Eye to Toyou (ATTN: Karakhstan)

[Serbovia]

Freistadt
Freistadt Capital Territory
New Germania Island
Confederate Eastern States

To a typically temperate July day on the island of New Germania, the official yet carrying Karakhstani foreign minister Katan Kazhkanov was received at the Independence International Airport by a honor guard of the famed 1st Cavalry Brigade (Light) - affectionally, with a slightly grim overtone called Last Line for its role as a defender of the Confederate capital - together with a Confederate delegation headed by Foreign Minister Robert Hauer. The diplomatic pleasantries that followed were polite and brief, with the usual handshakes, greetings and gift exchanges - all to the tone of camera flashes by the multitude of Confederate news media that had assembled to witness yet another visit of a foreign dignitary to the capital of Freistadt.

After the reception according to due protocol - the Confederates were something of masters in pomp and circumstances, in part because of the Franconian colonial heritage and in part because it was something the elite liked to show off especially against the contrast of urban decay and rural poverty - the Karakshani delegation was ushered into black limousines and SUVs of the Foreign Ministry (luckily air-conditioned, as July's temperatures in New Germania were usually between +30 and +35 celsius degrees in shadow) which, escorted by unmarked Confederate Marshals vehicles and Freistadt Territorial Police patrol cruisers promptly departed towards the downtown. Traffic policemen stopping regular traffic from interrupting the motorcade was something the good people of Freistadt were adjusted to, given the city's role as the Confederate capital, but the Karakhstani flags in some of the vehicles were a rarer sight.

The motorcade bypassed the Eastern housing projects and the like on the Eastern Throughway, only leaving to join the regular street network once in the area of the New Downtown. Though smaller than the seemingly endless areas of highrises and skyscrapers in cities such as Schräderhafen, New Downtown was still something of a sight, its highrises adorned by light advertisements for various Confederate and foreign companies. Then it crossed North, towards the monumental Old Freistadt, built between 1830s and 1870s with its broad avenues, parks and Neoclassical buildings on a well-defined plan for the capital of the Eastern States. It was usual protocol for diplomatic motorcades being directed on to the sightseeing route, given that no one was usually interested in seeing the more worse-off parts. Before the meeting, more cynical officials of the Foreign Ministry had noted with each other that with all likelihood even the worst neighborhoods of Schräderhafen would've still managed to impress their hosts.

* * *

Foreign Ministry Building
5 Freiheit-Platz
Aldenberg, Freistadt,
Freistadt Capital Territory
Confederate Eastern States

The Blue Hall, named as such for the numerous maritime-themed paintings adorning its walls and primarily used for foreign diplomatic receptions, now assembled the Confederate delegation - comprised of Foreign Minister Robert Hauer, Foreign Trade Representative Martin Kiong and a plethora of other officials - and their Karakhstani guests around a large table wherein various snacks and drinks had been kindly placed by the Foreign Ministry's kitchen staff.

A few photographers allowed entrance to the building - usually issuance of journalist passes that granted entrance to the Foreign Ministry past its public portions was based on the favorability of reporting - took a last couple of pictures before vacating the room, something which Hauer was glad of. Though being in high politics meant that the media and involvement with it was a necessary evil, Robert Hauer had grown to disdain the press in his fifteen or so years of politics. Failed politicians became political reporters, Hauer had famously exclaimed during one cocktail party, though in spite of the quote's wide proliferation in the media he to this day continued to deny ever having said such a thing.

Ironically, he was known as one of the leading "press politicians" in the country, known for frequent appearances in the media. However, all of this occured against a backdrop of disdain and manipulation. Another one of the quotes Robert Hauer had become famous for was "There was a time when the press kept playing me, so I decided to play the press."

His conflicted relationship with the Eastern States' vulturous free press put aside, Hauer reminded himself that the matter of interest here was Karakhstan. After all, one shouldn't be an ignoring host. Initiative for closer exchange had come partly as a result of the Trans-Implarian Oil Company's venture to expand internationally into the country, but Freistadt had things in mind in addition to that.

