Summit | Spain - Leagio
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The Spanish President listened to what the President of the Commonwealth of Leagio had to say carefully, paying attention and of course, with interest. Leagio was always a friendly nation to rely on and to learn something new from, he would surely enjoy travelling there if he could some day in 2022. The Defence topic was something that interested Aguilar, not only to strenghthen the relationship between the Leagioan and the Spanish Army, which already had shared bases and a joint training programme which helped the Leagioan army to improve in all kind of tactics. Jesús answered to the Mouri-Kudo:
"That is a great idea, Ms. President, as it would not just expand our Atlantic Cooperation Plan we agreed back in February, but also would give a great chance to the Leagioan soldiers and the members of the Leagioan navy to prove the instruction Spanish officials are directing works. Minister Pedro Baños will surely authorise the Spanish Navy to take part in these trainings, so you can count on us to help you if needed and to take part on those trainings. But now you mentioned it, does the Leagioan Government have any information about a possible thread coming from our common neighbour?"
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"The top concern at the moment is just the UNSR at the moment, but our information says that they have neither the ability nor interest in invading the Commonwealth at the moment. The only real concern is the Commonwealth's new neighbor, the Federal Republic of Yosai. However, at the moment, my intelligence has no information of what their plans are at the moment or if they have any intentions towards the Commonwealth. However, my government is preparing for the worst of any situation of the two in particular." Mouri-Kudo explained.
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"However, depending if needed, the Commonwealth will be willing to act as a neutral arbiter in any matters between the Spanish Government and Yosai; as I do plan to meet with the leader of Yosai in negotiating a trade and possibly development agreement between them and the Commonwealth." Mouri-Kudo explained, "In addition, I was hoping to negotiate better access to the Spanish sale of Silicon and Iron for the various industries in the Commonwealth."
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"I understand, President Mouri-Kudo, and I am pleased to know the Commonwealth of Leagio is willing to mediate. However, I feel the Kingdom of Spain and myself cannot trust our common neighbour, I have a feeling from what I could see and 'suffer' that our neighbours will give us more headaches than benefits. After the break up of Telum Treaty, it did not take long not just for them, but also for the United Duchies and Reitzmag to form a new alliance. As you know, I am a man of feelings and intuition, and I feel this had been prepared since the Strait Crisis exploded. Nonetheless, I do not want to condition your foreign relationships with our neighbour, I am not anyone to tell you what to do and what not to, and I hope you have not understood my words that way. If you have, my most sincere apologies, it was not my intention.
After the repeal of the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen, the Union of Nicoleizian Soviet Republics has become less than a thread and more than a promising land to us. I personally encouraged Councillor Tusk to vote for its repeal, as it was no longer useful to have the UNSR condemned when they have not shown hostilities to a vast majority of the continent, excepting our sometimes common headache, the Kingdom of Reitzmag. The Spanish equilibrium between keeping our ties with Nicoleizians untouched and establishing diplomatic relationships with the Communist Nicoleizians is, I must confess, complex enough to require taking a long time to decide what to do about that affair. If I am honest to you, Ms. Mouri-Kudo, I feel the days when the UNSR was the main thread to this region have passed, new threads will appear, but we need time and research to know who our new enemies, not just to us, but to the stability and integrity of the European Union are.
Spanish sale of Silicon and Iron for the various industries in the Commonwealth, I am eager of hearing your proposals. I believe we can get a good deal, taking into account how much the resources this land hides are: diamonds and uranium. How would a free trade deal be regarded by your Government, Madam President? Apart from that, another proposal I would like to bring up to this table is the Leagioan entry to the European Monetary Union, the EMU. When our countries first discussed this before the summit at Finisterre, which concluded with a very good agreement, Leagio had an exchange rate worth 1.34; which was not enough to join the Treaty. However, I would like to applaud the huge progress the Commonwealth has made to make those numbers greater, and with the exchange rate at 1.97, I do believe it is time to invite your country to join the Emuzone. I think we both know the huge benefits your inclusion would have for Leagio and how it would make things easier for trade between Spain, Leagio, Inquista, Fremet, Vayinaod and Montenbourg.
I also discussed this with the Archbishop of Inquista, Mikaela Kligenberg, who supported your entry to the Treaty, so with the backing of Inquista and Spain, this entry could be way easier. But I need your consent to bring it up to the other members."
