WHAT IS KARS AGREEMENT?

Armen Manvelian

AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2009
Armenia-Turkey

Armenian-Turkish last statement has kicked up a fuss in Armenia. We can
underline that there is no neutral and impartial analysis here. Trying
to fill up the gap here, "Azg" daily publishes so-called Kars agreement
that according to the Turkish press is one of the preconditions that
the official Ankara puts forward for improvement of Armenian-Turkish
bilateral relations and opening of the border. And in this situation
the main question is – what is Kars agreement and what subject does
it touch upon?

Once more we want to underline that it is not clear yet if the Kars
agreement is a precondition or not, but we want to note that it is
signed on October 13, 1921, between Turkey, on the one hand, and Soviet
Republics of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, on the other hand. This
multilateral agreement was signed in the presence of Russian delegation
representatives and was actually the reflection of the Russian-Turkish
agreement signed in March of 1921. Foreign Minister Asqanaz Mravian
and Minister of Internal Affairs Petros Makintsian signed the
agreement on behalf of Soviet Armenia. After one year of signing
the agreement it was ratified by the Transcaucasian three republics
and the ratification documents were handed to the Turkish side in
Yerevan. Practically, the Armenian-Turkish present-day border has been
marked by this agreement. It is the only agreement that regulates
the relations between the two countries. Subsequently, a memorandum
of using drinking and irrigation water on Armenian-Turkish border,
and also other documents were signed on the basis of this agreement.

People, who are against this agreement’s reaffirmation, mention that
it is against our claim and with this agreement we actually recognize
modern Turkey’s territorial integrity. In 1991, when Armenia proclaimed
its independence, it was announced that the newly independent Armenia
is the legal successor of the Soviet Republic. It stands to reason
that the third republic recognizes all agreements signed by the
Soviet Armenia.

Besides, in March of 1991, when Armenia became a UN member, the
Armenian authorities actually recognized the territorial integrity
of the UN member-countries. It means that Armenia has already de
jure recognized the neighboring Turkey’s territorial integrity
for several times. Consequently, the clamor set up by the Armenian
political parties is only a PR and is delayed from the aspect of
international law.

However, the Kars agreement has defects as well. In particular,
it is underlined in the agreement that under concept of Turkey the
territories are kept in view that are involved in the National Oath
adopted by the Ottoman Parliament in Costandinopolis (Istanbul)
on January 28, 1920. It means that Armenia taking into account
the above-mentioned can renounce this agreement, because according
to so-called National Oath such territories were involved in the
borders of Turkey that today are not part of it and belong to Iran and
Iraq. Besides, the Kars state was out of the borders of that Turkey.

Therefore, the agreement needs detailed and impartial discussion and
analysis to understand if it is advantageous or not.

Nevertheless, I think that Armenia should step boldly forward and
carry on an active dialogue with Turkey that will not only solve the
issue of the border but also will create a new political situation
in the whole South Caucasus and will strengthen Armenia’s position
in the international scene.

"Azg" daily will touch upon the Kars agreement in detail in its
future issues.

The complete text of Kars agreement is available only in Russian. You
can read it on our website’s Russian section.