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Selected Secret Documents from Soviet Foreign Policy Documents Archives - 1919 to 1941Concentrated on 1st and 2nd WW Correspondence and Meetings related to Turkey, Balkans and Iran, with some additions from Afghanistan and India.
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The treaty of friendship between the Armenian SSR, the Azerbaijan SSR and the Georgian SSR, on the one hand, and Turkey, on the other, concluded with the participation of the RSFSR in Kars *
October 13, 1921
The governments of the socialist Soviet republic of Armenia, the Azerbaijan socialist Soviet republic and the socialist Soviet republic of Georgia, on the one hand, and the government of the grand national assembly of Turkey, on the other, sharing the principles of the brotherhood of nations and the right of peoples to self‐determination, inspired by the desire to establish between them permanent cordial relations and continuous sincere friendship based on mutual interests of both parties, we decided to start negotiations with the participation of the Russian socialist federative Soviet republic in order to conclude a treaty of friendship and appointed for this as their plenipotentiaries:
Government of the socialist Soviet republic of Armenia: Askanaz Mravyan, peopleʹs commissar for foreign affairs, Poghos Makinzyan, peopleʹs commissar for internal affairs;
Government of the Azerbaijan socialist Soviet republic: Behbud Shahtakhtinsky, peopleʹs commissar of state control;
Government of the socialist Soviet republic of Georgia: Shalva Eliava, peopleʹs commissar for military and naval affairs, Alexander Svanidze, peopleʹs commissar for foreign affairs and peopleʹs commissar for finance;
The government of the Turkish grand national assembly:
Kazim Karabekir pasha, deputy of the great national assembly from Adrianople, commander of the eastern front, Veli bey, deputy of the great national assembly from Burdur, Mukhtar bey, former assistant to the state secretary of public works, Memduh Shevket bey, plenipotentiary representative of Turkey in Azerbaijan;
The government of the Russian socialist federative Soviet republic: Yakov Ganetsky, plenipotentiary representative in Latvia, who, after exchanging powers found in proper and legal form, have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The government of the grand national assembly of Turkey and the governments of the socialist Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia consider the treaties concluded between the states ** that previously exercised their sovereign rights in the territory now part of the territory of the contracting parties and concerning the aforementioned territories as canceled and invalid, as well as treaties concluded with third powers and concerning Transcaucasian republics.
It is considered established that this article does not apply to the Turkish‐Russian treaty concluded in Moscow on March 16, 1921 (1337).
Article 2
The contracting parties agree not to recognize any peace treaties or other international acts, the adoption of which would be compelled by force by one of them.
By virtue of this, the governments of the socialist Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia agree not to recognize any international acts concerning Turkey and not recognized by the national government of Turkey, now represented by its grand national assembly.
(the term Turkey in this treaty means the territories included in the Turkish national pact of January 28, 1920 (1336), worked out and proclaimed by the ottoman chamber of deputies in Constantinople and reported to the press and all states.)
For its part, the government of the grand national assembly of Turkey agrees not to recognize any international acts concerning Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and not recognized by the respective governments of these countries, now represented by the Soviets of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Article 3
The governments of the socialist Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, recognizing the regime of capitulations as incompatible with the free national development of any country, as well as with the full exercise of its sovereign rights, consider all kinds of functions and rights that have any relation to this regime to be invalid and canceled. ...
Article 4.
The northeastern border of Turkey (according to the map of Russian general staff in scale 1/210000 ‐ 5 versts in an inch) is determined by a line that begins at the village of Sarp, located on the black sea, passes through Mount Khedis‐mta, the watershed line of mount Shavshet ‐ Mount Cannes‐ dag; it then follows the old northern administrative boundaries of the Ardagai and Kars Sandzhaks along the Thalweg of the Arpa‐chai and Araks rivers to the mouth of the lower Karasu. (a detailed description of the boundaries and the issues related to it are defined in annexes I and ii and on the attached map signed by both contracting parties. In the event of a discrepancy between the text of the treaty and the map, the text shall be decisive.)
The detailed definition and drawing of the state border in nature, as well as the installation of border markers, is carried out by the joint border commission with the same number of members from the contracting parties and with the participation of a representative of the RSFSR.
Appendix iv: map.
Article 5.
