October 13, 2021 was the 100th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Kars. Great leader Heydar Aliyev praised the importance of the Treaty of Kars in maintaining territorial integrity and autonomy status of Nakhchivan. He once said: “Treaty of Moscow and especially the Treaty of Kars were of great importance for maintaining the status of Nakhchivan. Nakhchivan had been separated from main lands of Azerbaijan, so the Treaty of Kars was crucial and irreplaceable document for us in terms of ensuring integrity, security, statehood and autonomy of Nakhchivan in the future.” The Chairman of Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic signed a decree on the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Kars. Mentioned decree says: “The Treaty of Kars is very important legal, political and international document guaranteeing the autonomy status of Nakhchivan. Signing the Treatyof Kars and determining the autonomy status of Nakhchivan is important stage in our statehood history. And the learning of this history, as well as passing it on to the future generation is vital and important matter at all times.” Treaty of Kars was fitting reply to Armenian’s claims related to Nakhchivan. Thus, soon after the fall of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Dashnak-Armenian military units started attacking Nakhchivan in September 1920, however these attacks were repulsed. Ordubad was liberated on September 18, 1920; and another one attack of Armenian troops was prevented in November. Sharur was also released from the enemy by the counterattack. Thus, Nakhchivan population did not leave their motherland to Armenians in such a difficult period. After the 11th Red Army units established Soviet power in Armenia on November 29, 1920, the threat for Nakhchivan increased even more. In various ways Soviet Union attempted to give Nakhchivan to Armenia. The implementation of this anti-Azerbaijani policy was prevented only thanks to stubborn resistance and struggle of the population of Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan SSR Justice Commissioner Behbud Agha Shahtakhtinski (1881-1924) played important role in this matter. As a result of all this, Military Revolutionary Committee of Armenia recognized Nakhchivan as independent Soviet republic on December 28, 1920 and declared that Dashnaks refused the claims related to this territory. It was necessary to use the successes achieved, take real steps and completely ensure the autonomy of Nakhchivan within Azerbaijan SSR. The negotiations were held in this field on February-March 1921. Behbud Agha Shahtakhtinski, who went to Moscow at that time as assigned of Nariman Narimanov, was of special merit in the negotiations. As a result of the Soviet-Turkish negotiations, the Treaty of Moscow was signed between two countries on March 16, 1921. The Treaty was composed of 16 articles and 2 annexes. The Article III of this Treaty said: “Both Contracting Parties agree that Nakhchivan region, located within the boundaries specified in the Annex I of this Treaty, will hereafter from autonomous territory under the protectorate of Azerbaijan provided that Azerbaijan will not relinquish the protectorate to any third party.” This article was of historical importance in deciding the fate of Nakhchivan. The Soviet-Turkish Treaty that was concluded in Kars on October 13, 1921 and composed of 20 articles and 3 annexes, both approved and strengthened this provision. The Treaty of Kars is international treaty of historical importance. Thanks to this treaty the status of Nakhchivan was determined and the parties agreed on keeping Nakhchivan as autonomous republic within Azerbaijan. It is true that the matter related to the status of Nakhchivan was determined with the Treaty of Moscow signed between Russia and Turkiye. However, autonomy status of Nakhchivan, approved with the Treaty of Kars, little bit differs from 3 matters in the Treaty of Moscow (Nakhchivan gets the autonomy status; Nakhchivan is to be under the patronage of Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan will never relinquish this right of patronage to the third-party state). The treaty once again determined the matter of keeping Nakhchivan as part of Azerbaijan and granting it autonomy. It comparison with the Treaty of Moscow, the Article V of the Treaty of Kars, determined the parties agreed on the status of Nakhchivan. These were the governments of Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This article of the treaty stated that the government of Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenian Soviet republics had agreed on that Nakhchivan region would be autonomous territory under the patronage of Azerbaijan within the boundaries specified in the Annex III of the Treaty. And the territory of Nakhchivan region was determined within the boundaries specified in the Annex III of the Treaty: “The territory of Nakhchivan starts from Urmia, goes from there straight to Arazdayan station (this station will remain at Armenian SSR), then straight to the west of Dashburun mountain (3142), from which goes through administrative boundaries of former Iravan and Sharur-Daralayaz uyezd through the south of the “Rod” (Spring) legend passing drainage divide of Dashburun mountain (4108), Jahannam Darasi river, drainage divide of Baghirsag mountain (6607 or 6587), then goes from the height 6629 to Kamurludagh (6839 or 6930), from there to the height 3080, Sayatdagh (7868), Gurdgula village, Hamasur mountain (8160), the height 8022, Kukudagh (10282) and finally ends with the eastern administrative border of former Nakhchivan uyezd.” The Treaty of Kars was ratified by the All-Union Central Executive Committee on March 16, 1922. At the session of March 3, 1922 of Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan, the contracts of March 16 and October 13, 1921 were approved. The Treaty of Kars completely resolved the matter of the status and subordination of Nakhchivan through international treaty. The Treaty of Kars has not been declared invalid up to day. And it will further continue to be in legal force.