I.
Armenian Question in a Historical Context
2. Treaty of Friendship between Turkey, the Socialist
Soviet Republic of Armenia, the Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic, and
the Socialist Soviet Republic of Georgia
Done in Kars, October 23, 1921
Ratified in Yerevan, September 11, 1922
(Original in French and Russian)
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The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on the one side,
and the Governments of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia (SSRA), the
Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic (ASSR), and the Socialist Soviet
Republic of Georgia (SSRG), on the other side,
Agreeing on the principle of the fraternity of the nations and on the right
of the peoples to dispose freely of their destiny; desirous to establish
cordial affinity and sincerely amicable relations between them, based upon
reciprocal interest;
Have decided to enter into negotiations, with the participation of the
Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR), to
conclude a Treaty of Friendship and for this purpose have appointed as their
plenipotentiaries:
The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey:
Kiazim Kara Bekir Pasha, Deputy to the Grand National Assembly from
Adrianople and Commander of the Eastern Front; Veli Bey, Deputy to the Grand
National Assembly from Bordour; Mouhtar Bey, former Undersecretary of State
for Public Works; Memdouh Shevket Bey, Turkish Plenipoteniary Representative
in Azerbaijan;
The Government of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia:
Askanaz Mravian, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs; Poghos Makintsian,
People's Commissar for Internal Affairs;
The Government of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan:
Behboud Shahtahtinskiy, People's Commissar for State Control
The Government of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Georgia:
Shalva Eliava, People's Commissar for War and Navy; Alexander Svanidze,
People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and People's Commissar for Finance;
The Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic:
Jacques Hanetzky, Plenipotentiary Representative in Lithuania,
Who, having communicated their powers that have been found to be in due
form, have agreed as follows.
Article I
The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Governments
of the Socialist Soviet Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
consider as null and void the treaties concluded between the Governments
which have previously exercised sovereign rights over territory actually
forming part of the territory of the Contracting Parties and concerning the
above-mentioned territories, as well as the treaties concluded with third
states concerning the Transcaucaucasus Republics. It is understood that the
Turkish-Russian Treaty signed in Moscow on March 16, 1921 (1337) will be
exempted from the terms of this Article.
Article II
The Contracting Parties agree not to recognize any treaty of peace or other
international act imposed upon one any of them against its will. In virtue
of this agreement, the Governments of the Socialist Soviet Republics of
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia agree not to recognize any international act
concerning Turkey which has not been recognized by the National Government
of Turkey, actually represented by its Grand National Assembly. (By the term
Turkey is meant, in the present Treaty, the territories included in the
Turkish National Pact of January 28, 1920 (1336), developed and proclaimed
by the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies in Constantinople and communicated to the
press and to all States). For its part, the Government of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey agrees not to recognize any international act concerning
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia that may not be by the respective
Governments of these countries, actually represented by the Soviets of
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Article III
The Governments of the Socialist Soviet Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia, recognizing that the system of capitulations is incompatible with
the free life of the national development of all countries, as well as with
the full exercise of sovereign rights, consider as null and abrogate the
exercise, in Turkey, of all offices and rights included in this system.
Article IV
The northeast border of Turkey (according to the map of the Russian General
Staff, on a scale of 1:210000.5 verstes to the inch) is determined by the
line which, beginnin at the village of Sarp on the Black Sea, passes by the
Mt. Khedis Mga, the watershed line of at Mt. Shavshet- Mount Kana Dagh; from
there, it always follows the former northern administrative borders of the
sanjaks of Ardahan and Kars, the thalweg of the Arpachai River and that of
the Arax as far as the mouth of the Nijni Kara Su river. (For details of the
border and questions pertaining to it, see Annexes I and II and the map
inclosed, signed by the two Contracting Parties. In the event of
discrepancies between the text of the Treaty and the Map, the text of the
treaty shall prevail over the map).
A mixed commission of delimitation, comprised of equal number of members,
with the participation of a representative of the RSFSR, is directed to
determine in detail and to establish the actual border of the state, and to
erecte boundary markers. (Annex IV: the map). [not reproduced]
Article V
The Turkish Government and the Soviet Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan
are agreed that the region of Nakhichevan, within the limits specified by
Annex III to the present Treaty, constitutes an autonomous territory under
the protection of Azerbaijan.
Article VI
Turkey agrees to cede to Georgia suzerainty over the town and port of Batum,
with the territory to the north of the frontier, indicated in Article IV of
the present Treaty, which formed part of the district of Batum, on
condition:
1. That the population of the localities specified in the present Article
shall enjoy a greater measure of local administrative autonomy, that each
community is guaranteed its cultural and religious rights, and that this
population may introduce in the above-mentioned places an agrarian system in
conformity with its own wishes.
2. That Turkey be assured free transit through the port of Batum for
commodities and all materials destined for, or originating in, Turkey,
without customs duties and charges, and with the right for Turkey to utilize
the port of Batum without special charges. For the application of this
Article, a commission of representatives of the interested Parties shall be
created immediately after the signing of the present Treaty.