The government of Turkey and the governments of Soviet Armenia and Azerbaijan agree that the Nakhichevan region, within the boundaries indicated in annex iii of this treaty, forms an autonomous territory under the auspices of Azerbaijan.
Article 6.
Turkey agrees to cede suzerainty to Georgia over the city and port of Batum and the territory lying to the north of the border specified in art. 4 of this agreement and a constituent part of the Batumi district, provided that:
1. The population of the localities specified in this article will enjoy broad local autonomy in administrative terms, ensuring each community its cultural and religious rights, and the population will have the opportunity to establish in the indicated localities a land law corresponding to its wishes;
2. Turkey will be provided with free transit of all goods sent to or from Turkey through the Batumi port, duty‐free, without causing any delays and without imposing any fees on them, with the granting of Turkey the right to use the Batumi port without charging any special fees.
To implement this article, a commission will be formed from the representatives of the interested parties immediately after the signing of this agreement.
Article 7
The government of the socialist Soviet republic of Georgia and the government of the grand national assembly of Turkey agree to facilitate the border zone residentsʹ crossing the border, subject to the customs, police and sanitary rules to be established in this regard by the mixed commission.
Article 8
The government of the socialist Soviet republic of Georgia and the government of the Turkish grand national assembly, taking into account the need for residents of the border areas of both countries to use summer and winter pastures on the other side of the border, agreed to grant these residents the right to cross the border with their herds and use ordinary pastures.
Customs regulations, as well as police, sanitary and other measures for crossing the border will be established by the mixed commission.
Article 9.
In order to ensure the opening of the straits and the freedom of passage of merchant ships of all nations through them, Turkey and Georgia agree to hand over the final elaboration of the international statute of the black sea and the straits to a future conference from the delegates of the coastal states, provided that the decisions made by it do not prejudice the full sovereignty of Turkey, as well as and the security of Turkey and its capital, Constantinople.
Article 10.
The contracting parties undertake to prevent the formation or presence on their territory of organizations or groups claiming the role of the government of another country or part of its territory, as well as the presence of groups with the aim of fighting against another country.
It shall be considered established that the Turkish territory referred to in this article means the territory under the direct military and civil administration of the government of the Turkish grand national assembly.
Article 11.
Citizens of both contracting parties who are on the territory of the other side will be subject to all the rights and obligations arising from the laws of the country in which they are located, with the exception of national defense obligations from which they will be exempted.
Matters concerning family law, inheritance law and legal capacity of citizens of both parties also constitute an exception to the provisions of this article. They will be allowed by special agreement.
Article 12.
The contracting parties agree to apply the most‐favored‐nation principle to citizens of each contracting party residing in the territory of the other party.
This article does not apply to the rights granted mutually by the Soviet republics on their territory to citizens of the union Soviet republics, as well as to the rights granted by Turkey to citizens of the Muslim states allied with Turkey.
Article 13.
Any resident of the territories that were part of Russia before 1918 and are now recognized as being under the sovereignty of Turkey, has the right, if he wishes, to renounce Turkish citizenship, freely leave Turkey and take with him his things, his property or their value.
Equally, all residents of the territory over which the suzerainty over which was ceded by Turkey to Georgia ***, have the right, if they wish, to renounce Georgian citizenship, freely leave the territory of Georgia and take with them their belongings, their property or their value.
Residents referred to in the above article will enjoy a monthʹs exemption from military service from the moment they duly declare their desire to leave the mentioned territories.
Article 14
The contracting parties undertake to conclude, within 6 months from the date of signing this treaty, special agreements concerning refugees from the wars of 1918‐1920.
Article 15.
Each of the contracting parties undertakes to declare, immediately after the signing of this treaty, a full amnesty to the citizens of the other party for crimes and misdemeanors arising from hostilities on the Caucasian front.
Article 16
The contracting parties agree, within 2 months from the date of signing this treaty, to return former prisoners of war and civilian prisoners of war in the territory of one of the contracting parties.
Article 17.
In order to ensure the continuity of communication between their countries, the contracting parties undertake to take, by mutual agreement, all the necessary measures to preserve and develop as soon as possible rail, telegraph and other means of communication, as well as to ensure the free movement of people and goods without any delay.
