Anglien-Vegno Treaty of Friendship
The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Free Duchy of Anglien and the Republic of Vegno is a bilateral treaty between the Free Duchy of Anglien and the Republic of Vegno. Talks between the two national delegations opened in Johannsessbuurg in 1757 AN, and the treaty was signed there on 1.XII.1757 AN. It awaits ratification by both states and has not yet entered into force.
The treaty commits both parties to non-aggression and the peaceful settlement of disputes, guarantees freedom of navigation and port access for merchant shipping, permits scheduled air services between the two states, establishes free trade in five annual stages, provides reciprocal visa-free travel of 90 days for visitors and 200 days for students, and creates a framework for cooperation concerning the Anglian refugee community in Vegno. It expressly provides that the treaty creates no alliance and no mutual defense obligation, consistent with Anglien's policy of active non-alignment, while leaving Vegno's existing obligations as a Concord Alliance member unaffected.
The treaty is Anglien's first bilateral treaty with a Concord Alliance member state. Relations between the duchy and the alliance's members have to date been conducted largely through the coordinating framework of the CATO Commissioner of Peace for Anglien, a framework scheduled to conclude with the 1759 AN constitutional transition. The negotiations reflected the stated objective of both governments to place the relationship on a footing that survives that conclusion. Vegno's wartime role gives the relationship its depth: the CATO intervention launched from the Vegnese Northern Sea ports of Cossa and Sancrus, Vegnese supply lines sustained the Anglian civilian population during the clearing phase, and Cardinal Étienne Lavoie, Bishop of Anglien, resided in Vegno from III.1753 AN until his return to Anglien in VIII.1756 AN, together with a community of Anglian refugees who fled the NKR occupation, part of which remains in the Republic.
Negotiation and signature
The Anglian delegation was led by Anneke Brandsen, Minister of External Affairs. Because the negotiations concerned a Concord Alliance member state, the CATO Commissioner of Peace for Anglien was formally consulted in accordance with the Charter of Anglien; the Commissioner's office raised no objection. On the Anglian side, the treaty's trade provisions create a lasting financial obligation and ratification by the Diet of Anglien is therefore required under the Charter. On the Vegnese side, ratification will proceed in accordance with the constitutional procedures of the Republic.
The treaty was signed at Johannsessbuurg on 1.XII.1757 AN by Transitional Prime Minister Eduard Vogt for the Free Duchy and Prime Minister Andrea Loriano for the Republic. It enters into force on ratification by both states in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
Text
TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATIONBETWEEN
THE FREE DUCHY OF ANGLIEN
AND
THE REPUBLIC OF VEGNO
The Free Duchy of Anglien and the Republic of Vegno, hereinafter the High Contracting Parties,
Recalling the cooperation between their peoples during the restoration of lawful governance in Anglien, and the hospitality extended by the Republic of Vegno to Anglians displaced by the occupation,
Desiring to place relations between their states and peoples on a footing of friendship, mutual respect, and equality that endures beyond the transitional arrangements now in force, and affirming that nothing in this Treaty shall constitute an alliance between them,
Have agreed as follows:Article I - Peace and friendship
- There shall be a firm and lasting state of peace and friendly relations between the High Contracting Parties, their governments, and their citizens, without discrimination. All rights, privileges, and obligations arising under this Treaty apply reciprocally and in equal measure to both High Contracting Parties.
Article II - Sovereignty and territorial integrity
- Each High Contracting Party shall respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the other. Neither High Contracting Party shall interfere in the internal affairs of the other.
Article III - Non-aggression
- The High Contracting Parties shall refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and shall not permit their territories to be used for acts of aggression directed against the other High Contracting Party.
Article IV - Exclusion of alliance
- This Treaty does not constitute an alliance. It creates no obligation of mutual defense, no commitment of military assistance, and no requirement of coordination in matters of security policy.
- Nothing in this Treaty shall be construed to affect the non-aligned status of the Free Duchy of Anglien, to bind the Free Duchy to any obligation of the Concord Alliance, or to constitute accession by the Free Duchy to any collective security framework.
- Nothing in this Treaty shall be construed to affect the existing obligations of the Republic of Vegno as a member of the Concord Alliance.