Article VII
The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Government
of SSRG agree to facilitate the crossing of the border by the inhabitants of
the bordering zones, on condition of the observance of the customs, police,
and sanitary regulations which shall be established in this regard by a
mixed commission.
Article VIII
The Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and and the
Government of SSRG consider that it is necessary for the inhabitants of the
bordering districts of two countries to make use of summer and winter
pastures on the other side of the border, and agree to accord to these
inhabitants the right to cross the border with their animals and to avail
themselves of the customary pasturage. Customs formalities, and police,
sanitary, and other measures applying to border crossings shall be
determined by a mixed commission.
Article IX
With the view to assuring the opening and free passage through the Straits
for the commerce of all peoples, Turkey and Georgia agree to submit the
definitive elaboration of the international regulations for the Black Sea
and the Straits to a subsequent conference composed of delegates from the
littoral states, unless the decisions there reached encroach upon the
sovereignty and security of Turkey and of Constantinople, its capital.
Article X
The Contracting Parties agree not to admit upon their territories the
formation or sojourn of organizations or groups pretending to assume the
role of government of the other country or a part of its territory, nor the
sojourn of groups having for their purpose war against the other country. It
is clearly understood that the Turkish territory mentioned above in the
present Article is the territory under the direct civil and military
administration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Article XI
Nationals of each of the two Contracting Parties, residing in the territory
of the other Party, shall be treated in accordance with the duties and
obligations decreed by the laws of the country in which they reside, with
the exception of those concerning the national defense, from which they
shall be exempt. Questions of family right, inheritance, and legal capacity
are also excepted in the present Article, and shall be settled by a special
agreement.
Article XII
The Contracting Parties will apply the most favored nation rule to nationals
of one of the Contracting Parties residing in the territory of the other.
This Article does not affect the rights accorded reciprocally by the Soviet
Republics to citizens of allied Soviet Republics on their territory, as well
as to the rights accorded by Turkey to nationals of the Moslem states allied
with Turkey.
Article XIII
All inhabitants of territory that was part of Russia before 1918, and over
which the sovereignty of Turkey is affirmed, shall have the opportunity, if
they desire to relinquish their Turkish nationality, to leave Turkey freely,
taking with them their possessions and goods, or the proceeds of their sale.
Likewise, all inhabitants of territory whose sovereignty has been ceded to
Georgia by Turkey shall have the opportunity, if they desire to relinquish
Georgian nationality, to leave the territory of Georgia freely, taking with
them their possessions, goods, and capital.
The inhabitants mentioned in the above sentences shall be granted a
deferment of one month from military service, beginning on the date on which
they shall have signified in due form their intention of leaving the
territories in question.
Article XIV
The Contracting Parties agree to conclude, within the period of six month
from the signature of the present Treaty, special arrangements with regard
to the refugees of the wars of 1918 and 1920.
Article XV
Each of the Contracting Parties agrees to promulgate, immediately after the
signature of the present Treaty, a complete amnesty to citizens of the other
Party for crimes and offenses committed during the course of the war on the
Caucasian front.
Article XVI
The Contracting Parties agree to effect reciprocally, within the period of
two months after the signature of the present Treaty, the repatriation of
former military and civilian prisoners residing in the territory of one of
the Contracting Parties.
Article XVII
In order to ensure the continuance of relations between their countries, the
Contracting Parties agree to take, in a common agreement, all the measures
necessary to maintain and develop as quickly as possible railway,
telegraphic, and other communications, as well as to assure free transit of
persons and commodities without any hindrance. It is understood, however,
that the entry and departure of travelers and commodities will be governed
by the full application of all the regulations established in this regard by
each of the Contracting Parties.
Article XVIII
With a view to organizing commercial relations and regulating economic,
financial, and other questions necessary to strengthen the friendly
relations between the two countries, a commission of representatives from
the interested countries shall convene at Tiflis immediately after the
signature of the present Treaty.
Article XIX
The Contracting Parties agree to conclude consular conventions within the
period of three months from the signature of the present Treaty.
Article XX
The present Treaty, concluded between the Governments of Turkey, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Georgia, shall be subject to ratification. The exchange of
ratifications shall take place at Yerevan within the shortest possible time.
The present Treaty shall enter into force immediately after the exchange of
the acts of ratification, exception being made to Articles VI, XIV, XVI,
XVIII, and XIX, which enter into force immediately after the signature of
the Treaty.