"It's my wish and that of President Steinhauser that you have had a pleasant visit to Freistadt so far", Robert Hauer commenced, speaking to a microphone connected to a voice system in the room enhancing a speaker's voice sufficiently enough to be audible for everyone in the room, "The Foreign Ministry has prepared a list of Confederate items of interest that we'd like to take up during the course of the meeting and I am prepared to present those as we commence. Does your delegation wish to address any issues in particular?

 

[Tulus and Biminis]

Foreign Ministry Building
5 Freiheit-Platz
Aldenberg, Freistadt,
Freistadt Capital Territory
Confederate Eastern States

Kazkhanov looked remarkably refreshed, dressed in a brown suit, despite having just had flight lasting over six hours. His team had made sure that his pressed suit would be ready for him on board the plane prior to landing. He did indeed have enough time to shower, shave and fix his hair before changing, retiring to his seat just in time for landing. The mineral wealth of his country allowed for his employer to splurge on a fully outfitted 747 jumbo jet. Kazkhanov didn't understand people who 'hated' flying.

The drive from the airport intrigued him. Kazkhanov was an amateur urban planner. Although he had never taken classes or studied the subject in much depth, he was put in charge of the rejuvenation efforts of the City of Almatii in the late '90s. He had a knack and a special eye for proper infrastructure. It was all just common sense to him. He had made a mental note on the drive in to request a tour of the slums before returning home and had his assistant arrange for a weekend trip to Schräderhafen next month. It would be a private holiday, a chance for him to compare cities in this interesting country he now found himself in.

Robert Hauer concluded his brief introduction. Kazkhanov spoke into the microphone with a faint smile. His German was fluent, yet there was a very strong North Wieser accent from his time as a student in the Empire. He knew it sounded funny to the people gathered before him, much more sharp with rolled 'R's and such, but he enjoyed using his lingual skills as often as possible.

'I wish to thank you, Minister Hauer, for your warm welcome to Freistadt and the Eastern States. You have an extraordinary country, which I hope to get to know better and explore in the coming months as our two countries begin a fruitful relationship.'

He decided to cut his spiel short and maybe answer a few questions of those in the room. He really wanted to speak with Hauer alone, maybe with a few aides, and get some real business attended to.

'Karakhstan and the Eastern States share a few things in common. We are developing, in different areas and at different speeds. We have diverse populations, growing economies and we are both located in the ever dynamic region of Toyou. It is thus nothing short of logical and pragmatic that we embrace each other with open arms to expand trade, provide opportunities for our peoples and industry and look after each other in our rough neighbourhood. I look forward to fostering and building our new relations from today and beyond.'

With that said he waited to see what his host had in store next.

 

[Serbovia]

"First of all", said Trade Representative Martin Kiong in his thickly accented German (Kiong, a third-generation Yujiner immigrant, had studied in a Franconian university so his accent was a curious mix of pure Franconian German and Yujiner dialects, making Hauer's inner linguist cringe), "The Confederate government would like to thank Karakhstan for its receptiviness towards the business ventures of the Trans-Implarian Oil Company, which if successful will certainly motivate more investment and enterprise in your country."

Hauer nodded in acknowledgement. The Confederate government had zero stake in Trans-Implarian, a joint venture of leading energy companies in the Eastern States, but the largest domestic petroleum company, its owners, and the owners of their owners held significant political sway thanks to their extensive lobbying in capitals of the so-called oil states as well as in Freistadt. As Kiong ended, Hauer gestured to an aide sitting adjacent to him, who in turn got up to turn on a projector aimed at a projection screen in the back of the room. Projected on the screen was the following in Qarakh and German:

OVERVIEW - AVENUES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EASTERN STATES AND KARAKHSTAN

Economic and business cooperation
* Opportunity awareness programs in both nations
* Encouraging Confederate business investment into Karakhstan
* Easened entrance conditions for work force, guest workers and business travellers

Scientific cooperation
* Easened entrance conditions for exchange students, guest lecturers and guest researchers
* University exchange programs