Article V - Diplomatic relations
- The High Contracting Parties affirm the diplomatic relations existing between them and the resident missions exchanged at Johannsessbuurg and Cossa. Upon the entry into force of this Treaty, each mission shall be elevated to the rank of embassy headed by an ambassador.
- Each High Contracting Party shall accord to the diplomatic and consular personnel of the other the immunities and protections customary among sovereign states.
Article VI - Freedom of navigation
- Merchant vessels of each High Contracting Party shall enjoy freedom of navigation to, from, and between the ports of the other High Contracting Party, together with access to those ports, their facilities, and their services, on terms no less favorable than those accorded to vessels of any third state.
- No charges shall be levied on such vessels other than for specific services rendered.
- This Article does not affect the right of either High Contracting Party to regulate fishing, customs, immigration, and sanitary matters within its own waters in accordance with its laws.
Article VII - Air services
- Each High Contracting Party grants to the air carriers designated by the other High Contracting Party the right to operate scheduled air services between the territories of the two High Contracting Parties, including the right of overflight and of technical stops. Routes, capacity, and operational matters shall be settled between the aeronautical authorities of the High Contracting Parties. Such services remain subject to the safety, customs, and immigration laws of the receiving state.
Article VIII - Trade
- The High Contracting Parties shall establish free trade in goods originating in their respective territories. Customs duties on such goods shall be reduced in five equal annual stages, beginning one year after the entry into force of this Treaty, and shall be eliminated entirely at the end of the fifth year.
- Each High Contracting Party shall accord to goods originating in the territory of the other treatment no less favorable than that accorded to like goods of domestic origin in matters of internal taxation and regulation.
- Nothing in this Article prevents either High Contracting Party from maintaining measures necessary for the protection of public health, public morals, public security, or national treasures.
- A Joint Commission on Trade, composed of representatives of both High Contracting Parties, shall supervise the implementation of this Article and shall meet at least once each year.
Article IX - Movement of persons
- Citizens of each High Contracting Party holding a valid passport may enter the territory of the other High Contracting Party without a visa and remain there for a period not exceeding 90 days.
- Citizens of each High Contracting Party enrolled at a recognized institution of education in the territory of the other may remain for a period not exceeding 200 days in any calendar year, on proof of enrollment.
- This Article does not confer a right of employment, establishment, or permanent residence, which remain governed by the domestic law of the receiving state. Each High Contracting Party retains the right to refuse entry or to remove individual persons in accordance with its laws.
Article X - Displaced persons
- The Republic of Vegno shall continue to accord lawful residence to Anglian nationals displaced to its territory during the NKR occupation, for so long as they elect to remain, in accordance with Vegnese law.
- The High Contracting Parties shall cooperate to facilitate the voluntary return of displaced Anglians to the Free Duchy, including through the recognition of identity and civil documents issued to them during their displacement.
- The Free Duchy of Anglien shall ensure that displaced Anglians resident in Vegno may participate from Vegnese territory in civil, administrative, and restitution proceedings before Anglian authorities, and the Republic of Vegno shall facilitate the transmission of documents and testimony for that purpose.
Article XI - Recognition of public acts
- Each High Contracting Party gives full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of the other in the field of civil law, including records of marriage, property, death, and inheritance, in so far as such acts are done according to the law of the state of origin.
Article XII - Peaceful settlement of disputes
- Any dispute between the High Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Treaty, or any other difference arising between them, shall be settled exclusively by peaceful means, in the first instance through direct negotiation, and failing that through such international mechanisms as both High Contracting Parties have accepted.
Article XIII - Amendment and termination
- This Treaty may be amended by written agreement of both High Contracting Parties. Either High Contracting Party may terminate this Treaty by written notice through diplomatic channels, in which case the Treaty shall cease to have effect twelve months after the date of such notice.
Article XIV - Entry into force
- This Treaty enters into force upon its signature and ratification by both High Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
_____________ Signed on 1.XII.1757 AN at Johannsessbuurg:
For the Free Duchy of Anglien:
Eduard Vogt
Transitional Prime Minister of Anglien
For the Republic of Vegno:
Andrea Loriano
Prime Minister of Vegno
