Boghos Nubar Pasha was not merely a brilliant political strategist in the classical sense; however, he deeply understood a fundamental truth: Armenians scattered across the world as a result of genocide were not simply a mass of refugees, but a people possessing political rights. With this awareness, he led the Armenian National Delegation, setting before himself a crucial objective — the restoration and international recognition of Armenian statehood.

In advancing the Armenian Question on international platforms, central importance was given to the idea that even a people without an existing state can and must act as a political subject. After the genocide, millions of Armenians were dispersed around the world, yet this did not mean that the Armenian people had lost their legal or political identity.

During the First World War, the Armenian people contributed to the military efforts of the Allied forces. In 1916, a call was issued to form an Armenian Legion under French command. Thus, the Eastern Legion (later known as the Armenian Legion) was established, comprising more than 5,000 volunteers. Armenians participated in the liberation of Palestine, Syria, and Cilicia. In total, approximately 50,000 Armenians served in the armies of France, Great Britain, and the United States, paying their share of the cost during the global war.

The year 1920 became decisive in the legal recognition of Armenian statehood. That year, the Supreme Council recognized the Republic of Armenia de facto, and on May 3, 1920, it was also recognized by the United States. On August 10, the Treaty of Sèvres was signed, through which the Ottoman Empire accepted the existence of an independent Armenia. On November 22, 1920, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued his arbitral award, defining the borders between Armenia and Turkey.

Together, these legal acts constitute not only a chain of historical facts but also the foundation of a legal process aimed at remedying the consequences of genocide. Armenia, even prior to full international recognition, possessed a government and the attributes of a subject of international law, which enabled the preservation of the nation’s political existence.

We must remain vigilant toward attempts to “pacify” history and our rights. No subsequent agreement can legally annul the Treaty of Sèvres, which was ratified by the Ottoman Sultan and continues to exist within the framework of international law.

The principle of state continuity is clear: a state does not cease to exist merely because it is under occupation. The legal and political personality of a nation can endure even under the most severe conditions. This is the vital legacy that we are obliged to transmit to future generations — as knowledge, as a right, and as a responsibility.