[Discussion] Condemnation of the Spanish Occupation of Foreign Naval Territory

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

First of all, colleagues this issue does not simply affect only Moriagaru. This affects the trade that exists between member-states. You see, I have been informed that the Spanish Government still taxes those who pass through the territorial rights of Moriagaru. However, this is what's most unbelievable, they tax double those who successfully escape their taxing scheme in Moriagaru if they pass through the Strait of Gibraltar. Therefore, this means they are forcing all ships to pass through their waters. Now the effects of this taxing? Higher prices of goods when they arrive at their destination. And the more they do it, the more money they steal from the people of Europe who buy these goods that have to pass through the unfair tax-scheme in the straits.

Even though, Reitzmag is lucky to have Moriagaru as an ally. With this, they let us unload shipments onto Moriagaru land and load them on the other side where another ship is waiting. This partnership does not exist between Moriagaru and all other EU Member-states. And I believe that each country deserves a fair share in this important trading route. The Kingdom of Spain is the true expansionist country, and now they are conducting neo-colonialism by manipulating the European Economies for their benefit through unfair taxation and stealing of foreign territorial waters.

Yuridiana Yahontov
Interim Deputy Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag

[Istkalen]

This is complete gibberish, Councillor Yahontov, although gibberish and propaganda is what I have come to expect from you.

The State of Moriagaru has made no motion as to show that it cares at all about the Strait of Gibraltar. Until it does, Spain has the right to do as it wishes with its own territory.

Gertrude Echteran
Councillor for Istkalen

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

And you are doing this Coun. Echteran because you cannot accept that your hostile country had lost a war. And you are siding with an expansionist country that exploits and steals money from people of other member-states through their strait passage taxes. Moriagaru had remained silent because it cannot do anything nor can risk war against this imperialist country, and I am here to stand for them as a representative of a concerned fellow member-state whose foreign trade is affected by such actions.

Yuridiana Yahontov
Interim Deputy Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag

[Istkalen]

Councillor Yahontov, this makes no sense. You have no authority to represent the people of Moriagaru; in any case, to again condone what probably would have amounted to genocide and using it to pettily and childishly insult an entire country is no more than evil.

You are projecting, that's all I can say.

Gertrude Echteran
Councillor for Istkalen

[Fremet]

Councilor Yahontov, it sounds to me like your primary concern here is not with the State of Moriagaru, but rather with the taxes imposed by the Spanish government.

If you are truly so reverent to the sovereignty of the State of Moriagaru, I ask that you provide evidence that their government requested Reitzmic assistance in this matter. If they have not, I strongly recommend that the Councilor from Moriagaru make a statement regarding the taxation of the straights.

Furthermore, if your goal is, in actuality, to condemn the Spanish claims, the taxation of the straights, or whatever— I strongly urge you to come forward and say so now. This is not the first time that a representative of your government has moved to use the legislative authority of this Council to "conveniently" achieve a desired, but not declared, political end.

If you ask me, this appears to be a motion intended to lift the tariffs on the waterways while conveniently protecting the sovereignty of Moriagaru.

Councilor Yahontov, do not mince my words. I'm questioning your motives and your tactics, not your goals. My government has long opposed the taxes put in place by Spain because of the precedent they establish, but we recognise that these chambers are not the place to address them. We sought a diplomatic solution directly and were able to secure free passage for Fremetian vessels. Indirect, convoluted, and morally ambiguous actions are not the way to deal with this.

Manipulating this Council by proposing legislation under false pretenses is suspect at best and subject to disciplinary action at worst.

I ask you, Councilor Yahontov: What is the intent of the Reitzmic government?

Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor for Fremet

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

The problem here is simple Mr. Michel, Spain is taxing ships that pass through waters that shouldn't be theirs. And that they are forcing ships that manage to escape to pass through by taxing them on the other strait at a double cost if they need to pass through it. Our motive is simple, ensure that Moriagaru reserves the right to its sovereign territorial waters and to stop Spain from imposing its laws and regulations on areas that are far from what should be their fair territorial waters.

Yuridiana Yahontov
Interim Deputy Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag

[Fremet]

Thank you, Councilor Yahontov, for your refreshing response.

Deputy Speaker Tusk, I now have a question for you: How does Spain justify its sovereignty over the straights?

To allow Councilor Tusk to formulate a clear response, I will be extending the debate thirteen hours until 24 April 2021 at 12h00 GMT.

Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor For Fremet

[Spain]

Thank you Mr. Speaker for your question, I'll answer it first before answering to the statements made by Councillor Yahontov. The Kingdom of Spain bases its sovereignty over the Straits on 3 basic pillars: the inability of bordering countries to protect the Adventuranza and Gibraltar Strait from hunters, pirates or drug dealers who import drugs from the African Europe or the other side of the Atlantic Ocean into Ceuta, the Canary Islands, Andalucía, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Costa del Sol or the southern autonomies and regional entities of Spain. The sovereignty over both straits isn't just claimed because of security concerns, but also to protect the flora and fauna living there: 35 different animal species go over the Adventuranza Strait every year, and 25 go over Gibraltar aswell; while if we talk about marine species, then we need to talk about dolphins, whales or killer whales that go through both Straits, apart from some shark espices that go through Gibraltar. Finally, climate and sustainability is another point to control those straits, as the taxes pretend to cover the expenses the Spanish Government needs to pay for the constant navigation of both areas on both ways. These 3 pillars are more than enough to justify these claims and sovereignty over the Straits.

