Россия и Арабский мир: к 200-летию профессора Санкт-Петербургского университета Шейха ат-Тантави (1810–1861)

215 After the October 1917 Revolution Russia finished the war by signing Brest-Litovsk Treaty on 3 March 1918. These changes in Russia had great effect on Turkish–Russian relations. After the 1917 Revolutions in Russia (27 February – 11 March 1917, Oc- tober 1917), Erzurum peace agreement was signed between Turkish and Rus- sian officials on 18 December 1917. According to this agreement Russians withdrew from Trabzon and East Anatolia which they had occupied before (Trabzon: 18 April 1916 – 24 February1918). They left great amount of mili- tary supplies and ammunition in Trabzon. General Denikin’s representative General Parsunic arrived in Trabzon harbour on 4 December 1919, while the struggle between Bolsheviks and supporters of Tsar continued to take back the military supplies and ammuni- tion left in Trabzon. Next day General Parsunic met with the Trabzon Re- gional Commander and told him that although there were some wars between two sides in the past, a strong friendship must be established between Turks and Russians in the future. According to him it was impossible to make an agreement with the Bolsheviks. He mentioned about Turkish-Armenian rela- tions and wanted to show that he was supporting the Turks by saying «it was Russian’s duty to punish ingrate Armenians at the end of Bolshevik War». 1 This visit was the last visit made to Trabzon by Tsar’s supporters. The Bol- sheviks established control over Caucasian republics in 1920, and after that meetings in Trabzon were held with the Bolsheviks’ representatives only. Friendly relations between Turkey and Soviet Union started during the establishment of Turkish Great national assembly. Following Ataturk’s sug- gestion a letter was sent to Russia in April 1920 with an offer to establish diplomatic and consulship relations between two states. 2 After a short time, Yusuf Kemal (Tengirşek) was charged by Turkish (Ankara) Government with the duty of establishing these relations. Mr. Yusuf Kemal and Mr. Bekir Sami (Kunduh) left Ankara 11 May 1920 and arrived in Moscow on 19 July 1920 via Trabzon. According to an agreement made between Turkish and Soviet authorities on 24 August 1920, it was decided to open consulates in both countries. 3 After signing this agreement, Soviet Russian Government appointed Mr. 1 Archive of General Head Quarters of Army (ATASE), kls.89, ds. 142-327, bl. 72-1, 3, 6. 2 S.İ. Aralov, Bir Sovyet Diplomatının Türkiye Anıları, (Translated b: Hasan Âli Ediz), Ankara 1985, p.5-6. Kâzım Karabekir, İstiklâl Harbimiz, İstanbul 1988, p.638. 3 Yusuf Kemal Tengirşek, Vatan Hizmetinde, Ankara 1981, p.141, 143-145, 171-173.