Internal Affairs Commissioner - Discussion & Negotiation Regarding the Caspian Dispute - March 2021
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Victoria Romanov smiled while Simon Bridges was rating. In fact, she felt bad for Simon, not because of the great person he was, that was a lost game, but because of his reputation all around Europe. She noted Bridges comments and then wrote a text message with all the content which was sent to George Maxwells, maybe he could give those words some use, more than she could. When John Peter-Key ended his short speech, she clapped the Reitmic delegation and then Simon Bridges for a minute or so, smiling. She wasn't angry, but she was thinking on what Simon could be thinking on: "Maybe he wants to drop the Krexit bomb, maybe he wants another meeting to fail... What do you really want, Bridges?", she thought at the same time she clapped and smiled. She finally spoke:
"What a nice speech Mr. Bridges, congratulations... because you would have won a roast battle if this was one. But, sadly for you and the delegates on the room which I request the Internal Affairs Commissioner kicks out, as our delegates are staying outside, this is not a roast battle, but more of a serious issue. I have been studying a bit how Reitzmic commerce works and I've realised they are using risky ways, such as the Drommund Kaas railway or the rail connection with Belarum, maybe that's why you think this is pointless. But, at the same time, I would like to remember you about the recently passed European Commission Sanctioning Powers Act 2021, which could put just not Reitzmag, but Copala City, in a serious economical issue, and I think none of us want that. And even if Copala City, as an autonomous territory which was leased to the Nicolezians is here today as it wants its voice to be heard in Europe and in the Caspian Council, previous admission by the proposed institution; we also need to stop trying to set up a circus on the room, Simon. Please, let's not make the same mistakes again.
Anyway, I think you won't hear any of us on the room, maybe because you want to be the one that wins this kind of battle just because the islands were built near Drommund Kasas and you think you are the Caspian's strongest country, something which I'm afraid to tell you are not. Mr. Brodges, I won't aim for independence on this summit, I have the Copala City Assembly to aim for it, but I want to solve a crisis which is damaging my territory, and also yours. We need to avoid more sanctions, and we need this crisis to be solved by the conditions that former Internal Affairs Commissioner Juncker and now Mr. Pravoslav proposed. That's the best way we can sort these things out, but I'm sure the new Internal Affairs Commissioner will like to release a new proposal which I'm expecting to see. Let's give us all a chance and, for once, let's be kind to eachother."
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"Her şey yolunda, Münevver!", Inge greeted the Internal Affairs Commissioner kindly. No such kindness was, apparently, intended from the side of Mr Bridges, and it took Inge all her willpower not to get up from the table right there and then.
"Mr Bridges, I know what this must be like for you -- everyone against Reitzmag, all over again. Everyone here seems to be out to get you, in your view. But you must realise that this would stop immediately if you assumed a constructive attitude. If you stopped hurling insults at everyone here, and if your government and your military stopped conducting an aggressive, dangerous foreign policy. I beg you, Mr Bridges, for all our sakes, work with us.
"North Diessen's demands are no different from the last time we met. We want those islands you illegally built gone, and nothing less. If Reitzmag agrees to demolish, by whatever means necessary, every single island it built, the Confederacy will agree to lift the sanctions it imposed against Reitzmag recently.
"I must also say that I agree with Ms Romanov in this regard, that North Diessen will not shun to launch a Sanction Request under the new Commission Sanctioning Powers Act if Reitzmag fails to even engage in constructive talks, which is very much what appears to be the case here."
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"I'd like to start by thanking Commissioner Birdane for bringing us all back together. Bridges, if you're trying to get us all to walk out, it won't work. Like President Pekcan, Pravoslaviya's demands are unchanged, and they are for the islands to be demolished. We too would lift our sanctions against Reitzmag, if Reitzmag were to comply with our demands."
"Most of you will know that we, and others, have proposed various potential treaty drafts to this effect. We issued the most recent of those publicly on March 1st, and this remains our current position, although we will, of course, be willing to listen to anybody else's proposals, especially the Commissioner."
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Birdane had quite a lot to say about Bridges' remarks mocking her countrypeople's struggle but decided to refrain from talking to have the moral high ground. She was surprisingly good at masking her anger, something she mastered during her Alkharyan political years.
