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Gunnland

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The effectiveness of the sanctions had diminished over time, but lifting them would be welcome news to the Elbeners. Maybe they would grumble less about MacPherson's "style." The Calidia Question was complex, since the little republic was no longer the clan bastion it was in the 1980s, but these days even the most hawkish elements of the Gunnish military turned a blind eye to the thriving black-market trade across the militarized border. He immediately agreed to the Union's terms, and smiled at the silent Calidians who seemed only to be there to play a mute game of "Simon Says" and stand and sit in unison with the Kadiks. He did not look at Zilberfarb but instead piously contemplated the aphorism recently on the drunken lips of a great Gunnish actor and director, Jews are the cause of all the wars in the world.

MacPherson leaned forward into the microphone once more, nonplussed by Mihajlovic's confidence during the smoke break that the Domain would attack the CONPROFOR and Lars would suddenly turn into a Cussian airbase. Gunnland was mobilizing for war, it was true, but nobody in Windhaven or Chagny was conscious of mobilizing for this war.

"It is my sincere hope, Mr. Di Gravesano-Carone, that your diplomatic service will be able to talk some sense into the regime in Lars. They must know that Cussian presence is more likely to start a war that Lars has no business in, than it is to deter an invasion."
 

Natal

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Bohuslav Rybár was an old veteran of Nitran politics, and a member of the reformist guard, more open to what Nitran politics calls "National Communism", the political guidelines that strive for a more independent style of development in Nitran society. The other camp was known as the "Pan-Slavs". In general, in external politics, it never really mattered which school of thought you were following as in general, Nitran diplomacy was quite consistent, wishing to a peaceful Gallo-Germania and for the respect of the self-determination of the peoples with a general anti-imperialist viewpoint. This was seen by many in Bystrica as being done only in the way of the Kadikistani, with Status Quo Treaties. Of course, there were episodes of grave turmoil recently in both sub-continents but in the Nitran point of view, this only showed how important such treaties were.

He preferred to sit in it's place and follow what the representatives of Polesia and Kadikistan were doing, though he at some points really was ready to step in to calm down both the Gunnish representative and Grasser. By now, we really started liking MacPherson, he really showed spirit and had quite a strong personality, though he was thinking that should he become hostile, he might be a nuisance. Seeing that the Gunn too came to the same conclusions as him regarding the weight the Eiffellandian can pull with the government in Lars, he decided to intervene:

"Mr Di Gravesano-Carone, you must understand, that even if the Grand Duchy won't join in the peacekeeping operation itself, they should still be at least open to this concert of nations that wish to see peace and tranquillity come to Gallia and Germania. If I, or my esteemed colleagues, comrades Zilberfarb or Moravscik or Grasser would contact them, they will see it just as propaganda. A mermaid's call which in their mind, will bring them only suffering. It is quite a sad state of affairs, but I feel that you, because you represent Trier itself and are also a Retalian together with Mr. MacPherson, as you both have closely interacted with them, and can be a lot more persuasive. They need to understand that what is happening now, makes the 7 day war look like a petty squabble. Their rejection of even a civilised dialogue is really sad and it clearly pushes them into a point in which they will be isolated from this continent.

As for us, the Democratic Republic of Nitra, doesn't have the manpower, equipment of military traditions that Kadikistan, Eiffelland-Retalia or the Holy Tiburan Empire has. But we as a people do love peace and have struggled for more than 14 centuries to ensure that our children's children will live a tranquil and good life. We will thus join the peacekeeping force and will create a special volunteer hussar regiment whose command we will surrender to the joint general staff of the CONPROFOR. I will state again, that we are doing this out of our aversion of war and for our love for peace," he stated and then turned to his aide as he was finishing the translation in the headphones.
 

