Cornavians in Hilversum

[Batavië]

NC Tower
Bloemhof, Hilversum
Gauteng Province

Although the Danish attempt to join the Northern Council had collapsed at the last moment, thanks mostly to their government's peculiar decision to join the anti-democratic LFS alliance, the 'norocrats' in Hilversum decided to proceed in the same manner as they did with the Danes when the Cornavian delegation arrived.

After being brought to Hilversum from Vlaanderen International via rail by an NC meeting party, they arrived in Hilversum where they were given one night to settle into their hotel. The following morning they were brought via luxury motor coach to Bloemhof, the Northern Council's new neighbourhood, still being built. Meant to be a bureaucrat's perfect neighbourhood, Bloemhof was entirely planned to the last cobblestone. Settled within walking distance to the NC Tower and the other office buildings, it had grocery stores, corner shops, bakeries, petrol stations and access to the new tram line being built to connect it to downtown Hilversum.

The Cornavians were brought directly to the NC Tower where they were served coffee and breakfast in the Diplomat's Lounge on the ground level. After satisfying their hunger they were escorted via the glass lift to the 17th floor where a modernly furnished conference room provided them with superb views of Hilversum just beyond the green belt. The panel members from each of the NC member states were present, sipping coffee and overlooking case notes.

Unlike Danmark's panel, this time the Batavians had decided to place their High Representative to the Grand Council, Meneer Karl Oosthuizen, on the panel. Oosthuizen was an experienced diplomat, which meant, naturally, that he had been a full member of the now decimated Bataafsche Arbijders Partij and had also been employed by the communist government. Oosthuizen had been a closet critic of the De Graaf regime, often leaking information to the free press abroad. One Arendaaler newspaper had even caused a stir back in the 1990s claiming that a 'senior ranking' communist official was planning to launch a coup after seeing the events of reform take place in Tyskreich. Oosthuizen had been the one to feed them such information, knowing it was a lie, but wanting to see his own government's response, which was to ignore the situation.

From his dossier, which all of the panel members had, he knew that this Cornavian delegation would be experienced, well organised and aware of the agenda and system. After providing the usual polite introduction Oosthuizen spread his arms as his elbows remained rested on the table.

'Well, ladies and gentlemen, let us hear what you have come here for.' he smiled as his Vlaams sentence was translated into English through the small headphones worn by the guests.

 

[Confederal Republics]

OOC:Yes, I'm using Fenner in two meetings at once.

Minister of External Affairs William Fenner had once more been put in charge of an important Cornavian delegation, which in addition to him included Minister of External Trade Mary Fieldman-Wilcox and a plethora of lower officials from the Cabinet Chancellery and the two aforementioned Ministries, as well as a significant security detail from the Commonwealth Constabulary. Though Batavié was making a quick recovery from Communism, Cornavians weren't all that sure on the security situation in the country, particularly as the Batavian Republican Army radicals still held out in parts of the country.

Still, William Fenner was impressed. He'd entered the Diplomatic Corps back in the early 1990s, when the De Graaf regime had still been in power, and by the virtue of that he'd held his own stereotypes and beliefs of Batavians and their country. First, he noted, the Batavians seemed to be a tad bit more polite than what he'd expected in such a country. Second, at least the state of the city of Hilversum seemed to have improved a lot, if Fenner compared what he'd seen to the pictures and tales of political dissidents and defectors that he'd seen during the Cold War, not to mention those that had come out of Batavië since the collapse of the Communist system.

It could also be that they were just showing the Cornavians the good parts, particularly as Bloemhof seemed to be a new construction. Then again, it was well known in Southport-on-Sea that Batavië was becoming an emerging market, and it seemed that the advancement the whole country had made since the De Graaf regime fell had been genuine, even if William Fenner wasn't as naive so as to think that the old regime's remnants had been entirely eradicated. Heck, from what he knew the man he was talking to at this moment was a former member of the Batavian Communist junta. However, it did warm his mind to see an old bastion of Communist tyranny being in the process of such a transportation.

"First, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Cornavia I'd like to thank the Northern Council memberstates for this meeting", Minister of External Affairs Fenner began in his Southport-accented English, "The Batavian government and the memberstates of the Northern Council are likely already aware of the intentions of the Commonwealth to react to the changes in the North by adapting its existing foreign policies to a changing environment. Our decision to join the Council of Nations was the first step in this regard, and what shall in our hopes culminate in Northern Council membership are the second step."

 

[Batavië]

Karl Oosthuizen understood that wooing the Cornavians would not be too difficult. They appeared to show true interest.

'I think we all know of the benefits to joining the NC.' he began, leaning slightly forward on the table.

'In fact, the more economies that join, the faster the growth potential rises. The NC is off to a steady yet slow start but the fundamentals are strong. Cornavia has a developed and healthy economy, a stable government that supports democracy and would benefit from integration, or so we believe over here. Some would even go so far as to say that this is really a formality of a meeting. It very well could be unless, Meneer Fenner, your government has any particular concerns or comments. That is what we are here to do today since it is quite obvious that we do not need to sell the idea of the group to you all. You came to us before we could come to you.' he smiled at his last line, which he thought was clever. His aide, sitting behind him and taking shorthand notes, stifled a laugh. He just found it too amusing that his boss always thought himself to be so funny.

