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Panorama.am presents an interview with Dr. George Bournoutian, Professor of Armenian history, Senior Professor at Iona College, New York. Dr. Bournoutian tals about his new book titled “From Tabriz to St. Petersburg: Iran's Mission of Apology to Russia in 1829” published in April 2004, which he has already presented in a number of Universities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_KgZAM86io in the US.

- Dr. Bournoutian, you have recently published a new book called “From Tabriz to St. Petersburg: Iran's Mission of Apology to Russia in 1829”. Could you please briefly describe what the book is about?
-The book has a long introduction explaining the Russo-Iranian wars, the treaties of Gulistan and Turkmenchai, the arrival of Griboedov, his murder and the mission of apology sent by the Shah and Abbas Mirza to Tsar Nicholas I. The mission was led by Khosrow Mirza, a 16-year-old grandson of the shah. The book describes the Iranian and Russian records of the trip—almost day-by-day from Tabriz to Yerevan Gumri, Tiflis, Vladikavkaz, Piatigorsk, Stavropol, Tula, Moscow, Novgorod, St. Petersburg. Journals kept by the Iranians and Russians describe in detail the Iranian delegation’s stay in the various cities, what they saw, comments on Russia, etc. The young Persian prince charmed everyone and was for a short time brought to Iran, which had been in the British sphere of influence, closer to Russia. Eight special maps illustrate the entire route.

The importance of the new book concerns the Russo-Iranian diplomatic relations in 1828-1830 period and the efforts of Russia to challenge England’s presence in Iran and Central Asia (what became the Great Game or the Tournament of Shadows) and lasted until 1907.

-What is the primary importance of the book for those studying the history of Armenia (and of Nagorno-Karabakh, if any)? Does it convey any facts refuting the anti-Armenian theses of Azerbaijanis referring to this period?
-There is not much about Armenians in this book, except for the fact that the Treaty of Turkmenchai permitted the emigration of thousands of Armenians from the Yerevan-Nakhichevan region, who had been forcibly removed from there and taken to Iran by Shah Abbas I, to repatriate to their homeland after an absence of 200 years. Since the Irano-Turkish wars and the Russo-Iranian wars had, in the meantime, forced the immigration of thousands of Armenians (recorded in the Russian archives) to Georgia, the Armenian population of the Yerevan region had been reduced to some 25-30% of the total population. Griboedov, Armenian Church leaders and Russian diplomats inserted an article in the Treaty of Turkmenchai, which allowed the Armenians to return from Iran. This immigration, combined with the emigration of Muslim tribes and Iranian soldiers and officials, rejuvenated the Armenian population of the Yerevan region and was thus responsible for the emergence of the Armenian Province (Armianskaia Oblast).

This book has nothing to with Karabagh. My previous book, The 1823 Russian Survey of the Karabagh Province, proves irrefutably that the five mahals of Karabagh, which constitute the present-day Nagorno-Karabagh had an Armenian population of 96.7% in 1823—long before 1828. There were only two Tatar (Azeri) villages. Contrary to Azeri claims, only 200 Armenian families (Russian official statistics) went to the village of Maraghashen from Iran. All the rest of Armenian immigrants went to Yerevan-Nakhichevan region. It is true that Armenians formed a minority there prior to 1828-1829, but one must remember that they were forcibly removed in 1604 or left the region due to wars.

Armenians are not newcomers to the South Caucasus, contrary to Azeri claims. Greek, Roman, Arab and Iranian sources unanimously mention an “Armenia” in the region. Due to numerous invasions from the 11th to the early 19th centuries the Armenians were forced to leave eastern Armenia and settle in Georgia, Shirvan, Baku, Astrakhan, Crimea, Poland, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Large clusters of Armenians remained around Yerevan, Vagharshapat, Agulis and others centres.

If the Jews are permitted to return after 2,000 years from all over the world and form a state, why can’t Armenians return after only 200 years from just across the border to their original homeland?

Interview by Nvard Chalikyan