A Rushed Summit
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Eastern Europe was rainy or snowy this days, and Copala City wasn't a exemption from that. The rainy day in the Nicoleizian, Reitzmic and slightly Inquistan city was not a good sign. Indeed, it wasn't. The mayor, Amal Maxwells, received a call from her secretary: "The United Duchies are threatening Reitzmag with sanctions. If they get sanctions on us, we are doomed Ms. Maxwells. We need to do something, fast!" The Mayor of Copala City had no doubt about it.
Her husband, the First Minister of Copala City, George Maxwells, always told her about what to do if someone threatened Reitzmag with sanctions. "Call their Foreign Affairs Minister and tell them to come as soon as possible.", said George when Amal messaged him. Amal ordered her secretary to call the Foreign Affairs Minister from the United Duchies, while she prepared herself for her first meeting. The Minister accepted, and Amal headed to the Airstrip which was able to host small jets. At least, something was something. She also informed the Foreign Affairs Minister that the plane would need to follow a special approach to avoid being supervised by the Reitzmic Air Controllers just in case he wanted to avoid flying over Reitzmag.
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Arron Scott got the message to come. He'd been instructed by his PM John Peter Key to get a deal for avoiding sanctions. They really didn't want to hurt Copala City. The jets approached in accordance with procedures. Soon they would be negotiating on future relations, the United Duchies was going to make an offer hard to refuse, put customs checks up and investment and support would flow. The plane landed, soon Arron Scott was on the way to the meeting.He greeted them saying "I am sad to have visited your beautiful city under such unfortunate circumstances. I'm hoping we can sort this reitzmag shit show out."
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The Mayor welcomed Arron Scott to her office and both entered the meeting room. Amal took a seat and grabbed some written papers before starting to speak with the Minister for Foreign Affairs from the United Duchies. She wasn't nervous, in fact, she wished to save Copala City and not being doomed again by their "northern neighbour", as in the Civil War when they killed mostly all the population from the East Moreland region. But that also made Copala City come to live, so was that bombing good, or was it bad? She would be unemployed or partying in Ibiza if Copala City didn't exist, so she thought that, at the end, it wasn't bad but it wasn't good too. Finally, the Mayor answered the Foreign Affairs Minister:
"Thank you for coming so fast, Mr. Scott. I also feel sorry for this rushed summit, I like to plan things some days before so both sides have enough time to plan towards the summit. But with new Governor-General from Reitzmag arriving tomorrow, we had no other choice but to call you as soon as possible. I also trust on sorting this show out as soon as possible. What I am asking for is pretty easy to accomplish in case sanctions are passed on the Kingdom of Reitzmag: We want to be exempt from that sanctions. Our Economy is really weak at the moment, and despite I don't have the data right now because our Economy Minister, Mr. Angelo Gasparda, hasn't got time to send them, I can tell you without any risk of being wrong that any sanction which affects us, any measure against us, will doom this city. And if we fall, the Copalans fall behind, and that's something we must avoid at all consequences. The Copalans have already suffered a war, a few months living on tents. Now, we can't let them down again."
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Arron Scott listened intently. He had a great deal of sympathy over the plight of Copala and even Reitzmag citizens but this island business could not stand.He replied " It is our pleasure to be here. We have a great deal of respect for your city.We definitely do not want your city to fail or its economy to collapse, its been through enough. However we do have the problem that if we do not have some sort of guarantee that ships to Copala don't take goods that then go on to Reitzmag otherwise they will use your city to get away with island building and agresssion while busting sanctions.We need some way of stopping goods getting from your ports and airports into Reitzmag , I'm sure you'll understand. I understand this could cause economic problems if you are not helped which is why I have been authorised to offer an aid and investment package to help support your city but either customs checks need to be stepped up so every cross border trip is checked or the border is closed. I'm afraid we have no choice but to ask this or Copala would have to be included. We do not want to include Copala City but I hope you understand we need a resolution."
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Amal thought for a moment on the consecuencies those measures would have. She was a strong independent woman, just as Harriet Copala when she decided to found the city. But Copala City itself wasn't independent from Reitzmag, but leased land that could be taken back in a record time. For much military power the Duchies had, she couldn't risk to lose Copalans' freedoms and rights, nor she could risk the Treaty and angry the Nonet. She was thinking hardly on something, a small gap she could squeeze into and avoid to apply those hard measures.
When the Foreign Affairs Minister from the Duchies stopped talking, Amal was still thinking. Then, she stopped thinking on what would George do and turned into what would Amal do. It was the perfect chance to prove her independence, and she was going to prove it. And 10 seconds later, she got it. Technically, Free Icholasen was Copala City, which meant that Reitzmag is not Free Icholasen and by that, the sanctions wouldn't apply. Amal started talking:
"Mr. Scott, I thank you for this proposal, but we can't take risks as of now. For much military power the Duchies have, we don't want a war, nor to be removed from our rights and freedoms. But something has just come into my mind. At the moment, Copala City is Free Icholasen, not Reitzmag. This land is Reitzmic land, but not Reitzmic sovereignty, as we are part of Free Icholasen. Sanctioning Free Icholasen is not the best you can do, and it's even worse if you think on the consequences... You could get identified as a Union of Nicoleizian Soviet Republics' supporter. I know you are not that kind of people, and I don't want you to have such a bad reputation because of us. That's why, I want to propose the following terms: Borders will remain open with Reitzmag, and we will take the investment package too so we can get some more funds for future happenings in exchange of commerce and retail. But, once the cargo arrive to the port, we will be able to put it on hold, applying restrictions. If Reitzmag manages to scape our secret block, then you will be able to close the canal and the boat will have to turn around, creating more expending for Reitzmag. It's a win-win deal, for Copala City and also, for the United Duchies. What do you think?"
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Mr Scott listened as the proposal was explained. He then chipped in saying "We could definitely agree to your proposal since denial of ships with Reitzmag in their journey logs and manifests is one of the sanctions we will look to apply anyway so it makes sense. One thing we can definitely help with long term is construction of a metro system and also as a condition for releasing sanctions if they occur demanding Reitzmag give you full independence and ownership of the land, no leasing to worry about. This would put you on a sustainable footing long term as clearly alot of people who are making lives in Copala will develop a new identity and not want to move."
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Amal smiled. She got what she wanted, without risking the land leasing or the freedoms of the Copalans. She listened to what the Duchies' Foreign Affairs Minister and, once he finished talking, Amal had ordered to print the deal to her secretary. She started talking:
"That sounds nice, and we are really thankful for those offerings from the United Duchies. A metro is being built while the city is also built, so your enterprises will be welcome. Once we have agreed everything, I think it's time to sign the deal, isn't it?" Amal then grabbed the papers and gave a copy to the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Reitzmag's Sanctions Exemption Accord
SECTION I - EXEMPTION
I. Copala City is exempted from all the economic or monetary sanctions the United Duchies could apply over Reitzmag.
II. Copala City is exempted of accomplishing the measures set for Reitzmag by the United Duchies.
III. Copala City will be able to go across the Baltic Canal despite sanctions being applied to Reitzmag.
IV. Copalan goods will are also exempted from these sanctions.
"If you want to add or change something, then go ahead." Added Amal before smiling.
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Mr Scott looked over the proposal and then signed it. He said " I assure you Copala City will be safe and if it comes to sanctions we'd consider backing independence for you."
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Amal signed too and shook hands with the Foreign Affairs Minister. Both left the room and said goodbye to eachother. Amal has done it, and the Copalans rights, freedoms and stability were assured. But for how long? That's something she would need to deal with, a challenge she could only face.