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Mouri-Kudo smiled as the offers being provided were very favorable to Leagio and would indeed ensure that the Commonwealth’s economy would have a upward spike. A spike enough to have a favorable outcome for her party in the coming 2022 National Congress Elections. In addition, she was surprised about the offer for the EMU. Leagioan introduction into the EMU would definitely be a way to ensure that the Economy jumps up in the long run. Now, if everything goes through on the foreign diplomacy side, she would need to convince the same Senate that failed to deratify the Treaty of Tullion to ratify these agreements officially. This issue would mean that she would need to make strong concessions in the negotiations for the 2022 fiscal budget.
“Thank you for the sharing of your opinion of the UNSR, Minister President. I think that these proposals are fair and acceptable, Mister President. In addition, coming up on September of 2022, the Treaty of Tullion will expire and I have not talked with Bridges on it; but Leagio will not be looking to renew it for another two years nor with any changes. Meaning that the Riztmic troops in Leagio will be required to depart by then, depending on the situation by then, I was wondering that the moment that the Treaty expires that we might meet again to negotiate a similar treaty to it but for your government and possibly any members of the Treaty of Telum depending on who is in it as I understand that the alliance is having some issues with the United Duchies. The Treaty of Tullion between Leagio and Ritzmag by the way includes official stationing of troops with bases, military co-operation in research, Free-Trade, and an educational exchange program.” Mouri-Kudo explained sincerely.
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Aguilar smiled when he heard about the choice President Mouri-Kudo had made concerning the Treaty of Tullion, not because of the Reitzmics having to depart from Leagio, but for being the chosen country to take over and more importantly, having Telum Treaty to be also chosen for the new treaty. In words of the Spanish President to his Defence Minister, whom he messaged after the summit, it was a chance he could not let go. The Spanish President then answered back to accept the proposal: "It is a huge honour and a priviledge to hear that offer, Ms Mouri-Kudo, and to be the chosen country is even more of a priviledge. I would like to announce you that we will be accepting the offer and continue not just our training duties and the base we already agreed to back in time, but now taking part in many other things that will benefit both the Leagioans and the Spanish people".
With that said, the Spanish President went back to the mineral resources trade deal: "Madam President, apart from the free trade area we have discussed slightly, what other things had the Commonwealth in mind to ease trade between our countries? I have also been thinking that it could be a good idea to establish a free movement area, as that would make tourists less concerned about having to ask for visas, and entrepreneurs could travel faster between our countries. What are your thoughts concerning this proposal?", asked Aguilar.
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Mouri-Kudo nodded in considering the Spanish President's offer. She could the many benefits such trade and idea would have on the Commonwealth. The only persons that would oppose this offer would be those that were protectionist on trade but forgot that Leagio has not had many raw materials within its own borders. So she could not see any problems with such an idea.
"I am very supportive of your ideas, Mr. President. For the Free Trade, Leagioan Cargo and Tanker Ships should be except for the Straight tax only if they are traveling to Spanish Ports unless if they have another destination that does not involve Spanish-Leagioan Trade. In addition, maybe even a Cruiseship may be included if it does mainly Leagioan and Spanish Ports. If a Leagioan merchant ship violates that principle then the Spanish Government would be within their rights to file a lawsuit against said company or jail the crew depending on the circumstance. Furthermore, if it would be acceptable the Leagioan Ministry of Justice through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would joinn in the lawsuit; that will made more Common Legal Code once a law from the National Congress is drafted if our agreement goes through our respective treaty ratifying bodies."
Mouri-Kudo then thought for a second more on the visa-free proposal in weighing the benefits and cons to the idea.
"Also, I think that a Visa-Free Zone would be acceptable and beneficial to both of our nations, Mr. President."
