During the 32 years of independence of the Republic of Armenia, Armenian historians have done valuable work in the direction of analyzing and evaluating both the collective obligations of the Great powers, their content and the Middle Eastern interests of each of the powers, their interstate conflicts on the issue of Western Armenia. In this context, the main stages of the diplomatic content of the Armenian question, from the reforms of Western Armenia to autonomy, then to independence, and then to the protection of the rights of the Armenian national minority in Turkey, were revealed.

Keywords Armenian question Republic of Armenia historical science Western Armenia reforms autonomy independence self-determination peace treaty secret agreements.

Long-term scientific and research activity of the distinguished historian and preeminent party and government leader academician Ashot Ionnisyan (1887-1972), can be divided into two stages: pre-Soviet and Soviet. One of the important areas of his historical and scientific researches was the coverage of centuries old liberation struggle of the Armenian people that is summarized in his valuable monographs. For obvious reasons, the Soviet Armenian historiography gave an exaggerated assessment to the Russian orientation of the Armenian people, such as fateful, critical, turning point, etc. From the point of view of historical science, A. Ioannisyan's opinion and assessment put forward in his works of the pre-Soviet period appear to be more balanced and reasonable, particularly, on the issues of the Russian orientation of the Armenian people in connecttion with the activities of Israel Ori (1659-1711).

KeywordsA. Ioannisyan Armenian people Russia Israel Ori orientation historiography assessment turning point “Excerpts” Peter the Great Ankeghakot Munich closing speech independence protector Minas vardapet indicator.