This book, based on historical documents and archives on various aspects of Azerbaijani-Swiss relations, is a valuable contribution to the study and investigation of our rich diplomatic heritage. The book examines and analyzes the reasons for the failure of the Confederation initiatives in the Caucasus and Azerbaijan's interest in Switzerland. At the same time, the Swiss and the areas in which they invested are also identified. One of the highlights of this book, presented to a wide readership, is the first clarification of the fate of more than 300 Azerbaijani soldiers missing in World War II. This book, which is of particular importance from the point of view of Azerbaijani sources and historiography, opens the way for Azerbaijani researchers to have direct contact with the primary sources. The fact that the original texts in German and French are also reflected in the book should be particularly emphasized.

Textprobe: The Society of Nations ( Union des Nationalites”): The First Universal Races Congress, held in London in 1911, established an organization for the self-determination of nations in Europe. For this purpose, in June 1912, the French journalist Jean Pélissier and the Lithuanian immigrant Jouzas Gabrys founded an organization called the Society of Nations ( Union des Nationalites ). The founders of the society thought that the right of nations to self-determination was an important factor for solving all of Europe’s problems. The idea of an organization of nations was based on the right of each national minority to determine its national and political fate. There was also a magazine named Revue des Nationalites . At the beginning of the First World War, its headquarters was in Paris. However, according to L. J. Gabriess, a spokesman for the organization, the publication of the magazine had become impossible due to censorship, hence it moved from Paris to Lausanne, Switzerland. The first Congress of Nations was held there in 1912, and the second in Paris in 1915. At the event, Lausanne City Council vice-president Burnier made a speech and asked everyone not to harm the image of the city, because of the neutrality of the country in which Lausanne was located, taking into account the sensitivity of the situation. One point of interest was Burnier's participation as a civilian, not as an official. Though there are sticking points between historians regarding the 3rd Congress of Nations, it is likely that the congress was held in Lausanne on 25th June 1916. Yusuf Akchura, Abdurrashid Ibrahim, Mukimeddin Beycan, Safa Ahmedoglu, Ahmed Saib Kaplanov, Seyid Tahir Efendi, Aziz Makar and Ahmed Agaoglu, also representing Ali Bey Husseinzade, took part in the Third Congress of the Union Nations in Lausanne. At the congress, representatives of the Caucasus Committee and Akchura - Huseynzadeh Committee used the opportunity to make successful speeches about the independence of nations oppressed by the Russian Empire. These speeches were the first steps towards the sovereignty attempts of Turkic Nations in Russia on an international scale, as well as a European one. Lenin's ideas gave hope to national minorities suffering in Russia. While Swiss sources did not include this information, it was noted that Lenin and Yusuf Akchura, who was described as the father of pan-Turkism”, met for four hours in 1916 in Zurich, Switzerland. Yusuf Akchura's goal in meeting with Lenin was to learn his views about nations living in Russia. When it comes to Yusuf Akchura's impressions of the meeting, it seems that they did not share the same thoughts on that issue. Swiss diplomatic missions abroad in the early 20th century: Switzerland had asked for international confirmation of its neutrality in 1920 before becoming a member of the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations Organization). During the 1920s and 1930s, Switzerland expressed its readiness to take part in economic sanctions if officially imposed by the League of Nations. In 1938, however, the League of Nations council formally relieved Switzerland of the obligation to participate in sanctions. When focusing on Swiss diplomacy, it can be seen that the consular service was first implemented by honorary consulates through business circles. The first Swiss consulates were opened in Livorno (1809), Naples (1812) and Amsterdam (1815). After a series of non-professional moves by some of Switzerland's Honorary Consuls in 1867, the Swiss government decided to pursue its foreign policy with the help of professional diplomats. In 1882, Switzerland's diplomatic representation was established in the United States, and in 1891, Swiss diplomatic missions were established in London and Buenos Aires. In 1893, a bill was drawn up on Swiss diplomatic missions abroad, but this project was rejected by a referendum held in February 1895. On 3rd October 1917, a new draft law on Swiss diplomatic activity was prepared, then adopted on 16th December 1919. In 1906, Switzerland established diplomatic representation in St. Petersburg and Tokyo. During the First World War, diplomatic representation was established only in Romania. Switzerland sent its diplomat to the Hague in 1917 and later in 1920 established its diplomatic representation therein.

• Switzerland

• Azerbaijan

• Henry Clottu

• Russia

• Caucasus

• Caucasian Confederation Council