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Aguilar smiled when he heard the Leagioan President was supportive of his proposals. The summit was going the way both mandataries wanted, and their agreement was the result of few ideological differences that both mandataries had between them. Also, it was nice for the Spanish President that Mouri-Kudo brought up the Strait taxing affair, so he could get to know more about what the Leagioan citizens and their politicians thought about what was going not too far away from them. Aguilar drank from a glass of water he was served at the beginning of the meeting, and then spoke to the Leagioan President:
"I would like to thank you for your support towards my proposals, Ms. Mouri-Kudo, I feel honoured. Now, about the Strait topic, I am glad that you brought it up because I feel like, if we have been mistaken on something concerning this topic, is our capacity to communicate how everything works around them. When it comes to ferry services or cruises, those ships do not pay the tax, as we just tax a certain percent of the total cargo value, depending from which nation the ship comes. The three possible cases when we would tax ships would be the following, according to the latest information from the GSSA and the ASMSA: 'Cargo vessels' whose final destination is not the Kingdom of Spain; Cargo vessels that do a stopover in the Kingdom of Spain, then resume their route heading east or west of the Strait area and Cargo vessels going through the Strait of Gibraltar, not stopping at the Kingdom of Spain'. Therefore, what you have asked for is already being done, however I will communicate to both Strait agencies that they should be careful on the taxation to Leagioan ships. If someone registered any problem with the taxation, please send a communiqué to Minister Egea who will try to solve the problem as soon as possible.
I also thank you for your support concerning the criminal action that implies not complying with the laws that are applied in the Strait of Gibraltar and are temporary suspended on the Strait of Adventuranza, until the claiming affair is sorted. May I ask what the position of your Government about this matter is? Don't feel forced to answer if you don't want, I am just trying to gather some information. -said Aguilar, who smiled kindly- In addition, the Spanish Government is willing to include foreign governments into their citizens lawsuits in Spain as long as the "Strait Tax Avoidance crime" is not compiled in their national criminal code, so until the Congress passes that or even if it doesn't get done, there will be no issue."
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Mouri-Kudo nodded for a moment at the Spanish President’s response. She was glad as it seemed that a positive relationship between Spain and Leagio was even more on the way now.
“In terms of my political party, the Progressive Alliance Party and the more left-leaning parties (excluding the Social Democrats and are parties that are not in 100% favor of my policies) are accepting of the straight tax. In the House of Councilors in 282 seats of 541 and 59 of 100 seats in the Senate of pro-straight seats. At the moment, recent polls show that about 45% of Leagioans are accepting of the Straight Taxes, while 20% is neutral on it and the rest are against it. The Civil Populists (the party of my predecessor who you meet before) has changed a lot since then as they are have shifted their stances on the EU. The party is not one that I can even trust to be bi-partisan at all. As you know that when I came to office, I have sort of a coalition government with them and I was promised everything in my House of Councilors election reform but I was sidelined when it came to committee. The bill did pass the National Congress, but it was not what I wanted. The Conservative and Nationalist parties (like LUFT) are strongly against the straights. The rest of the parties like the LPD and Eastern Leagio Party is mainly in the middle of the issue as the issues on both sides of the debate. The Anti-Straight Taxes side of Congress have tried to get to pass acts of legislation to sanction Spain for it, but they do not have the votes to get it through even if Vetoed by me.”
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Aguilar nooded and listened, very interested, to what the Leagioan President had to say. Everything had been agreed, the relationships and ties between Spain and Leagio had been increased, while Mouri-Kudo and Aguilar improved their personal relationship. Jesús looked forward to coming back in September, to sign the Treaty whose first stones had been put today, and he decided to let the President know about his intentions:
"Ms. President, thank you very much for this very productive summit, it has been an enormous pleasure to discuss many affairs with you and set the stones of a prosperous and benefitial relationship between our countries. If you do not mind, I would like to come back in September, so we can sign the Treaty we discussed. About what we agreed on this summit, and its provisions, we will start to apply them and I hope that Leagio does the same even if we have no legal document yet."
The Spanish President shook hands with the Leagioan President, after listening to her answer, and both said goodbye to each other. Aguilar then left to the airport, where his Presidential plane was waiting for him. He entered the plane, and the Spaniard left the southern European country behind. He looked by the window, thinking, analyzing. But he had got several certainties: the relationship with Leagio was stronger than ever before, he would put things more difficult for Reitzmag in the Atlantic and he had another support in his Strait claiming cause. An hour later, Aguilar smiled, as he found himself flying over the Adventuranza Strait, while reaching to see sunset by his window. "How beautiful this place is. One of our most precious treasures.", he said to himself.
The Kingdom of Spain