"Nice to meet you, too, Mr Bridges. I am only here to solve this dispute once and for all. Please refrain from making ignorant remarks about the struggles Alkharyan people are facing right now. This is your last warning."
She then turned to everyone in the room.
"People, let's have some basic human decency in this room, okay? I would also like this room to be a little less crowded." She pointed at the Reitzmic delegates, then pointed at the door, essentially wanting them to leave.
"Anyway, in case if anyone has forgotten, my stance on this quote-un-quote dispute, a dispute which is quite one-sided, actually, has not changed since I made the second statement as Internal Affairs Commissioner. I do not believe in any excuse regarding the creation of these islands. It is an invasion of other Caspian countries' spaces to give Reitzmag an unfair advantage. Obviously, Bridges knows this, even though he will argue about how they actually do better via transportation from Belarum or Dromund Kaas or wherever they'll go next, and how they rarely trade with the Caspian countries, which is probably a lie, to be honest... This is an act of aggression and a demand for dominance on the Caspian Sea. From the information I could gather in the previous round of discussion, it was almost unanimously agreed that a council would be created to decide the future of these islands. Juncker was definitely too nice for a country invading other countries' personal space this blatantly. I am fairly certain almost all of us agree that these islands should be demolished in the most environmentally friendly way possible, which is probably going to happen regardless of what Reitzmag thinks here."
Birdane then whips out her copy of the Caspian Treaty, and continues talking:
"Is there any objections or changes anyone wants to make to this treaty?"
(OOC: You have until 16th of March, 6 PM GMT / 1 PM EST to respond.)
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"Thank you, Commissioner Birdane. We have no objections."
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Victoria Romanov smiled with Birdane's speech and then, took the copy of the Caspian Treaty draft, which was the same Juncker proposed. "Oh, sweet smell of victory. It seems we are finally going with option 1 and the Redraft Pravoslav made, which is nice."; she thought while reading it. She was especially satisfied to the chance Copala City had to join the Caspian Sea Authority, in a majority vote which was pretty easy to win, they just needed to convince Pravoslaviya and North Diessen about the benefits of such an admission and they would be in. Romanov wasn't obviously going to let the chance leave now, and she would not wait until the Caspian Council was formed, she had to act now:
"I'm very happy to see how Copala City has been included on the Treaty by giving us the chance to join the Caspian Sea Authority if a majority vote approves it, which is what we wanted. Copala City would like to thank Pravoslaviya, United Duchies and North Diessen for their trust on us in order to make us part of this treaty, same with you, Ms. Birdane. You are also helping Copala City to get a voice it deserves, as an autonomous territory. I have no objections to this treaty, and I hope we can sign it for once and all."
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John Peter Key responded "Thank you very much for gbringing back the fair treaty proposed before. We really have no objections and our red lines are the same as last time, leave islands to the caspian council to be created and no new islands outside the territorial waters without Caspian Council approval. So the treaty last time really is the final one .Hopefuly we can resolve all this right now we defiitely don't want to be sanctioning and if this is signed we can drop the sanctions and forget this sordid episode happened.I guess my only modification would be Caspian Council setting fishing quotas for the Caspian like in the older versions of the treaties to protect the area as a common resource"
I suggest the following addition:d:Any waters outside of the EEZ of nations shall be subject to a fishing quota and resource extraction quotas set be the Caspian Sea Authority on the Caspian Council
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"Mr Key, I think that is more suitable for discussion in the future Caspian Council."
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"North Diessen is certainly still in favour of the proposal as it lies on the table, and we thank our Pravoslaviyan friends for drafting it up. I will say though, we would be willing to compromise on some of the text in the treaty. I know the issue of Copala City is a contentious one for Reitzmag and Mr Bridges personally, and although I mean no offence to Ms Romanov, but North Diessen would be open to scrapping the Copala Clause from the Treaty if that would make Mr Bridges more inclined to agree to the whole thing.
Similarly, I would be open to rewording Section II, Clause II, to include the European Council rather than the Commission determining the fate of the Caspian islands in the case the Caspian Council does not determine what to do with them. I sincerely hope Mr Bridges takes these potential concessions for what they are, concessions, with the intent of constructively working with Reitzmag."
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John Peter Key listened intently then thought of an idea to solve the impasse . He said "What if by signing we agree the island dispute goes to vote in the European Council , then nations of the council vote what happens with the islands it means there will be less influence from the Caspian nations in the outcome but the Caspitan council is still used for future approvals outside of territorial waters."