ANNEX I
Northeast Frontier (follows verbatim Annex 1(a) of the Turkish-Russian
Treaty of March 16, 1921)
The northeast border of Turkey is fixed as follows (according to the map of
the Russian General Staff, on a scale of 1:210,000.5 verstes to the inch):
The village of Sari on the Black Sea, Mt. Kara-Shalvar (5014), crosses
Chorokh to the north from the village of Maradidi, passes to the north of
Sabur, Mt. Khedis Mga (7052), Mt. Kva-Kibe, village of Kavtareli, line of
watershed Medzibna Mountain and Mt. Great-Kessun (6468), follows the line of
the watershed Mt. Korda (7910), goes along the western part of the ridge
Shavshet to the administrative border of the former Artvin district, goes to
the Mt. Sari Chai (Kara-Issal) (8478), summit of the mountain Kviral, then
follows the administrative border of the former Ardahan district by Mt.
Kana-Dagh, thence, turning to the north, goes to Mt. Tlil (Grmani) (8357),
and following the former border of Ardahan, goes to the northeast of the
village of Badela, to the river Poskov-Chai, and follows to the south aling
this river to a point to the north of the village of Chap Chakh, then it
leaves the river, follows the watershed to Mt. Airlian-Bashi, goes over the
Mts. Kella-Tana (9709), reaches Mt. Kasris-Seri (9681), and follows along
the river Karzamet Chai until it reaches the river Kura, thence it goes
along the line of the watershed of Mt. Kara-Ogli (7259), whence, dividing in
two parts Lake Khazapin, it goes to the elevation 7580, then to Mt. Geg-Dagh
(9152), goes over Mt. Uch-Tapoylar (9783), and Mt. Taila-Kala (9716), ridge
9065, where it leaves the border of the former Ardahan district and passes
over the Mts. B. Akh Barba (9963), 8828 (8827), 7602, goes to the east of
the village of Ibish, reaches elevation 7518, and then Mt. Kizil Dash (7439)
(7440), village of New Kizil-Dash (Kizel-Dash), passes to the west from the
Karamemeda, goes to the river Jambushu Chai (which is to the east of the
village of Delaver, B. Kikli, and Tikhnis), and through the village of
Vartanli and Bashi-Shuragel; following the above-named river, it goes to the
river Arpa Chai to the north of Kayalala, from there follows all the time
the thalweg of the river Arpa Chai and arrives at the river Araxes,
following its thalweg to the mouth of the river Lower Kara Su.
ANNEX II
Withdrawal of Troops in Arpa-Chai and Araxes Regions (follows verbatim Annex
1(b) of the Turkish-Russian Treaty of March 16, 1921)
Taking into consideration that the border line, as it is shown in Annex I,
is the thalwegs of the rivers Arpa Chai and Araxes, the Government of the
Grand National Assembly undertakes to remove the line of block-houses to the
distance of 8 versts from the Alexandropol-Yerevan railway line in the
district of the Arpa Chai river, and to the distance of 4 versts from the
above-named railway in the district of the river Araxes. The lines which
enclose the above-named districts are shown below: the district of the river
Arpa Chai at sections (a) and (b) of Paragraph 1, and the district of the
river Araxes in Paragraph 2.
Paragraph 1: District of the river Arpa Chai
(a) To the southeast from Vartanli, to the east from Uzun-Kilisa over
Mt. Bozyar (5096), 5082-5047, to the east from Karmir-Vaik-Uch-Tapa (5578),
to the east from Arzaz Oghlu, to the east from Ani, reaches Arpa Chai to the
west from Yeni-Ki.
(b) Leaves Arpa Chai to the east from elevation 5019, goes straight
to elevation 5481, at the distance of 4.5 versts, to the east from Kizil
Kula at 2 versts, to the east from Bojali, and then the river Digor Chai,
follows along this river to the village of Duz-Kechut, and goes straight to
the north from the ruins of Karabat and to Arpa Chai.
Paragraph 2: District of the river Araxes
A straight line between Kharaba Alijan and the village of Suleiman (Diza).
In the districts bordered on one side by the line of the
Alexandropol-Yerevan railway and on the other by the lines which are 8 and 4
versts from the above-named railway, the Government of the Grand National
Assembly undertakes not to build any fortification and not to keep the
regular army except the number which is essentially necessary for the
maintenance of order and security. Those lines are not in the above-named
districts.
ANNEX III
Territory of Nakhichevan
Village of Ourmia, from there by a straight line to the Azerdaian station
(leaving it to SSRA), then by a straight line to Ms. Dash-Burun west (3142),
watershed of Mt. Dash-Burun east (4108), crosses the river Kyahaanam-Darassi
to the south of the inscription "Rodne" (Boulakh) (South), following the
watershed of Mt. Bgarsik (6607) or (6587), and from there follows the
administrative border of the former districts of Erivan and of Sharur,
Daralagyaz, by the elevation 6629 to the mountain Kemurlu Dagh (6839) or
(6930), and from there to the elevation 3080, Sayat Dagh (7868), village
Kurt Kulag (Kyurt Kulak), Mt. Gamessur Dagh (8160), elevation 8022, Kuri
Dagh (10,181), and the eastern administrative border of the former district
of Nakhichevan.
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