Kars treaty played crucial role in Armenian people's history. If the document becomes agenda issue for parliament discussions and is ratified by RA National Assembly, Armenia can no longer set territorial claims towards Turkey, Edward Minasyan, Dean of YSU History Department, told a news conference today. "The Kars Treaty mainly reiterated the clauses of the 1921 Moscow Treaty. Under the Treaty of Kars, Armenia lost major part of its territory, including the Kars province and Surmalu. The latter never belonged to Turkey," the historian stressed.

According to Edward Minasyan, Kars treaty contains several clauses pertaining to Armenian-Turkish interests. "Under the treaty, Armenia lost 24 thousand sq. m. of its territory. Nakhichevan became an autonomous republic under Azerbaijan's protectorate. Besides, the document stipulates for Armenia's denunciation of Sevre Treaty. The border established under the Kars Treaty passed across Akhouryan-Arpa-Chai, i.e. borderline separating Armenia and Turkey at present," Mr. Minasyan noted, adding that if the document had an international ratification, Turkish side wouldn't be so concerned now. "Turkey fears lest it should face problems caused by absence of international ratification. When Turkey recognized Armenia's independence, it advanced three preconditions for normalizing relations, with the demand to recognize Kars Treaty being of them," the historian noted.

The Kars Treaty, dated October 13, 1921, was signed between Turkey on the one hand, and Soviet Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on the other.