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"I have invited the Copala City here as they have a coast on the Caspian Sea, therefore they should have a say in the process. Removing them off the Caspian Council means more isolation for them, and I have promised that I would not isolate anyone. I am a woman of my word. As for Mr Key, personally, I do not see why this issue would be taken to the European Council, but if you people agree that it should be brought up there, I will support it."
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"I think it would be best if we heard from Bridges first, before we start suggesting concessions."
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"I agree, Mr. Pravoslav, we should wait until Simon speaks up. Ms Peckan, I think we all aim for this negociation to succeed, but that cannot happen with the Copalan Government being pulled out of it. In our last meeting we already accepted being accepted subject to a prior voting in the Caspian Sea Authority, because Mr. Brdges didn't want to see us as a full member from the very beginning. But the new conditions you are proposing are unacceptable for us, and I completely agree with the words said by the Internal Affairs Commissioner, we shouldn't be isolated from our neighbours." Said Victoria Romanov. Then, she gave a look at the Copalan news and saw how Bridges' words were leaked. The plan was working, wasn't it?
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Simon was amused at how the members responded acting like children. But he knew they just wanted to play games with him. So then he will play with them.
"Ok first of all, Reitzmag's interests are simple. We just want that our security as well as the security of our interests be ensured. Inimicus had been recently acting hostile to us and with the United Duchies allowing them to enter the Caspian posed a big threat. However, if there is an assurance that this nuclear country would never attack Reitzmag, then we will be happy to coexist with them and to share the Caspian Resources with everyone. We also want a free movement on the creation of this Caspian Council so that trade would move swiftly across the region and all our economies would grow and benefit from each other. And finally, permanent access of transit through the Canal for commercial goods and products from Reitzmag. New military ships that are built by Reitzmag will have to be carried by barges upon delivery to the country that ordered such. All Caspian members must have equal and free access to the canal in order for goods to easily be transited." he said before pausing and drinking some water.
"The Islands will be dismantled by us if our interests are met, this is simply lighter than what we asked before. All the sand will have to be dumped back to Reitzmic beaches and we are open to share some to our neighbours if necessary. We will also be sinking some old ships to create artificial reefs once the sand are returned to the coasts and we will resume island building instead on a special location already prepared for what would have been Phase 2." continued Simon.
"And before I end my first statement, I'd like to remind that Copala City will no longer need to be a member even at any level. The Reitzmic Parliament is already voting on a motion to pull out of the recent Buckingham Treaty and I feel that it would be unfair if Reitzmag would seem to have 2 votes in the Council. However, I'd like to assure Ms. Romanov that the Nicolezians and other refugees in the area will not be kicked out. It's only an issue of administration and the civilian population would not be affected much by this. I hope that this clears out any issue you have. Thank you, that is all I could say for now." he finished with a smile.
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"I'll start with what I don't mind."
"I wouldn't presume to speak for Inimicus, but it borders another nuclear-armed state, Angleter, which has a defence pact with your country, so I don't think that should be a problem. I'd like to hear first from President Pekcan and Prime Minister Key on the issue of the canal, but I'll simply say that any guarantee of canal access to Reitzmag must also apply to Pravoslaviya. And we are absolutely fine with dumping the sand on Reitzmag's beaches."
"I'd also point out to Mr Bridges that, given his stance, and those of Ms Pekcan and Mr Key, the Caspian Council is highly unlikely to admit Copala City. With that in mind, we're not especially attached to the Copala City clause either. "
"What I don't get is your obsession with artificial reefs. You've just done a massive heavy-handed intervention in the environment; we don't need another one. Pravoslaviya wants the status quo ante restored. Perhaps then, after that has been the case for some time, the Caspian Council could revisit the environmental situation and discuss whether we should bring in any artificial reefs."
"Pravoslaviya is resolutely opposed, however, to the idea of free movement among the Caspian countries. We will not allow Reitzmag to ransom these islands and bounce us into dismantling our borders and opening our markets. A free movement zone extending to the Kaasian border is totally unacceptable to us; a free movement zone with a country like Reitzmag, with its radical globalist migration policies, is totally unacceptable too. Free trade is something we can talk about separately, but absolutely not as a ransom for these islands. I will, however, reiterate that we will remove all sanctions against Reitzmag if an agreement is signed to our satisfaction."
