies it temporarily «arranged» the territorial disputes between Armenia and Georgia in regard to Borchalu and Akhalkalak. In was decided to move Akhalkalak into the Georgian jurisdiction, and the turn Lori liberated by Armenian forces into the neutral section, under control of the Allies, despite the fact that Armenia was successful in the war. The resolution of the conference was signed in January 22.
Although after the conclusion of the January 1919 conference it would seem that the relations between Armenia and Georgia were regulated, in reality the disputed problems remain unsolved for several weeks.
The restoration of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Georgia was not an easy task. During the following months the governments of Armenia and Georgia express their readiness to solve the existing problems by means of negotiations, not by force, which was an important achievement for two peoples. Anyway, in regard to existing disputes, mostly territorial, between Armenian and Georgian politicians was never achieved visible progress.
After the declaration of independence of the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Georgia in May 1918 the establishment of good-neighborly relations was not an easy task, which was due to the consequences of unsolved territorial-border disputes. Although at the beginning of June 1918 the two states undertook attempts to solve existing controversies by means of negotiations, their dialogue was never obtained.
In autumn 1918 the Ottoman government began to withdraw its military contingents from the Borchalu district of the Tbilisi province. This was followed by the entrance of Armenian forces to the Southern Lori district leaded by Drastamat Kanayan in October 1918. The Georgians were surprised which culminated in the diplomatic confrontation between Armenia and Georgia for about a month and a half, culminating in the war in December 13. The representatives of Entente in Transcaucasia undertook measures in order to stop the military operations. The sessions of Armenian-Georgian conference with the participation of the Allies began in January 9. The Armenian-Georgian peace conference was completed in January 16; under the pressure of the Allies it temporarily «arranged» the territorial disputes between Armenia and Georgia in regard to Borchalu and Akhalkalak. In was decided to move Akhalkalak into the Georgian jurisdiction, and the turn Lori liberated by Armenian forces into the neutral section, under control of the Allies, despite the fact that Armenia was successful in the war. The resolution of the conference was signed in January 22.
Although after the conclusion of the January 1919 conference it would seem that the relations between Armenia and Georgia were regulated, in reality the disputed problems remain unsolved for several weeks.
The restoration of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Georgia was not an easy task. During the following months the governments of Armenia and Georgia express their readiness to solve the existing problems by means of negotiations, not by force, which was an important achievement for two peoples. Anyway, in regard to existing disputes, mostly territorial, between Armenian and Georgian politicians was never achieved visible progress.
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