Now, moving to my replicas, I love how Councillor Yahontov is so badly informed about the taxing in the Adventuranza Strait. As it's obvious, when a country joins the European Union they are always informed about the open door Spain leave to negotiate the taxing of the Straits. Moriagaru, which has shown a complete inhability to speak by theirselves and haven't manifested any interest on having control over some part of the seas or taxing ships. But that doesn't mean the 2 kilometers established in the case a country joins the EU are respected and nobody can be taxed. The problem is ships end up entering Spanish Waters at some point of their trip, so even if they try to avoid taxes they cannot. And exactly, the Gibraltar Strait Security Agency has approved this measure to tax double to those that avoid their checks at the Adventuranza Strait successfully, if they manage to do so.

It is funny, Councillor Yahontov, that you are now the defender of the people of Europe, simply funny. How can a Councillor from a country that committed a real genocide in Eastern Haane say the people of Europe are having the money stolen? It's also suspicious that without any single statement from their Government, you consider them as your ally and support you on every single action, but we know Reitzmag and their trend to do these kind of things, nothing surprising. To end with this joke of statement, you are accussing Spain of being "the true expansionist country" and claiming Spain is "conducting neo-colonialism by manipulating the European Economies for their benefit through unfair taxation and stealing of foreign territorial waters". Spain isn't expansionist because it really has nothing to see over Moriagaru so we are not interested on what's going on over there because simply they don't report their events or their news, and isn't stealing foreign waters because those borders were established way before Moriagaru joined the European Union, and the mentioned state hasn't made any call, statement or sent any letter to negotiate the borders, something which didn't happen with the Left-Handed Democratic Republic, which agreed to the borders set before their arrival. As Cllr. Echteran says, gibberish and propaganda from Reitzmag, as expected, to avoid a tax they don't like to pay; and if your foreign trade is affected, we are sorry for taking care of the environment on both straits while the ships bring algaes and other invasory species which damage the fishing industry in the Mediterranean and the coasts of Andalucía for example!

Going on with your drama statement, it's rude and innapropiate from a Councillor to come here and use the "I've won a war against your country" argument as a way to attack the other Councillor. If you have something against the Councillor for Istkalen, please be direct Councillor Yahontov, because I don't like to see cowards and unineuronal people using wars as arguments. But apart from that disgusting incident, you have used the words "imperialist" and "expansionist" to define Spain, nothing beyond reality: During the Spanish participation in the European Union, we have proved to be reliable, to be there when our allies and friends ask for our help, to be empathic and solidary with those in the need, to be compromised with the protection and security of the European member states that haven't got such a long military like the Spanish, to aim for peace and 21st Century like agreements to benefit citizens of the European Union, to care for climate and we have never; let me repeat again, never asked for a piece of land in Europe apart from the lands that we rightfully own or the protectorates that Spain shares and owns along with locals from El Rif, for example. Imperialism or expasionism is what, according to Cllr. Echteran, is what Reitzmag is trying to do in Istkalen.

I just wanted to remind everyone on this room about the respect of agreements by the Kingdom of Spain when it comes to their Straits and the trust we generate when we sign a paper. As of today, Angleter, the Duxburian Union, United Duchies, Inimicus, North Diessen, Inquista, Icholasen, Fremet and Vayinaod are exempted to pay taxes. The GSSA and the ASMSA respect those agreements and the Ministry for Overseas Missions and Territories and Straits sets a maximum tax of a 14% over the total value of cargo. The authority of both the GSSA, led by the Honorable Albert Issola from the Government of Gibraltar and the ASMSA, led by Mr. Francisco Martín Gallego, Councillor for Innovation, Industry, Transport and Commerce of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, are the responsible body of raising or reducing the taxes. Every action, every single thing is analysed by them and voted in the chamber if any of the members of the GSSA or ASMSA propose to raise a tax or decrease it, so there's nothing Reitzmag can do to avoid their tax. These attacks, in words of Mr. Martín Gallego and Hon. Issola, don't help the committee of both organisations to decrease Reitzmic taxes, so Councillor Yahontov, the suggestion from them is very simple: if you want your tax decreased, stop saying blyant lies to everyone about the GSSA and the ASMSA. Thank you.

Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain

[Montenbourg]

This Condemnation is inappropiate. We do not need heroes, we need people to comply with the international order.

Emma Granger
Councillor for Montenbourg

[Moriagaru]

I do confirm my naval territories as such country with a shoreline must have territorial waters, no?

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

Welcome to the chamber your royal highness, Prince Seiri. I think that with your words, this Council is already convinced that the State of Moriagaru is fighting for such claims that only few have listened to. So Mr. Tusk, tell me what other reasoning do you have?

Yuridiana Yahontov
Interim Deputy Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag

[Istkalen]

We would like to see a clarification of the exact claims of the State of Moriagaru; at the same time, the Kingdom of Spain has already stated that it is willing to renegotiate if a neighboring country raises such a complaint.

Gertrude Echteran
Councillor for Istkalen

[Moriagaru]

@Kingdom-of-Reitzmag We wa- oh wait, us citizens of Moriagaru need to defend this naval territory because we don't want our citizens to feel that we're gonna get invaded by some monopoly empire just because we're "landlocked" (what i mean by landlocked i mean that we don't get any terriotrial waters even though we have a shoreline that we could use for naval patrols and rescue missions, if ever there is one). However I'm also interested in the negotiation spain has to offer.

[Spain]

Well, a Prince as Councillor is what I didn't expect to thing. The Council is no place to negotiate such an agreement, and it's really rude that we start insulting a country by calling it a "monopoly empire". Also I want to remember you, Prince Seiri, about the fact the country that your are insulting is your neighbour. Anyway Moriagaru can use their West coast, so they aren't landlocked, not even in the Cantábrico. What a shame a sleepy country doesn't know about their borders.

Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain