Clarifications and Declarations (ATTN: Oikawa)

[Josepania]

Palace of the Prime Minister, Diplomatic Hall
Smyrna, Aresura

At the head of the table, he sat like a statue, despite the flood of emotions running through him. Nervousness, contempt, just a hint of fear. Joseph Constantine knew that, while Touzen was many, many miles away, their ability to deploy anywhere in Europe was matched by few. Their two carrier battle groups still sitting just outside Aresurai national waters was proof of that. And although he hated them so, and wished for nothing more than to blow them out of the water so he could crush the so-called 'Legitimists' in their little fortress of Axiflos, he knew that just wasn't possible, and would sacrifice the political capital he was doing his utmost to build up. His support rested mostly on the majority of people in Aresura. From that support, international support followed, though that too was tenuous. He had to be cautious, polite, and diplomatic.

That was why he was here today. He was here to meet with a representative from Touzen, hopefully the Foreign Minister himself, to at the very least show he was open to dialogue. Although his inner circle requested a trained diplomat be the matching representative, he refused. 'I said I would meet personally with a representative from Touzen, and meet personally I will.' was what he said.

What would be accomplished at this meeting? Perhaps not much. Touzen unrealistically supported a regime that no longer had the support of either the Aresurai people or the international world, but unfortunately, the country was strong enough that it mattered little. He knew full well that Touzen was doing its utmost strengthening the 'Legitimists' there, and that there was nothing he could do about it. He hoped diplomacy would win out, to make the easterners realize the folly of their efforts... but considering he was no trained diplomat, that would probably be most challenging.

Still, he could say he tried. He tried to bring an end to the conflict without sacrificing 'the will of the Aresurai people', and if Touzen refused, their support in Reformist Aresura would diminish even further, helped by the recent hijacking and the surge of regional support for the Reformists, with no such surge coming for the Legitimists, Loyalists, whatever the hell they called themselves.

Outside, he heard the cars pull up, and the representatives of Touzen emerge to enter the palace. He made himself wait. Wait until the representatives appeared in the doorway, opened by guards. Only then he stood, and with a cordial, though perhaps not genuine smile on his face, announced his greetings.

"Salutations, gentlemen."

 

[Touzen]

"Mr...Constantine it was, yes?"

The words came in an accented, but understandable English.

"It's a pleasure."

Accompanying the overly friendly second sentence was a typical Touyou smile that came with a typical slight Touyou bow.

"It is heartwarming that this meeting could come about", Hosokawa added, his black suitcase gently bouncing back and forth as he casually strolled towards the de facto leader of much of Aresura. To his right aside, almost unnoticeable, his aid, black striped suit, just like the Foreign Minister, square, outdated glasses, just like the Foreign Minister. By all means probably a grandmaster of karate, unlike the Foreign Minister.

"I hope Mr. Sato here will not inconvenience y..ah I don't think he will", giving a small nod to the man, who in return gave a small nod to Constantine. "They say that traveling alone is never as fun as traveling in a group, so I figured I would bring a friend along."

A polite cough behind the open hand, probably to conceal the inaudible laughter at his own bad joke.

"As you know, our two gov..well, I shouldn't be saying that, you know, protocol and all...our two groups...", the Foreign Minister said in a casual chatting tone as he slipped into the chair provided to him, "have not seen eye to all in all issues pertaining the current situation, but we all want to give civility a chance, right? Now, there is one issue I have to make you aware of first of all before we proceed any further, and I am sure you understand that."

Hosokawa slightly tilted his head so as to look at Constantine directly, glancing just over the tip of his glasses.

"My government is obviously not going to give up support for the Aresurai Republic anytime soon. But you probably already figured as much. But aside from that, I am pretty much open to what you are willing to tell me. I assume you do want to tell me something, right?"

 

[Josepania]

"Multiple things, actually."

While he had expected and anticipated it, the simple declaration by the Foreign Minister that Touzen would not budge on the one issue that could resolve everything hit Constantine hard. It was immensely frustrating, and disappointing to the point that Constantine almost felt this meeting was hopeless. Almost. It may have been showing, but he plowed on regardless.