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John Peter Key looked at the Reitz proposal and said "Okay, we are fine with sand being returned to Reitzmag shores and we can assure you Telum members mean no harm to Reitzmag. Free movement should be left to EU schengen zone voluntary or to individual treaties between our nations as Pravoslaviya.~We will also obviously open up the canal to all Reitzmag goods if they pay the commercial rate to do so if a treaty is signed just as it was before but not whole military ships just like we don't allow others to ship that through its not a canal for shipping whole ships through as that is particuarly disruptive, its container and bulk freight canal, we don't want to have to revoke access for any country so we want Reitzmag goods to be able to go through consistently. However we'd have to say island building and reef building should be left as a decision by the Caspian Council once it is operational unless within 24 miles from your coast in your territorial waters. What if on the council Copala City had representation but not a vote as a compromise as an autonomous territory and we offer the same for any other autonomous territorities that may exist in the future due to similar circumstances? However all independent nations on the Caspian get membership if stable enough to do so."
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"We are up to accept the proposal from the United Duchies seeing we will not be able to enter the Caspian Sea Authority. We would like to refuse our possibility to vote in exchange of having a Copalan voice in said Authority. We will not block the agreement, because we need to end this negotiation for once and all."
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Birdane was not too pleased with Bridges' proposals, but she was down to compromise and boost her reputation as the one who solved the Caspian crisis.
"I do not support the free movement between the Caspian states because one, I think member states should decide which countries they want to trade with, and two, I don't think that Reitzmag should be entitled to free movement around the Caspian in the first place because of the reason why we're doing this meeting. Now, When it comes to the canal in the United Duchies, I don't think there should be any entry restrictions for commercial ships from any country, Reitzmag and Pravoslaviya included. Of course, the United Duchies should be able to charge ships passing there and rightfully block warships that it thinks may cause chaos, but giving them permission to use this canal in a rather politically charged way is disruptive to the peace and harmony of the European Union. "
"Also, I think that the area where the islands are, after removal, should be left alone to heal naturally. And lastly, regarding Copala City, if Ms Romanov agrees to settle down on observer status, I shall respect her decision."
"With all that in mind..." Birdane then amends the treaty and gives it to others in the room after finished.
SECTION I – THE CASPIAN SEA AUTHORITY
- The founding members of the Caspian Sea Authority will be the Kingdom of Reitzmag, the United Duchies, the Kingdom of Pravoslaviya, and the Confederacy of North Diessen.
- The Autonomous Territory of Copala City will be given observer status in the council.
may be admitted to the Caspian Sea Authority, either as a full member or an observer, subject to a majority vote of the Caspian Council.
If anyone would like to add more to this, let me know.
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"North Diessen finds itself in full agreement with the representatives from Pravoslaviya. The Caspian must be returned to its former environmental situation. Artificial reefs or deliberate sinking or half-destruction of objects in the middle of our shared heritage is unacceptable to us, as is free movement of people. North Diessen cannot accept unchecked and unlimited immigration from a nation such as Reitzmag, which has been openly hostile to us in the past. I agree that free trade and movement checks can be agreed on in the Caspian Council once it has been established.
"It troubles me that, while Mr Bridges has made some welcome concessions regarding the destruction of the islands that are already built, he continues to discuss a "phase 2" of island building somewhere else. Will these islands be inside the exclusive nautical territory of Reitzmag? If not, there is not the slightest chance of us reaching agreement here.
"Although North Diessen does not have any jurisdiction over the Caspian Canal, which is instead the sole sovereignty of the United Duchies, it would trouble us significantly if Reitzmic warships were to be transferred through this Canal, and we hope the Duchies would honour the Treaty of Telum by standing with us and our other allies. Nevertheless, this is an issue entirely separate from the Caspian Treaty proposal, and I would ask Mr Bridges to consider this."
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I think, Commissioner, in your amendment it should be 'Caspian Sea Authority', rather than just the Caspian Council.
And I'd like to accommodate some of what Mr Bridges has said about sand, and a clause periodically reviewing the ecological situation so we can consider the possibility of having artificial reefs at a later date, if necessary.
((OOC: See suggested edits in Google Doc))