Rheinbund

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"I will contact the Government of Lars as soon as possible. I see the urgency of the matter, so I will contact the Government of Lars as soon as possible. I do have to mention though that chances of success are small when I have nothing to offer. I need guarantees that Lars will not be considered an easy prey after the foreign troops have gone.
For the recognition of Calidia and Polesia, I thought that Eiffelland-Retalia had aready done that. I will check that, and make sure that Calidia and Polesia will be recognised if they have not been recognised yet. We will also recognise the Holy Tiburan Empire, wih the notion that we only recognise it as a new country and do not recognise it as a successor state of the Tiburan Empire.
I also have to put forward the point of the Polesian company Volxmashin making cars that are copies of cars from Eiffelloretalian car companies Darner and Raimer. The car designs currently used by Volxmashin took several years to develop, against high costs. The Eiffelloretalian car companies are angry about the fact that Volxmashin currently leaves the development costs of the cars to them to bear. I do understand that Volxmashin has to provide jobs to Polesian citizens, but now it is taking the bread out of the mouths of thousands of Eiffelloretalian workers. And these words are genuine. Eiffelland-Retalia may not have adopted an economic system that was derived from Marxism, but it does take the welfare of the Eiffelloretalian workers into account, and with success. You can't accuse Eiffelloretalian companies of exploiting workers, especially not given the fact that there are no Eiffelloretalians on the worldwide top 1000 list of richest people.
There are two solutions to this problem:
  • Either Volxmashin pays a licence fee to Darner and Raimer to continue to use the designs currently used;
  • Or Darner and Raimer provide designs from 10 to 15 years ago to Volxmashin, and Volxmachin stops producing cars according to the most recent plans and starts producing cars according to the designs from 10 to 15 years ago.
The Eiffelloretalian car companies are currently prosecuting against Volxmachin in each and every country Volksmachin is active. I think it would be better if Darner, Raimer and Volxmachin reach a compromise on this matter, because it will spare both companies a lot of frustration and legal costs," Minister Di Gravesano-Carone said.
 
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Polesia

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With all eyes on him, the Polesian Premier cleared his throat that had been irritated by the cigarette smoke and spoke clearly and directly at the foreign minister from Eiffelland-Retalia.

"I think Folxmashin made very clear it's stance here and so did the Polesian Ministry of External Affairs: we will not bow to economic aggression, legal threats or financial sanctions."

Zilberfarb let the words hang in the air for a bit before continuing. The alcohol was making him braver than usual.

"Anyway, I think the purpose of this conference was to discuss more pressing matters."

The Polesian dictator then moved back and looked to his Kadikistani hosts to move the conversation forward, feeling slightly green at the gills after all the vodka and tobacco.
 
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Gunnland

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If Anthony Gunn MacPherson was brash and overconfident, it was as a result of his meteoric rise into imperial politics. He was recognized as a standout student by his marpesienne law professor, Hadrian Molyneux, and introduced to another leading "Trouser," Théophile Gladstone-Pape (the Elbener agent), when empire was still a wild dream in Windhaven dreamed only by a francophone Île-des-Pins élite that chafed under the rough customs of their new Gunnish overlords. Anthony was in many ways what they needed, a Gunn, a clansman, who could present a truly Gunnish case for empire, as if it was a Gunnish idea all along. If he was brash and overconfident, then Slavic eyes were right to probe at a weakness behind it. Imperial politics were complex, as all things that should belong mostly to the future tense are.

He looked from Di Gravesano-Carone to Moravscik, ignoring the plucky Zilberfarb (though reluctantly admiring his panache), because of course the Jews were ripping off cars. At least they no longer had Burgundian arms dealers on their puppet strings!

"The Empire is prepared to offer Lars a security guarantee, if it is countersigned by the Union and Eiffelland-Retalia, to protect their territorial integrity. If they are attacked by any one of our three powers, the other two will defend their borders. Under two conditions: first, that they expel all foreign military personnel from their borders; second, that they allow CONPROFOR peacekeepers through their territory and provide logistical assistance to CONPROFOR. I think that if they deny such an offer, signed and delivered by Mr. Di Gravesano-Carone, it will reveal that Lars is not concerned for her own security, but rather that there are more... disruptive... motives behind their actions. Indeed, that is what I fear is the only explanation for their failure to send a representative here to Belgarsk."
 

