New Beginnings?

[Spain]

Aguilar kept calm, he was not Simon Bridges, who got angry and serious faces when something did not go to plan, just as seen when former Internal Affairs Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker made those European Leaders Summit in Europolis. In fact, the Spanish President kind of expected that answer from the Duchian Prime Minister: he was a member of ECON, so it was clear for him that he would not conceed on his beliefs. However, being accused of colonialism is something Jesús Aguilar would not allow:

"The Strait of Gibraltar is fourteen kilometres long, Mr. Peter-Key; so as you might understand our security guarantees have to be protected. I pretty much doubt you would like and respect that a bordering nation with nuclear weapons, for example, put some of its silos just 7 kilometres away from your border, and you would fight for it not to be that way. The same happens with the Strait of Gibraltar: Spain cannot and will not allow any foreign power to put patrol ships or any military asset that is not allied to it seven kilometres off its coasts, nor to dictate any policy concerning the Strait. This is neither colonialism or imperalism, we have not put a single foot on Underathian land, nor we intend to; we are rather protecting our waters, which have been ours for centuries and which the Spanish Armada has protected many times. This does not mean Spain does not recognise other Underathian waters, they indeed have territorial waters; but the waters that were previously ours will remain ours, no matter what treaty is signed, who signs it or which equipment is sent. Also, I would like to remind you that any attack to Spanish ships from a member of ECON or any other country would lead to a huge scale war in the region; the same if any nation striked one ECON nation; so unless your friends from Reitzmag want to start World War I... I believe that you will have to accept the situation.

Speaking of ECON, I do understand that ambition to control geostrategical points around the world, it is fine, it is just not part of our interests. I am pretty much aware the World has got 5 major keys, and while your alliance does not control any of them entirely, Spain controls one. The thing is, Mr. Key; that for much ambition there is within ECON to end with a supposed, non-existant "Spanish hegemony", there is no other choice but to respect our claims unless ECON nations want to be remembered as the states who started WWI by attacking us, and I must say your nation does not deserve that blame. I have read in many newspapers multiple times that ECON aims for sovereignty of states, alright... Then respect of our sovereignty is a must if you really share that principles; otherwise you will just show the world those principles are lies and that no nation within the alliance intends to accomplish or follow them.

Waters do not work like you believe they do, Mr. Key; they are about claims and how able you are to protect them; or who got there first and if other nations have shown interest in the past. While Yosai had substantial reasons to claim its side of the Sea of Adventuranza, a nation who did not care about its "rightful" waters and never was annoyed by our presence there does not have the same reasons. The Spanish Armada has been there for centuries, as I said, why now? In fact, I believe this is fuelling an artificial country nobody is interested in, don't you think? Besides, the best thing that could be done is keeping things as they are, and maybe and if the tax really disturbs your Government, you could negotiate with the GSSA to make a discount.

Although, we are all humans and we cannot agree on everything we discuss, am I right? I guess that is the case here, so if we do not find ourselves in agreement, then let's try to avoid this conflict to create a bad relationship between our nations. Separation of topics is always a good tool to retort to in these cases!"

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key responded "This is not about ECON strategic value or anything like that we have a consistent policy those waters are Underathian. I think you need to understand how it looks , you do not have sovereignty over those waters if Underath wants to claim its waters and it should be able to let whomever in its waters and make its own defence policy. You policy is basically might makes right which is a policy the modern nations moved past years ago in favour of consistent standard and laws. Where we have waters that are close to ours that are other nations we let those nations do what them decide their policy its time you let your neighbours including Underath do the same.

Don't get me wrong we welcome the dropping of the Red Strait claim or Adventzura as you call it but it does not mean we won't press on the issue of respecting Underath. However old their technology is it doesn't mean you have the right to exploit them and treat them as a puppet state."

[Spain]

"The problem with what you just said, Mr. Peter-Key, is that neither you, nor me, can impose on each other how our nations should work or what our nations have to do, as we do not have the legal authority to do so. If a nation wants to apply a different kind of policy making in certain aspects of its competences, they must be free to do so. I do not doubt this is not about your geostrategic interests, but it is clear that the ally of yours that might provoke the First Regional War has geostrategic interests, and that is why it tries to surround Spain with as many bases as possible, something we do not do for respect and peacekeeping reasons. Underath is not treated as a puppet by us, they can get waters in many other areas, just not where we were first cause that's our way to make policies in this aspect and we will continue to do so for the years to come. We have two different ways to make things, let's just respect each other and not interfere.