"First, I must express my immense disappointment of your declaration, despite the fact that you are correct: I had expected nothing less. I had, however, hoped for otherwise."

He then, briefly, turned to an immense map of the Aresurai territories overlooking the room. "Second, a declaration of my own: the Aresurai people do not accept the government you, and might I add you alone, prop up. The so-called 'Legitimists', or 'Loyalists', whatever they call themselves, have the open support of neither a majority of the people nor the majority of the international community. In short, you are in the minority, and that is not going to change anytime soon."

"Third, I must express both my disappointment, and my puzzlement, about the rhetoric I am hearing from Touzen regarding the 'Reformists'. One of the more prominent ones I remember is 'extremist militants', which I suppose is true on a purely, technically, rhetorical level. The ones who led the rebellion were indeed from the military, myself included, and I suppose from your viewpoint that is a form of extremism, especially against a so-called democracy. But it disturbs me how easily your government... oh sorry, your 'group', assumes so much of our agenda. Is it so difficult to believe that we truly want to reform Aresura, in a way that benefits the people? That behind the name 'Reformist' we actually do want to follow through on our proclamations?"

He then leaned forward. "Allow me to give you a history lesson. The Aresurai Republic was, indeed, a democracy. Created in the early 1900s to replace the decrepit, theocratic monarchy that had dominated our lands for so long. This democracy, however, went too far to the other end of the political spectrum. Where the empire, however many its faults, was centralized and efficient in getting what it wanted done, done, the Republic became decentralized, toothless, and overflowing with bureaucracy. The status quo crafted by its founding fathers could be maintained, but it could not be changed, not without a titanic effort by the whole of the country to wade its way through the bureaucracy, the rules, the legal loopholes. Such efforts had been made, but they collapsed, the last one was in the 90s I believe. Disillusionment spread throughout the people openly and thoroughly, a culmination of almost a century of ineffective, albeit stable, government."

"In short, gentlemen, the Aresurai Republic failed to respond to the needs of its people because of the way it had been crafted, thereby failing in its primary responsibility. Those who were part of the government were too corrupted by the opulence provided to even think of reform, and those who did were stymied by the majority in office who did not want change. The latter got there because of false promises, or perhaps for some sincere promises that shattered when they were shown the morass they had been elected to. Combined with widespread voter disillusionment, it was a recipe for perpetual ineffectiveness. It was, in a way, a masterpiece."

"That is why Aresura has been silent for a century, its people choked and stifled by a bureaucratic Republic crafted to exist, but never change. In its own way, it was an improvement over the efficient oppression the empire practiced. But I, and many others, recognized it was merely another form of oppression. A lighter one, one that looks better on paper, but it was oppression nonetheless. That, is why the coup occurred. We had become desperate for change, more desperate than our fathers. You could, Minister, say we are the rebellious teenagers of Aresura, seeking something new, something different, and willing to resort to any means necessary to achieve our goals. We tried the legal way, the democratic way, but the institution stifled that, so we turned to brute force."

He sighed, then smiled as he leaned back. "So, as you can see gentlemen, we are at a bit of an impasse. Neither one of us is willing to back down, and both of us have our forms of power to maintain what we currently have. You with your military, me with popular support of both the Aresurai people, and the international world, primarily Boreas. And yet, I assume we both have the same goals: a united Aresura, active on the international stage. I know this, though: the status quo cannot be maintained, gentlemen. For starters, we Aresurai are sick and tired of anything having to do with a status quo, but more importantly, it is a recipe for conflict. Just remember what happened with the regrettable hijacking of that Brettish plane. We need to resolve this situation, gentlemen, and I for one would rather do it diplomatically than militarily. Although the latter is more of my field, I know full well what horrors will come to Aresura should that path be pursued."

"Meanwhile, you are the professional diplomat here, Foreign Minister. Surely you have a few ideas on what can be done to resolve this scenario?"

 

[Touzen]

"Mr. Constantine, I don't need to remind you of whom you are talking to, do I? It is rather irrelevant, Mr. Constantine, whether the Constitutional State is the only vocal supporter of the Aresurai Republic, since both truth and history are on our side. The Constitutional State is the largest military power in the world, Mr. Constantine, and we have long ago pledged this power to the cause of good", Hosokawa began, apparently unconcerned with what he just heard, at least judging from his voice.

