Internal Affairs Commissioner - Discussion & Negotiation Regarding the Caspian Dispute - March 2021

[Copala City]

"We are, Ms, Birdane. But we would rather avoid to have the European Council deciding about these islands. This shall remain as an affair between Caspian countries and the European Commission, so we reject the proposed amendment by the United Duchies." Said Victoria Romanov.

[Pravoslaviya]

We agree with Ms Romanov on this point. This is best resolved by ourselves and the Commission.

[North Diessen]

"I see no issues with the amendments concerning island destruction from Pravoslaviya and the amendment by Commissioner Birdane. We thank both parties. I also agree with Ms Romanov, these islands are a matter for Caspian nations only and do not necessitate a judgement from the entire Union."

[Alkharya]

After writing the last amendments and touches, Birdane was certain the treaty was finalized this time. She then showed the final text one more time.

"Does anyone have an objection to this version of the treaty?"

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(OOC: You have until 22nd of March, 6 PM GMT / 1 PM EST to object. This has already taken long enough. @Pravoslaviya @BrumBrum @Kingdom-of-Reitzmag @North-Diessen)

[Pravoslaviya]

"Works for us."

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key looked at the modified treaty and said "It works for the duchies"

[North Diessen]

"As said before, this version is agreeable to North Diessen."

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

Simon was not pleased that his interests were not respected even by this commissioner.

"Ms. Birdane, I want to emphasize the key points that we want added to the treaty. We want assurance of no attack, so I think it would be reasonable if no Non-Caspian Military Ships may exit the Diessenian Bay and enter the Caspian Sea proper. We also want a clause that ensures all commercial ships to and from all Caspian Nations be permanently allowed entry to the said canal. And finally, the clause to ensure that the sand will be transferred back to an area prepared by the Reitzmic Government. We will not sign the treaty without those clauses." he said.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key said "We have already assured you we will allow your commercial shipping through the canal and that we have no intention of attacking Reitzmag, there is simply no reason for us to do so. In terms of canal access it is our canal funded by us, we should get to decide who and what comes through that canal, for example what your are asking would require us to let Neo-Venetian ships and UNSR ships through the canal to breach sanctions in place on those nations. We are happy to have sand transferred back to Reitzmag if the islands are destroyed. There may be legitimate reasons for non-caspian military ships to enter the Caspian such as patrol ships entering to help with emergency patrols or to deliver goods or aid or help in an emergency situation or a hospital ship moving up to help in a crises. By putting that restriction in place you prevent that from happening .No Telum Treaty nation has any interest in attacking Reitzmag or war with Reitzmag and we have never sent ships outside our territories or EEZ's other than UD ships ."

I would also point out your request for the sand to be took back to Reitzmag is in the treaty " IV. In the event the islands are destroyed, any sand or other building material that is reclaimed shall be returned to the Kingdom of Reitzmag.". It seems every concession made to Reitzmag like Copala being given observer status or the sand clause etc Reitzmag asks for more and more unrealistic demands , I'll make it simple this is the best you will get off us , now you can have good relations under this treaty or have the sanctions continue which will mean no access to the canal or our airspace. The choice frankly is yours."

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key thought for a second then suggested a clause for canal access "Caspian nations are allowed through permanently unless they are sanctioned at EU level as long as they follow the rules and regulations of the canal including regulations on what goods can be shipped through and environmental standards.However traffic from sanctioned nations shall not be allowed through."

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key passed a paper with proposed amendments around:
Proposed ammendments:
IX.Caspian nations cvillian ships are allowed through permanently unless they are sanctioned at EU level as long as they follow the rules and regulations of the canal including regulations on what goods can be shipped through and environmental standards and paying the toll charge.However traffic to and from sanctioned nations shall not be allowed through
X. Non-humanitarian military ships shall not be allowed outside of EEZ’s or territorial waters of nations or allied nations unless approved by Caspian Council or being used in aid or humanitarian operations or missions.Patrol boats may do routine patrols to monitor for illegal activities such as illegal fishing, island building or sand mining.

[North Diessen]

"I would be happy to accept those amendments if the United Duchies agrees to them. However, to North Diessen, I feel it must be explicitly stated that this canal use is for civilian purposes only. We remain resolutely opposed to any Reitzmic military ships operating through the canal."

