Treaty of Alexandropol
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Alexandropol was a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of Armenia
and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
ending the Turkish-Armenian War
, signed on December 2, 1920, before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. It was the first treaty signed by Turkish revolutionaries with an internationally accepted state. The terms of the treaty were negotiated between Kazim Karabekir
and Armenian Foreign Minister Alexander Khatisyan
.
The tenth item in the agreement stated that Armenia renounced the Treaty of Sèvres
, which stipulated the Wilsonian Armenia
.
The second item acknowledged the newly established border between the two countries. Essentially, the border agreed to was that identified in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
(1918) between the Russian SFSR and Ottoman Empire
. The Democratic Republic of Armenia
had previously denounced the Brest-Litovsk treaty. However, after armed conflict, the border was accepted by Armenia in the Treaty of Batum
(1918). In the administrative vacuum created by the dissolution of Ottoman forces due to the Armistice of Mudros
, a new state South West Caucasian Republic headed by Fakhr al-Din Pirioghlu and centered in Kars
was formed. It existed along with the British
general governorship created during the Entente
's intervention in Transcaucasia. It was abolished in 1919 by British High Commissioner Admiral Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe
, after the occupation of Istanbul
. This enabled the Democratic Republic of Armenia to fill these territories.
The Treaty of Alexandropol changed the boundary of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
to the Ardahan-Kars borderline and ceded over fifty percent of Democratic Republic of Armenia
to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
. According to the treaty of Gumru,Armenians have accepted that Treaty of Sevres is void and meaningless. Article 11 declared the Sevres Treaty "null and void." The same article stipulated that the Armenian Government undertook to withdraw its delegations in Europe and America, that are tools in the hands of certain imperialistic governments and circles.The reasons for the military defeat are expressed in the publication Dashnagzoutiun Has Nothing To Do Anymore by Hovhannes Katchaznouni
.
The treaty signed by the Armenian government
was to be ratified by the Armenian parliament within a month. This did not take place due to the Russian SFSR occupation of Armenia. In 1921 the treaty was replaced with the Treaty of Kars
.
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
ending the Turkish-Armenian War
Turkish-Armenian War
The Turkish–Armenian War stemmed from an invasion of the Democratic Republic of Armenia by the Turkish Revolutionaries of the Turkish National Movement in the autumn of 1920...
, signed on December 2, 1920, before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. It was the first treaty signed by Turkish revolutionaries with an internationally accepted state. The terms of the treaty were negotiated between Kazim Karabekir
Kazim Karabekir
Musa Kâzım Karabekir was a Turkish general and politician. He was commander of the Eastern Army in the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and served as Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey before his death.-Early years:Karabekir was born in 1882 as the son of an Ottoman General,...
and Armenian Foreign Minister Alexander Khatisyan
Alexander Khatisyan
Alexander Khatisyan was an Armenian politician and a journalist. He served as the mayor of Tiflis from 1910 to 1917. During this period Count Illarion Ivanovich Vorontsov-Dashkov consulted with him, the primate of Tbilisi, Bishop Mesrop, and the prominent civic leader Dr. Hakob Zavriev about the...
.
The tenth item in the agreement stated that Armenia renounced the Treaty of Sèvres
Treaty of Sèvres
The Treaty of Sèvres was the peace treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Allies at the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles was signed with Germany before this treaty to annul the German concessions including the economic rights and enterprises. Also, France, Great Britain and Italy...
, which stipulated the Wilsonian Armenia
Wilsonian Armenia
Wilsonian Armenia refers to the boundary configuration of the Armenian state in the Treaty of Sèvres, drawn by US President Woodrow Wilson State Department. The Treaty of Sèvres was a peace treaty that had been drafted and signed between the Western Allied Powers and the defeated government of the...
.
The second item acknowledged the newly established border between the two countries. Essentially, the border agreed to was that identified in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
(1918) between the Russian SFSR and Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. The Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
had previously denounced the Brest-Litovsk treaty. However, after armed conflict, the border was accepted by Armenia in the Treaty of Batum
Treaty of Batum
Treaty of Batum was signed in Batum between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Ottoman Empire on June 4 1918. It was the first treaty of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. It consisted of 14 articles...
(1918). In the administrative vacuum created by the dissolution of Ottoman forces due to the Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
, a new state South West Caucasian Republic headed by Fakhr al-Din Pirioghlu and centered in Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
was formed. It existed along with the British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
general governorship created during the Entente
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
's intervention in Transcaucasia. It was abolished in 1919 by British High Commissioner Admiral Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe
Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Somerset Arthur Gough-Calthorpe GCB, GCMG, CVO , sometimes known as Sir Somerset Calthorpe, was a British Royal Navy admiral and a member of the Gough-Calthorpe family.-Naval career:...
, after the occupation of Istanbul
Occupation of Istanbul
The Occupation of Constantinople was the occupation of the capital of the Ottoman Empire by the Triple Entente, following the Armistice of Mudros which ended Ottoman participation in the First World War. The first French troops entered the city on November 12, 1918, followed by British troops the...
. This enabled the Democratic Republic of Armenia to fill these territories.
The Treaty of Alexandropol changed the boundary of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
to the Ardahan-Kars borderline and ceded over fifty percent of Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
. According to the treaty of Gumru,Armenians have accepted that Treaty of Sevres is void and meaningless. Article 11 declared the Sevres Treaty "null and void." The same article stipulated that the Armenian Government undertook to withdraw its delegations in Europe and America, that are tools in the hands of certain imperialistic governments and circles.The reasons for the military defeat are expressed in the publication Dashnagzoutiun Has Nothing To Do Anymore by Hovhannes Katchaznouni
Hovhannes Katchaznouni
Hovhannes Katchaznouni was the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Armenia from May 30, 1918 to May 28, 1919. He was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.-Personal life:...
.
The treaty signed by the Armenian government
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
was to be ratified by the Armenian parliament within a month. This did not take place due to the Russian SFSR occupation of Armenia. In 1921 the treaty was replaced with the Treaty of Kars
Treaty of Kars
The Treaty of Kars was a "friendship" treaty signed in Kars on October 13, 1921 and ratified in Yerevan on September 11 1922.Signatories included representatives from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which in 1923 would declare the Republic of Turkey, and also from Soviet Armenia, Soviet...
.