"Mr. Constantine, the issues my government has with your group.."

He paused for a moment and folded his hands into a triangle shape under his chin.

"The issues my government has with your group is that you have opted for violence to overthrow a democracy, however flawed it may be. The issue my government has with the reactions of the international community is that your actions set a very, very, and I mean very bad precedent that might makes right - that it is acceptable to remove democratic governments from power if only you can muster the strength to do so. This is a modus operandi that we do not subscribe to. As a matter of fact, I also have to question your commitment to democracy due to the path you have opted to take, Mr. Constantine, and the lack of transparency you have displayed in regards to your future plans for the country."

Hosokawa leaned back, his eyes absent-mindedly looking at the map before him. In his mind, military symbols slowly made their ways over the map, expanding a blue blob over other areas that he imagined as red. The plans were there, all that was lacking was execution, and even though he was not entirely confident something could be achieved in Smyrna, he ultimately recognized that the cost-benefit ratio of an engagement in Boreas was questionable at best. Kaname, however, was younger, and in his mind also more of an ideological crusader. Would he really consider matters in the same fashion than he did? He doubted it.

The karate brute coughed, politely moving his closed hand before his mouth. The Touzen minister glanced towards him.

"Be that as it may, the Constitutional State recognizes the potential in Aresura. According to what the ivory tower people would say, you are in a stage of transition - from Delegationist Democracy to Delegationist Despotism. They say that this is a great precondition for the establishment of a revolutionary nucleus that will give birth to a new Aresura someday."

Pausing, he gave a genuine smile to Constantine.

"But I am not a theorist, I am a diplomat, and it isn't up to me to speculate what might be. It is my job to work with what is there already. And I want to both ensure that democracy is honored in Aresura and that international law is upheld. And I assume we both want to spare the lives of innocents that have now been caught in this international play that I am sure you did not anticipate when you planned your insurrection. However: were the Constitutional State to remove its security umbrella from Axifloa, you would take it within a day, and we cannot let that happen Mr. Constantine, and we still very much maintain the capability to destroy you should we desire to do so. We would however much rather work with you and integrate you into the democratic process, and I am confident that you would much rather have an independent Aresura than one that is a slave to foreign interests. Your neighbors do not support you because of their humanitarian sentiments, Mr. Constantine, but because they seek to hold sway over you. Your revolution is threatened, perhaps by Touzen, yes, but more so by your so called friends."

"However, we can help you with that, if you are willing to let yourself get helped."

 

[Josepania]

"History is claimed by many to be on their side, regardless of their ideology, intentions, and actions. History is, I have observed, on the side of the winners alone, and the winners are different from era to era. Thousands of years ago, it was on the side of theocracies. Hundreds of years ago, it was on the side of monarchies. Today, it seems to be democracies. Tomorrow? It may be on the side of populist dictatorships. The point is, Mr. Hosokawa, I believe your metaphorical allies are as fickle as my allies, so you claim."

Hosokawa's lack of reaction to Constantine's small pitch came as no surprise to the Aresurai leader, albeit a small disappointment. He was too much of a professional diplomat to be swayed by Constantine's charismatic rhetoric. It was, however, heartening to see the tone of the meeting change. There was interest, however minimal its public presence was, in a diplomatic resolution to this crisis. And that was, in the end, infinitely preferable to war.

"And believe me, sir, I hold no illusions about my allies. I know they support me because first, they want a friendly and pliable Aresura, and second, they fear your influence in their backyard. They are useful, however. Aresura's current, unmolested situation is proof enough of that. In the end, though, I do indeed want an independent Aresura, that has been one of my primary goals from the very beginning and I am curious as to how that can be achieved with your help. What, I wonder, makes you any different from my current allies? For, at least on first glance, it seems you want the same thing they want: a friendly Aresura more open to your whims and wishes. It seems to me that the best, albeit hardest, path for Aresura to take is to walk on a tightrope between Touzen and Boreas."

"So why should I think any different?"