[Pravoslaviya]

"We can accept that Reitzmag should choose where the sand is deposited, but we can't have Reitzmag holding the entire process up even further by refusing to identify that area. I've got an amendment here which I think allays my concerns while giving Mr Bridges what he wants:"

At Section II, Clause IV, insert:

a. The Kingdom of Reitzmag may identify and prepare an area along its coastline for any such materials to be deposited. If it does not do this before demolition work commences, then the party responsible for destroying the islands shall proceed regardless, and deposit the materials at a location of its choosing.

"I've also put forward a couple of proposals relating to civilian and military transport through the canal. This, obviously, is quite important to Pravoslaviya too, so I hope this strikes the right balance while being precise enough in its language to stop anybody taking liberties:"

IX. Military vessels belonging to countries without a coastline on the Caspian Sea that enter the Caspian Sea may not travel outside the territorial waters of the United Duchies, or any country whose coastline on the Caspian Sea borders that of the United Duchies, except for humanitarian purposes.

a. The Caspian Sea Authority may, by a unanimous vote of the Caspian Council, choose to grant certain countries or specific vessels further naval access to the Caspian Sea.

X. The United Duchies will guarantee access to the Baltic Canal to civilian vessels from, or carrying goods to or from, all countries with a coastline on the Caspian Sea, subject to tolls.

a. The United Duchies may restrict certain goods from being transported through the Baltic Canal for the following reasons only:
i. Reason to believe the goods will be used for military purposes;
ii. Reason to believe the goods will be used for criminal activity;
iii. Biosecurity;
iv. Health and safety.

b. The United Duchies reserves the right to regulate the size of vessels transiting through the Baltic Canal, and to deny entry to vessels that it deems to be overloaded or not seaworthy.

c. The United Duchies reserves the right to police the Baltic Canal to prevent illegal or unauthorised military activity; or to deny access to the Baltic Canal for civilian trade involving countries that have been subject to sanctions by a vote of the European Council, or involving countries that do not have a coastline on the Caspian Sea and have been subject to sanctions by the United Duchies.

d. If a member of the Caspian Sea Authority believes that the United Duchies is restricting trade beyond what is permitted in subclauses (a), (b), and (c), and is unable to resolve this dispute with the United Duchies bilaterally, then the Caspian Council may adjudicate by a majority vote.

[North Diessen]

"I think this captures quite well what we would expect from the canal and military access regulations. North Diessen would be happy to agree to those terms, and rejects Mr Bridges's suggestion of the "Diessenian Bay", which is not a legally defined term in any jurisdiction, and which would deny North Diessen the right to determine who enters its own territorial waters."

[Kingdom of Reitzmag]

Simon fairly surprised that this negotiation was going well, the interests of Reitzmag are finally respected by the other parties.

"I think we no longer need to have the Caspian Council to vote on the future of the islands. With the current provisions satisfying our terms, we happily would like to say that we will voluntarily remove the islands built without any more additional compensation from our neighbors. And I assure you that, the Government will provide exact coordinates of the reserved location for the sand to be dumped back in Reitzmag." he responded.

"Overall, I'd like to ask if anyone else wants to add more. I'm somehow pleased already with the current state of it."

[Pravoslaviya]

Great! I've proposed some amendments to the draft text to reflect Mr Bridges' proposal regarding the islands. Other than that we have nothing to add.

((OOC: Check the Google doc))

[Alkharya]

Does anyone have any objections to amendments from Pravoslaviya?

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(This meeting will end in March 27, 2021 if there are no objections, and the Caspian Treaty will be finalized.

[Copala City]

"I think I'm a little bit late, but I think telling the Duchies what they should or shouldn't do with their canal is very bad. We should not control, nor take part on the decision making about who is allowed or not allowed into the canal, same with the Military ships. Being concerned about an attack is ridicolous and silly, but we have been seeing this for ages so I don't know why we expected this to be diferent. But I can cope with it if everyone agrees, so I give my go ahead to the Treaty."

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key looked over the conditions and said "I would like to thank Mr Bridges for volunteering to remove the islands it would certainly solve the main issues any of us have. As for the canal the proposals seem reasonable to us as we believe our current rules and future rules fall within those , we only ever restrict goods for safety ,protection of the environment ,smooth running of the canal or to comply with sanction laws domestic or European. We also agree with the idea of a dmz outside of territorial waters and EEZ's except for patrol vessels or cutters . We are willing to sign on the dotted line."

[Inimicus]

"North Diessen is fully ready to sign and is happy this crisis has been resolved in its favour, with Reitzmag agreeing to the complete and total removal and destruction of these islands."