 

[Confederal Republics]

"Sirs, the Commonwealth government indeed welcomes the opportunity for the membership in the Northern Council", William Fenner stated in response to Oosthuizen, then continuing, "I'd like a second opening statement to establish a framework of sorts on behalf of our government."

"The standing doctrine of foreign policy maintained by our present Cabinet enforces armed neutrality, though, I digress, it should more appropriately called armed non-alignment as its specific purpose is to keep the Commonwealth apart from the great-power conflicts that are a defining trait of our contemporary European political life. Thus, the standing aim of Cabinet Chancellor Wainwright is to keep Cornavia somewhat away from alliances of a military-political nature, but, as it stands, this does not naturally exclude organs such as the Northern Council. However, I will use this opportunity to emphasize that the Commonwealth values its independence in matters of defense and security", Fenner said, pausing to catch breath before continuing, "Indeed, we wish upon the Northern Council to act as a roadway towards creating a genuine Scanian market for joint prosperity of the region."

"The desire towards a Scanian market is also one wherein the Commonwealth's interest in the Northern Council is mainly economic in nature. What with the relation between the Commonwealth and the Northern Council, contrary to the constitutional monarchies and unitary republics I should note a key difference in that the Commonwealth of Cornavia is a federal state by nature, dividing authority between the Commonwealth and individual Cantons. A number of affairs particularly in a number of fields, particularly education, cultural and environmental affairs and transportation and infrastructure within the Cantons are areas where the Commonwealth possesses only limited rights to intervene in Cantonal internal affairs, and thus certain pieces of legistlation may necessitate adaptations in the case of our country."

 

[Batavië]

Oosthuizen made a mental note to himself that he should write a memo to his contacts in Vlaanderen to launch a study into Cornavian federalism. Batavië itself was just learning how the Provincial versus Federal government system worked.

'Naturally NC legislation can always take into account the varying systems of each member. The overall point, however, is to have standards across the organisation. It appears, though, that this shouldn't be a problem in most respects. As far as security concerns go, the closest the NC will likely get is to establish a formal system of security cooperation. This may involve intelligence sharing when necessary and a form of police organisation that coordinates search and investigative efforts. But, of course, at the end of the day such matters of implementation must be done on a national basis.'

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

Lena Mykjåland had sat quietly for awhile. This was the member that her government had originally intended on joining. Yet of course while this was an excuse to keep French out of the system according to her own very private meeting with Chancellor Rilke-Schrödinger. Therefore as usual, some questions had to be answered.

"Mr Fenner, my nation has been well versed in armed-neutrality and the pretext and pretense it was utilized in some ways against the People's Republic of Tyskreich. That said, today the Republic of Tyskreich is most adamant to say that we're strongly supportive of Cornavia's policy. To that end, it is the opinion of Tyskreich to refuse members of questionable alliances entrance to the Northern Council in fear of compromising our own customs and political systems towards a non-friendly alliance and in effect supporting Cornavia's policy of armed-neutrality and the accompanying policies that go in hand with armed-neutrality... am I correct in assuming this?"​

OOC {
My sleepy eyes never noticed this thread all week. Although the pain I've been in might have something to do with that.
}

 

[Confederal Republics]

"The Commonwealth won't object to such propositions regarding security through police and intelligence cooperation, Mr. Oosthuizen, our concerns have more to do with the mechanisms of interstate geopolitics and such", Fenner responded with a curt nod at Oosthuizen, "In line with the aforementioned policy of armed neutrality which naturally only is extended into matters of so-called hard geopolitics and military force."

The Tyskreicher representative, William Fenner noted, had been silent up for this moment. The point that she raised had been one that Fenner had expected from her, given the current relations between the European Defense Federation and Tyskreich. A complicated relationship, that was. Many in Claridge House and elsewhere in Southport-on-Sea called Tyskreich a regional troublemaker that was only interested in manipulating relations and affairs in Scania and beyond for internal political gain of its own government, and, alas, Fenner almost seemed to agree with them. But then again, at times Hertha had its reasons, particularly given the Jurzan affair.

Cabinet Chancellor Wainwright had not wanted to upset the EDF before her negotiations with Franken, so the Commonwealth government had waited on that one until after the negotiations. When Resolution 59-7 entered the Council of Nations, Wainwright had decided to act on the Jurzan matter. Having frowned upon the Talemantine Empire's actions in Himyar, Fenner was glad that the Commonwealth was finally taking steps to recognize Jurzan.

"I'm glad that you have expertise in the history of our foreign policy, Mrs. Mykjåland", Fenner replied, "And indeed, what you say holds true for us, and what you state as for your view of new Northern Council members is understandable."