Her Majesty The Queen of the Principality of Gabon and The Honourable Red Duke of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia

ACKNOWLEDGING the deep relationship and close ties between the peoples of the Principality of Gabon and the Grand Duchy of Varkonia,

RECOGNISING the power of working together in a closer union to achieve their shared goal of peace and stability,

SEEKING to deepen the links of and anchor their bilateral relationship and cooperation on international matters,

ATTEMPTING to impart a long term commitment to their multifaceted bilateral relations and to actively develop them in political, development, economic, trade, scientific, technological, cultural and other fields in the years ahead,

Have accordingly appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:

Her Majesty the Queen of the Principality of Gabon: Ourself

The Honourable Red Duke of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia: Himself

Who, having exhibited their full powers found in good and due form, have agreed as follows—

Part A Transfer of lands

Article 1 Lands defined

Throughout this Treaty, any reference to the “Gabonaise lands” refers to all land claimed and held by Her Majesty The Queen of the Principality of Gabon at the time this Treaty is ratified by the High Contracting Parties.

Article 2 Cession of lands

The Principality of Gabon gives, transfers and grants and confirms unto the Grand Duchy of Varkonia (including the heirs and successors forever thereof) the Gabonaise lands, with all the rights, profits, territories and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, and as well the profits and revenue as the direct, full, and absolute dominion and sovereignty of the said territory, with all royalties thereof, subject to the terms of this Treaty.

Part B Transition of government

Article 3 Abolition of the Principality of Gabon

The High Contracting Parties agree and declare that the Principality of Gabon is abolished and that there shall lie no claim to the royal throne of the said extinct Principality of Gabon.

Article 4 Establishment of the Province of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that a province of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia named the Province of Gabon exists with its territory of the Gabonaise lands. The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the territory of the said Province cannot be reduced or made smaller in any way without the consent of the said Province but can be enlarged by the Grand Duchy of Varkonia.

Article 5 Establishment of government of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the Province of Gabon shall have its own provincial government named the Assembly of the Province of Gabon that may make and pass laws for the peace and good government of the Province. The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the said Assembly shall have as its head an office titled the Grand Prince of the Province of Gabon and that office shall be filled by the now-titled Her Majesty The Queen of the Principality of Gabon. The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the said Grand Prince shall be empowered to appoint and remove members of the said Assembly.

Article 6 Self government of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the Province of Gabon shall have self government and that the Grand Duchy of Varkonia will not interfere or intermeddle with the internal affairs of the said Province, except to the extent necessary to effect peace and good government of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia.

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the Grand Duchy of Varkonia shall not have power to remove from office the Grand Prince of the Province of Gabon. The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the Grand Duchy of Varkonia shall not have the power or competency to modify the system of government in the Province of Gabon and that any changes to this can only be made by and with the consent of the said Province.

Article 7 Application of laws to Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the laws of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia shall apply to and within the Gabonaise lands only to the extent that the provision relates to a matter referred to the Grand Duchy of Varkonia by the Assembly of the Province of Gabon.

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the judicature of the Province of Gabon shall have power and jurisdiction to determine whether laws of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia are applicable to the said Province.

Article 8 Saving of laws of the Principality of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the laws in force in the Principality of Gabon at the time that this Treaty is ratified shall become the laws of the Province of Gabon. To remove any doubt, the Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares the said Province shall be competent to amend or repeal these laws as if they were made by the Province.

Article 9 Representation of Gabon on Varkonian senate

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that at all times there shall be at least two senators drawn from members of the Assembly of the Province of Gabon.

Part C Option to withdraw

Article 10 Gabon may withdraw

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that at any time the Province of Gabon may withdraw from the Grand Duchy of Varkonia and that the Grand Duchy of Varkonia shall effect within 5 days of a written notification from the said Province of an intention to withdraw a treaty ceding the Gabonaise lands to the Grand Prince of the said Province.

Part D Citizenship

Article 11 Acquisition of Varkonian citizenship

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that all persons who at the time this Treaty is ratified were subjects of Her Majesty The Queen of the Principality of Gabon and who are not already citizens of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia shall become citizens of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia. The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that Her Majesty The Queen of the Principality of Gabon shall become a citizen of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia.

Article 12 Residency of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that the Assembly of the Province of Gabon shall have the power to set requirements for acquisition of residency of the said Province and that this can be independent from acquisition of citizenship in the Grand Duchy of Varkonia.

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that all persons that are from time to time considered by the said Assembly to be residents of the said Province shall be citizens of the Grand Duchy of Varkonia.

Article 13 Nationality of Gabon

The Grand Duchy of Varkonia agrees and declares that there shall be no distinct citizenship for the Province of Gabon but that it shall be denoted on the register of citizens that a particular citizen is a legally recognised resident of the said Province.

In witness whereof the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and affixed thereto their Seals.

Done in duplicate at Salisbury this twenty-ninth day of July, 2018, in the English language.