Batum Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1918)

The Imperial Ottoman Government, on the one hand, and the Government of the Republic of Armenia, which has declared itself independent, on the other, having mutually agreed to establish relations of friendship and good neighbourliness between the two parties in political, legal, economic and intellectual matters, appointed the following persons as their plenipotentiaries: For the Ottoman Empire: His Excellency Halil Bey, deputy, Minister of Justice and President of the Council of State, as first delegate; and His Excellency Lieutenant General Vehib Mehmed Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of the Ottoman troops on the Caucasian front, as military delegate. For the Armenian Republic: Mr Al. Khatisov, president of the delegation; Mr Ruben Kachaznuni, delegate; and Mr Mikael Papadjanov, delegate. Having examined the powers of both parties and found them in due form, these persons agreed upon the following provisions:

Peace and permanent friendship are established between the Imperial Ottoman Government and the Government of the Armenian Republic.

The boundary line following the course described below separates the Ottoman Empire from the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The boundary begins at the point where the River Chorokh flows into the Black Sea and coincides with the old frontier existing between the Ottoman Empire and Russia before the war of 1877. It passes Shavnabad and, following the line of summits, reaches the mountains of Khalkham and Mepistskar along the frontier of 1856; it then turns south, passes over the summit of Mount Pirsagad, two kilometres south of Abastuman, and, turning north-east, reaches the summit of Karkhul Dag. From there, proceeding first five kilometres north-east and then south-east, it reaches Gurkel, crosses the River Kura two kilometres south of Atskuri and, following the summits of Kayabashi and Ortatavi, reaches Lake Tabitskur immediately south of the Molit monastery. It then crosses this lake so that the part of the lake lying south of a straight line running immediately south of the Molit monastery to a point one and a half kilometres south-east of the northern end of the lake remains in Ottoman territory, and reaches Mount Tavkoteli. It then descends southwards over the summits of Shavnabad, Karakuzu and Samsar and, turning east, follows the summits of the Devekiran range. It next runs south over the summits of Achrikar, Bashkiran and Nurrakhman. After Mount Nurrakhman it continues south along the line of summits and crosses the Alexandropol–Tiflis railway five kilometres west of Agbulag. From there it follows the summits to Khanvali, then reaches the highest summit of Mount Alagiaz by an almost straight line. Continuing in a straight line, it crosses the Echmiadzin–Sardarabad road at a point seven kilometres west of Echmiadzin, then passes around Echmiadzin at a distance of seven kilometres and follows a course parallel to the Alexandropol–Julfa railway, approximately six kilometres from that railway. Sixteen kilometres south-west of Bashkiran it crosses the road leading from that place to the railway, then turns south-east, passes one kilometre from the village of Ashagi Karabaglar and, through Shagatlu, Karakhachi and Ashagi Chanakji, reaches the River Elpinchay, which it follows to Arpa. From that place it joins the valley of the Arpachay, reaches Kayalu and, following the River Kaid, arrives at the summit of Aktaban. It then crosses the summits of Karaturna, Arajin and Garanlik, reaches the descent of the River Reanlachay and follows its valley to reach Alijan, south of Aza, on the former Russo-Persian frontier. The final determination of the boundary line shall be carried out on the spot by a commission composed of members of both parties.

The protocol of the agreement concluded between the Government of the Armenian Republic and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the determination of their mutual boundaries shall be communicated to the Imperial Ottoman Government.

The Imperial Ottoman Government undertakes to assist the Government of the Armenian Republic by force of arms if the latter requests such assistance from it in order to ensure order and tranquillity in the country.

The Government of the Armenian Republic undertakes actively to prevent any bands from being formed or armed within its territory and to disarm all bands that might attempt to take refuge there.

The religion and customs of the Muslims living in the Armenian Republic shall be respected. The name of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan shall be pronounced in the Muslims’ public prayers. They shall enjoy the same civil and political rights as citizens belonging to other religions. Muslims may receive instruction in their mother tongue and in the language of their religion. For the exercise of religious worship and charity, Muslim communities may be formed as legal bodies authorised to establish mosques, hospitals, schools, and religious and charitable institutions, and to acquire movable and immovable property for their maintenance. They shall be administered by special administrators. The Chief Mufti shall have his seat in Erivan, the capital or principal city of the Armenian Republic, and the other muftis shall reside in such other places in the Republic as their presence is considered necessary. The relations of these muftis with the Sheikh-ul-Ismail, as well as their rights and duties, are determined in the agreement annexed to the present treaty.

In view of the absence of any treaties, conventions, agreements, acts, regulations or other international documents between the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Republic, the two Contracting Parties have agreed to conclude a consular convention, a commercial treaty and such other instruments as they consider necessary to regulate their mutual legal relations. The consular convention shall be concluded within two years from the date of exchange of ratifications of the present treaty. During the transitional period, consuls-general and vice-consuls shall enjoy most-favoured-nation treatment in respect of their privileges and functions, on the basis of general international law and reciprocity. Negotiations for the conclusion of a commercial treaty on the basis of general international law shall begin immediately after the conclusion of a general peace between Turkey, on the one hand, and the states at war with it, on the other. Until that time, and in any event until 3 December 1919, the provisional arrangement established by the annex to the present treaty shall be applied by both parties: it may be denounced beginning on 30 June 1919 and shall take effect after six months. Land communications shall begin after the exchange of ratifications of the present treaty.

The Contracting Parties undertake to afford each other every possible facility in railway transport by establishing and applying reduced tariffs. Special reduced tariffs shall be applied, in particular, to the transport of materials required for the construction, operation and maintenance of railways or any other public works. The exchange of rolling stock between the railway lines of the Contracting Parties shall be carried out on the basis of the international principles established on this subject. The Contracting Parties shall immediately enter into negotiations to settle the details of the foregoing provisions.

Until the Armenian Republic joins the International Postal and Telegraph Union, postal and telegraphic relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Republic shall be restored after the exchange of ratifications of the present treaty, in accordance with the provisions of the Union’s postal and telegraphic conventions, agreements and regulations.

Inhabitants and communities in the territory of either Contracting Party having rights of ownership and use over immovable property situated on the other side of the frontier may use, exploit, lease, administer or sell that property, personally or through representatives. No one may be deprived of ownership rights in such property except for reasons of public utility and always with compensation. No obstacles shall be placed in the way of inhabitants and representatives of these communities crossing the frontier upon presentation of travel documents issued by the appropriate authorities at their place of residence and legalised by the authorities of the other party. Facilities and special privileges shall be afforded for crossing the frontier and for trade in frontier localities. The details of the foregoing provisions are governed by Annex 11 to the present treaty.

The Government of the Armenian Republic undertakes to make every effort to evacuate all Armenian military forces present in Baku immediately after the signature of the present treaty, and to ensure that this evacuation does not give rise to any clashes.

The provisions of the general and supplementary peace treaties concluded at Brest-Litovsk between the Ottoman Empire, its allies and Russia shall apply to the Contracting Parties insofar as they do not conflict with the present treaty.

Troops situated outside the territorial boundaries determined by the present treaty shall be evacuated after the treaty is signed.

The present treaty shall be ratified, and the exchange of ratifications shall take place at Constantinople within one month, or sooner if possible. It shall enter into force on the date of that exchange.

In confirmation thereof, the plenipotentiaries signed the present Treaty of Peace and Friendship and affixed their seals. Vehib — R. Kachaznuni Signed: Halil — A. Khatisov