Agreement between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of Finland concerning the renunciation by the Soviet Union of rights to the use of the territory of Porkkala-Udd as a naval base and the withdrawal of Soviet armed forces from the said territory

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the President of the Republic of Finland,
Considering that good-neighbourly relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of Finland are developing favourably and that mutual confidence between them is constantly growing stronger,
Having regard to the fact that the Treaty of Friendship, Coöperation and Mutual Assistance between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of Finland, signed on 6 April 1948, 2 ensures favourable conditions for the further strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries,
Considering that the Soviet Union, mindful of the interests of the Republic of Finland, has found it possible to renounce, before the expiry of the agreed term, the right accorded to the Soviet Union to the lease of the territory of Porkkala-Udd, and to withdraw its forces therefrom,
Have decided to conclude the present Agreement and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: Mr. N.A.Bulganin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
The President of the Republic of Finland: Mr. Urho Kekkonen, Prime Minister, and Mr. Emil Skog, Minister of Defence;
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics renounces in favour of the Republic of Finland all rights to the use and administration of the territories and waters which the Republic of Finland first leased to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under article 8 of the Armistice Agreement signed at Moscow on 19 September 1944 and then confirmed, under article 4 of the Treaty of Peace signed at Paris on February 10, 1947,1 having leased to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for a term of fifty years for the establishment of a naval base on the Peninsula of Porkkala-Udd.

At the same time the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics renounces in favour of the Republic of Finland all the rights to the use of the railways, water ways, roads and air routes to the Peninsula of Porkkala-Udd, which were guar anteed to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under article 4, paragraph 2, of the said Treaty of Peace, and the right to the use of the telecommunications established with the peninsula.

Article 2

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall withdraw all its armed forces from the territories referred to in article 1 and shall transfer the full right of administration of those territories to the Republic of Finland within the three months following the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification of this Agreement.

Article 3

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall transfer to the Republic of Finland the territories specified in article 1 and all the property thereon in the condition in which such property may be at the time stated in article 2 and free of all charges, dues or other encumbrances or rights which may have accrued during the period of the lease to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or its corporations, associations or citizens.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall also transfer to the Republic of Finland, without compensation, all barracks, residential and storage facilities, communications, installations, port equipment, wharves and other structures erected by the Soviet authorities in the territory of Porkkala-Udd and to be left in that territory by the Soviet Command after the withdrawal of the Soviet forces.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties undertake not to present to each other, after the period specified in article 2, any claims for compensation arising out of the fact that the territories specified in article 1 were under the administration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the fact that the full right to the administration of those territories is being restored to the Republic of Finland under the terms of this Agreement.

Article 5

This Agreement shall be ratified and shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which shall take place at Helsinki as soon as possible.

In witness whereof the aforesaid plenipotentiaries have signed the present Agreement and have affixed thereto their seals.

Done at Moscow on 19 September 1955, in two copies, each in the Russian and Finnish languages, both texts being equally authentic.