As this topic is leading nowhere, I suggest we move on. Spain would like to reaffirm its compromise with Ducain Military, which existance was renewed back in 2021 until December 2027, so we really hope we can keep cooperating on that aspect. I have also heard that you wanted to speak about free travel, is that right?"

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key said "Yes we are not likely to agree. On Ducain we are willing to continue the export of our non-sensitive military ships to Ducain as we hope you are with your non-sensitive ships and likewise the jointly developed ships. I think we should continue the current arrangement in that regard."

He listened about free travel and said "Yes I believe we should continue for now the free travel policy of not requiring a visa for short visits and also keeping restrictions on goods down with all Telum countries. We hopefully can keep good economic ties , we'd also like to continue the roaming free mobile zone for all our peoples."

[Spain]

"Free travel, as well as free trade with no barriers to trade as long as goods and companies meet national standards, can be easily continued. We have no inconvenients with that, Mr. Key, and I am glad that you have not got some either. What is the Duchian stance on interchange programmes for students in their last High School years and university?"

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key responded "Indeed we believe free trade and having priority on the points system for residency and free movement on short term travel is essential. We would also definitely support education exchange programmes always good to have extra options for students so we can help universities and schools set that up and perhaps we can have pen pal schemes between our educational institutions also with a meet up for pen pals to be arranged between shools?"

[Spain]

Priority on the points system?, thought Jesús for a moment, continuing his mental dialogue with himself as the Duchian Prime Minister spoke. Does John know how the Spanish system to obtain the residency permit works? I doubt so..., he concluded. He had to correct his Duchian counterpart, which was something very uncomfortable for him, even if he was taught how to do that without looking rough.

"Mr. Peter Key, I am afraid the Kingdom of Spain does not use a points system - he began with, smiling slightly - but we instead have a series of prerequisites that candidates applying for a residence permit should meet to be given said document. In my opinion, if would be highly unfair if we gave priority to a Duchian over a Inquistan for being a citizen of your country when both must meet those prerequisites.

When it comes to the educational area of this summit, we do have an agreement. And I believe that is a wrap for this summit, unless you have anything else on your agenda. Mine has run out of topics", Aguilar said, before taking some other notes on the papers he had brought for this summit about the development of it.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key listened and replied "Well you could also give favoured nation status to Telum as well. Its just for us to give a favoured nation status on points to Spanish we'd need similar in return. We unfortunately cannot offer a total freedom to move to Duchies as this would be unfair on the nations we already give a favoured nation status in our points system. We understand if this is not possible and can keep the existing post Telum situation and garunteeing anyone with visas gets theirs renewed as long as they keep their jobs and also ensure anyone with a visa currently can still switch jobs as long as Duchians in Spain can do the same. The issue is if Telum nations do not give a favoured nation status to Duchians is hard for us maintain a favour status in points and grant those additional 500 points for Telum Nation citizens on new visa applications for moving to Duchies." The points system had to be introduced to control numbers and establish a fair metric to judge people against the immigration cap.

[Spain]

"Sadly", the Spanish President began with, "the Spanish law does not allow me, my Government or the officials that are in charge of accepting or declining those application to give priority to a citizen from any nation, no matter if they are a member of the Treaty of Telum, or from an important country like yours. There's a series of prerequisites that must be met, if someone meets them, no matter their nationality, they are accepted; unless we have some sort of ban to their nation or something".

Aguilar thought he had explained himself pretty well, and hoped for John Peter Key to understand the situation.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key listened and understood "I understand sometimes I am constrained by the Duchies and other branches too. It's part of politics really. What we can do is still work to make it really easy to get education visas and education exchanges for our citizens as agreed. I think we have good agreements we can definitely as discussed still require no visas for each others citizens and allow each others citizens in on passports and if you recognise our I.D's national I.D's for each others citizens."

[Spain]

"Yeah, we definitely have great agreements. And about the national IDs from Spain and the United Duchies being valid documents for identification matters, I supposed that was on the Free Travel agreement -the Spanish President laughed slightly- so count with it. It has indeed been a great summit, and I hope it marks a new era in the Spanish-Duchian bilateral relationships."

Aguilar then shook hands with John Peter Key, both signed the Joint Declaration and Aguilar left, relieved, back to Madrid.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key said "I can definitely sign the agreement. It will have to be voted on in parliament but I cannot see anything they would not vote for in the agreement.Hopefully we can move on from the rocky times going forward." He looked forward to more warm and friendly relations with this former steadfast ally.He shook hands and prepared for the public press appearance.