However, it is recognized that with regard to the movement, entry and exit of both travelers and goods, the rules established in each of the countries of the contracting parties in this regard will apply in full.
Article 18.
In order to establish commercial relations and regulate all economic and financial or other issues necessary to strengthen friendly relations between the contracting states, immediately after the signing of this treaty, a commission will be formed in Tiflis from representatives of the countries concerned.
Article 19
The contracting parties undertake to conclude consular conventions within 3 months from the date of signing this treaty.
Article 20
This treaty, concluded between the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, is subject to ratification.
The exchange of instruments of ratification will take place in Erivan as soon as possible.
This treaty shall enter into force upon the exchange of the instruments of ratification, with the exception of articles 6, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19, which shall enter into force immediately upon signature of the treaty.
In witness to the foregoing, the aforementioned plenipotentiaries have signed this agreement and affixed their seals to it.
Done in five copies at Kars on 13 October 1921 (1337).
A. Mravyan Kazim Karabekir
P. Makinzyan Veli
B. Shahtakhtiisky Mukhtar
S. Eliava Memduh Shevket
A. Svanidze
Ganetsky
* the Kars conference of the three Transcaucasian Soviet republics (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia) and Turkey with the participation of a representative of the RSFSR, convened in pursuance of the Moscow treaty between the RSFSR and Turkey of March 16, 1921 (see vol. Ill, document no. 342), continued from September 26 to October 13, 1921 The task of the conference was to regulate political and economic relations between its participants.
The conference ended with the signing of the Kars treaty of friendship of October 13, 1921 (see doc. No. 264).
** in the original ‐ entre les governments (between governments).
*** this refers to the Batumi district.
Appendix I
The northeastern border of Turkey is established as follows (according to the map of the Russian general staff, scale 1/210000 ‐ 5 versts per inch):
The village of Sarp on the black sea ‐ mount Kara Shalvar (5014) ‐ along the watershed of the rivers towards r. Ts. north of the village of Maradidi ‐ crosses Chorokh north of the village of Maradidi and passes north of the village of Sabaur ‐ mount Khedis‐ mta (7052) ‐ Kva‐kibe mountain ‐ Kaptareti village ‐ the watershed line of Medzybna mountains ‐ Herat‐kesun mountain (6468) ‐ following the watershed line of Korda mountain (7910), goes along the western part of the Shavshetsky ridge to the former administrative boundary of the former Artvinsky district ‐ passing along the watershed of the Shavshetskaya mountain, it goes to the Sarıchai (kara‐isal) mountain (8478) ‐ the Kviralsky pass ‐ from there it goes to the former administrative border of the former Ardagan district near the Kanna‐dag mountain ‐ from there, heading to the north, it reaches the Tlil mountain (grmany) (8357) ‐ following the same border of the Ardahan district, it leaves, northeast of the village of Badela, to the river Poskhov‐chai and follows the same river to the south to the mountain near the village of Chanchakh ‐ there it leaves this river ‐ walking along the watershed line, goes to mount Ayrilyan‐bashi (8512) ‐ passes through the mountains : Kelle‐tapa (8463), Harman‐tapa (9709) —reaches the Kasris‐seri mountain (9681)
—from here follows the Karzamet‐chai river to the Kura river ‐ from here it goes along the Thalweg of the Kura river to the point east of the village of Kartanakev , where it departs from the Kura, passing along the watershed line of mount Karaoglu (7259) ‐ from there, dividing lake Khazapin into two parts, it goes to an altitude of 7580 (7560), and from there to mount Gek‐dag (9152) ‐ Uch‐tapalyar ( 9783), where the border with Georgia ends and the border with Armenia begins: Taya‐kala (9716) ‐ peak 9065, where it leaves the former border of the Ardahan district and passes through the Bol mountains. Akh‐baba (9973 or 9963 ‐ 8828 or 8827‐7602) ‐ from here in a straight line to the top of 7518 ‐ passing east from the village of Ibish, then to mount Kizil‐dash (7439, or 7440, or 7490) ‐ the village of new Kizil‐ dash, from here, following the river that flows through the new Kizil‐dash to its bend located north‐west of Karamemed ‐ follows the watershed line and goes to the Camushbu‐chai river ** located to the east of the villages: Dalaver , b.
Kimly and Tikhnis ‐ through the villages of Vartanly and Bash‐shuragel ‐ following the mentioned river, goes to the Arpa‐chai river north of Kalal, or Kalali, ‐ from there, following all the time along the Arpa‐chai thalweg, goes to the Araks, following the thalweg Araks to the villages of Urmia, where the border with Armenia ends and the border with Azerbaijan begins ‐ then follows the thalweg Araks to the confluence of the lower Karasu, where the border with Azerbaijan ends.
N. V. Of course, the border follows the watershed lines of the above heights.
A. Mravyan Kazim Karabekir
P. Makinzyan Veli
B. Shahtakhtiisky mukhtar
Sh. Eliava Memduh Shevket
A. Svanidze
Ganetsky
* ruined church.
** the name Camushbu‐chai is not indicated on the map of the 1899 edition (note, doc.)
Annex ii
Taking into account that the border line follows the thalweg of the Arpa‐chai and Araks rivers, as indicated in appendix I, the government of the Turkish grand national assembly undertakes to move only the blockhouse line at a distance of 8 versts from the Alexandropol‐Erivan railway in its present outline in the region Arpa‐chai and at a distance of 4 versts from the above‐mentioned railway line in the Araks region.
The lines bordering the aforementioned areas are indicated below: for the Arpa‐chay zone ‐ points a and b, § 1, and for the Araks zone ‐ in §
2.
I, zone Arpa‐Chay
A) southeast of Vartanlı ‐ east of Uzun‐kilis, across mount Bozyar (5096) ‐ 5082‐5047 ‐ east of Karmir‐vaik ‐ Uch‐tapa (6578 or 5578) ‐ east of Arazoglu, to the east of ani ‐ reaches Arpa‐chai to the west of Yeinikoy.
B) it departs again from Arpa‐chai to the east of the height of 5019 ‐ goes straight to the height of 5481 ‐ four and a half versts east of Kyzyl‐Kum ‐ two versts east of Bojaly ‐ then the Digor‐chai river ‐ follows this river to the village of Duz‐kechut, goes directly to the north of the ruins of
Kara‐bag and goes to Arpa‐chai.
2. Zone of Araks
Direct line between Kharaba‐ Alijan and the village of Suleiman‐diza.
In the zones bounded on the one side by the Alexandropol‐Erivan railway line and on the other by the lines located at a distance of 8 and 4 versts from the above‐mentioned railway line, the government of the Turkish grand national assembly undertakes not to build any fortifications (these lines of distance are outside the indicated zones) and do not contain regular troops in them; however, it retains the right to have troops in the indicated zones necessary for the maintenance of security order and for administrative needs.
A. Mravyan Kazim Karabekir
P. Makinzyan Veli
B. Shahtakhtiisky mukhtar
S. Eliava Memduh Shevket
A. Svanidze Ganetsky
Appendix iii
Territory of Nakhichevan
Urmia village ‐ from here, in a straight line ‐ Arazdayan station (leaving it behind the socialist Soviet republic of Armenia) ‐ then in a straight line to the western Tash‐Burun mountain (3142) ‐ the watershed line of the eastern Tash‐Burun mountain (4108) ‐ passes through the Jaanam river‐ dagArasi to the south of the inscription ʺnative.ʺ (Bulak) (south) ‐ follows the watershed line of mount Bagarsykh (6607 or 6587) and from here follows along the administrative border of the former Erivan district and Sharuro‐daralagez district through a height of 6629 to mount Komurlyu‐dag (6839 or 6930) and from here to the heights 3080 ‐ Sayat‐dag (7868) ‐ the village of Kurt‐kulag (kurt‐kulag) ‐ mount Gamessur‐dag (8160) ‐ altitude 8022 ‐ Kuyuki‐dag (10282) and the eastern administrative border of the former Nakhichevan district.
A. Mravyan Kazim Karabekir
P. Makinzyan Veli
B. Shahtakhtiisky mukhtar
S. Eliava Memduh Shevket
A. Svanidze
Ganetsky
Publ. In the ʺcollection of existing contracts ...ʺ. No. Iii, m ʺ1922, pp. 4957.
The exchange of instruments of ratification took place in Yerevan on
September 11, 1922.