Rheinbund

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Minister Di Gravesano-Carone was highly annoyed by Zilberfarb's words. His immediate answer was: "Well, Prime Minister Zilberfarb just added another reason why Eiffelland-Retalia wants to keep the relations with Lars good: If we send our goods to North-Germania through Polesia, the Polesians will open each and every package to copy our products. No doubt that they will do the same with products from the Holy Germanic Empire. But copying is what they need to do, because sadly they can't develop anything themselves.
Anyway, Eiffelland-Retalia will definitely countersign the security guarantee proposed by our esteemed colleague Minister MacPherson. I consider it a good proposal."
 

Kadikistani Union

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The conference had yielded some direct results. Not everything was gained as far as the Kadikistani Union was concerned, but it was definitely better then the worst case scenario. Many international observers were certain that the conference would become a fiasco, maybe even lead to renewed tensions in the region. Moravscik was happy that had not occurred and was relieved he could leave this as perhaps his final legacy. The conference had exhausted him physically while his mind felt that it could go on for weeks.

By the time for dinner the leaders reunited with their respective entourages, the latter having prepared the agreements and fleshed out the details of the accords. All that the various delegations still needed to do was sign under heavy, yet strictly controlled, media attention.
 

Thaumantica

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Chuck Weaver thanked his lucky stars as the uniformed guards that Galloslav had struck up a conversation with at the direction of a bazaar woman selling farm eggs guided them to the Kadiki press corps.

“You will wait in line for your turn,” Galloslav relayed through his native tongue to Engelsh, “. . And you must address the assembled dignitaries with honor and respect. We will lose our credentials if you perform a stunt or offend anyone, we are being given a privilege that may be revoked at any time. He wants to know if we understand?”

Weaver gave a nod, “Yes, sir.”

Galloslav waited then for permission to start recording with his camera, a recorded tape rather than live feed, and positioned the Vesper 24 reporter precisely to their assigned spot among the foreign press.

Chuck would not try to shout a question with all men and women assembled, he rather instructed Galloslav to record when permitted the scene of leaders together, shaking hands, or signing agreements symbolically for the press.

The meat of their reporting could be accomplished with a follow-up interview with a dignitary if possible, or an outdoor summary from Chuck himself. Entrance to the legendary All People’s Palace in Belgarsk was achievement enough for Engellachia’s televised news service, and this reporter or the next would need to hold on to these credentials like a golden ticket.

Vesper 24 was after a Kadiki to interview of course, but the Gunnish were a close second due to language and cultural similarity that would need no translation. Chuck stood in place as domestic and foreign press volleyed out their questions and simply checked his tie and tested his red and blue microphone with “VESPER” in white running down from the top.
 

Rheinbund

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"There is one final remark I have to make. I come back to the issue of the Polesian company Volksmashin selling copies of Eiffelloretalian cars. As indicated, this affects an important part of the Eiffelloretalian economy. You cannot demand from my country to cooperate with a country that started such a brutal attack on my country's economy. If Volksmashin does not reach a satisfactory agreement with the Eiffelloretalian car industry, I will not be able to get the agreements closed at this conference ratified by the parliaments of Eiffelland-Retalia. Is there a possibility to solve this problem?" Minister Di Gravesano-Carone asked.
 

Thaumantica

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"CONPROFOR is a remarkable unifying achievement for continental Europe. Can we expect further neutral agreements between Gallo-Germanic powers in other categories such as economic trade policies?" Chuck Weaver inquired of the Gunnish and Kadikstani plenipotentiaries. Issues of armament and trade within Gunnland, an important cultural and economic trade partner of Engellachia, would be of utmost importance at home.The growing importance of the Kadikistani economic zones, where Engellachian companies were investing heavily in semi-truck manufacturing and grocery distribution, would also intrigue homeward investors seeing information from the faraway conference.

"One more question: the Burgundian People's Republic appears to have committed to a policy of 'liquidation' with concern to Ouistreham and surrounding hamlets. Will CONPROFOR reinforce these efforts to dismantle features of civilization to deny the Domain's advance?". Weaver's second question might ruffle feathers, but the facts and features of the war included these sabotage efforts by the Burgundian People's Republic.
 

Polesia

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"If Eiffelland chooses to forego peace to appease a cartel of car manufacturers then that will be on your conscience not mine, comrade minister," Zilberfarb said icily as delegates prepared to leave.
 
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