Cyprus Convention - Annex

Annex

The following is the full text of an annex which was subsequently agreed to as part of this convention:

ANNEX TO CONVENTION of Defensive Alliance between Great Britain and Turkey, of 4 June, 1878. Conditions of British Occupation and Administration of Cyprus. Signed at Constantinople, 1 July, 1878.

The Right Honourable Sir A. H. Layard, G.C.B., and his Highness Safvet Pasha, now the Grand Vizier of His Majesty the Sultan, have agreed to the following Annex to the Convention signed by them as Plenipotentiaries of their respective Governments on the 4th June, 1878:

Conditions of Occupation and Administration of Cyprus.

It is understood between the two High Contracting Parties that England agrees to the following conditions relating to her occupation and administration of the Island of Cyprus:

Mussulman Religious Tribunal.

I. That a Mussulman religious Tribunal (Mehkéméi Shéri) shall continue to exist in the island, which will take exclusive cognizance of religious matters, and of no others, concerning the Mussulman population of the island.

Superintendence and Administration of Mussulman Schools and other Religious Establishments in Cyprus.

II. That a Mussulman resident in the island shall be named by the Board of Pious Foundations in Turkey (Evkaf) to superintend, in conjunction with a Delegate to be appointed by the British Authorities, the administration of the property, funds, and lands belonging to mosques, cemeteries, Mussulman schools, and other religious establishments existing in Cyprus.

Excess of Revenue over Expenditure to be paid by England to Turkey.

III. That England will pay to the Porte whatever is the present excess of revenue over expenditure in the island; (this excess to be calculated upon and determined by the average of the last five years, stated to be 22,336 purses, to be duly verified hereafter, and to the exclusion of the produce of State and Crown lands let or sold during that period.)

Power reserved to Porte to Sell and Lease Lands and other Property of the Crown and State in Cyprus.

IV. That the Sublime Porte may freely sell and lease lands and other property in Cyprus belonging to the Ottoman Crown and State (Arazii Miriyé vé Emlaki Houmayoun) the produce of which does not form part of the revenue of the island referred to in Article III.

Purchase of Land by English Government.

V. That the English Government, though their competent authorities, may purchase compulsorily, at a fair price, land required for public improvements, or for other public purposes, and land which is not cultivated.

Conditions of Evacuation of Cyprus by Great Britain.

VI. That if Russia restores to Turkey Kars, and the other conquests made by her in Armenia during the last war, the Island of Cyprus will be evacuated by England, and the Convention of the 4th of June, 1878, will be at an end.

Done at Constantinople, the 1st day of July, 1878.