Political cooperation
* Intelligence-sharing (regional security, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, counter-proliferation)
* Law enforcement and justice cooperation against transnational organized crime
* Political liaison activities

"I stress that this is just a general overview of the things we'd be interested in talking about", Hauer begun, "While I'd be interested into going to detail on these topics as well as hearing suggestions which you may have, I suggest that exact specificities be left for the bureucrats to worry about. Naturally, a genuinely cooperative solution is one endowed with equal input from both of the cooperating parties, and that is something that we'd like to see as a stepping-stone of Confederate-Karakhstani cooperation. From my perspective I'd agree with your assessment, Mr. Kazkhanov, that our two countries have a lot to achieve."

Of course, Hauer mused as he poured himself a glass of spring water from a bottle in front of him, there were certain problems. Though Freistadt liked that the world avoided paying too much attention to what the military, police and assorted private contractors were up to in Cagaya and a few other things the elite liked to keep to themselves, the Eastern States were still a democracy, and the typically houndish Confederate media especially in its non-mainstream portions took a special interest in what the government did. Though, on the other hand, manipulating the media was something of a specialty for the government and the corporations undoubtedly interested in Karakhstan.

And personally Robert Hauer believed that cooperation was the way to go. The Karakh people had developed a system of governance formed out of their conditions, and which they'd continue to develop based on these conditions of their own, just as the founders of the Eastern States had done almost two hundred years ago upon attaining freedom from the Franconian yoke.

 

[Tulus and Biminis]

Kazkhanov and his aides nodded with approval as the list was read off. It just made simple sense to begin implementing these suggestions. Many would benefit, even though certain particulars would have to be ironed out, of course. Kazkhanov was, however, not in the mood to discuss business contracts and other such ideas. Everyone knew what to expect. The large Eastern States' energy firms would pitch ideas to set up shop in the world's newest mineral and energy warehouse, talk about their superior technologies and methods etc. Kazkhanov's team would then broker taxes, transit routes and fees and more.

So instead the minister left his best and brightest while he and Herr Hauer, along with a smaller group, went off elsewhere.

'Minister Hauer,' he began, speaking in German so his own aide wouldn't understand, 'this may sound very unorthodox and peculiar to you, but I would very much like a tour of this city...the real parts, the outskirts. That sort of thing fascinates me, you know. And I don't want to see it from the sky in some helicopter. Do you think you could round up a caravan for this afternoon?'

They strolled through the building at a leisurely pace, their aides trailing some distance away to allot a certain degree of privacy. The echo of their wooden heels filled the void.

'And there is another thing to discuss as well. Boliatur, as you will obviously know, has developed into quite a situation. There is no country in Europe more concerned with recent events than mine.' Kazkhanov began to chuckle softly as he formulated his next words.

'I find it rather amusing that Great Engellex and other such far-off countries have expressed such outrage. Boliatur is isolated, both literally and figuratively. Karakhstan is one of its only links to the world, or rather, a transit point on the way to the well-connected ports of Yujin.' At this point Kazkhanov's voice lowered and became more grave in tone.

'Thus you can imagine our mixed feelings and worry.' He turned to face Minister Hauer and stopped their walking. The aides, with their noses buried into their mobiles, automatically stopped without raising their heads, having sensed the pause.

'I hope that we can find a moment during my trip to discuss this at greater length, Minister Hauer, even though this was not originally a part of our agenda.'

 

[Serbovia]

An interesting suggestion. To Hauer it did indeed sound rather original idea, though expectable given what he'd read of the Karakh foreign minister. The Foreign Ministry used to prepare dossiers of local dignitaries for review with receiving officials ahead of state visits, occasionally doing same kind of work for constituent and local administrators dealing with their own international counterparts. That was, in fact, the actual reason why Confederate hosts sometimes seemed so well-receiving to their guests on the account of pure calculated preparedness.

Robert Hauer knew of his counterpart's interests in urban planning and whatnot, and had sort of seen this coming. At least, he mused, he didn't ask to go to Western Schräderhafen. For all intents and purposes, Freistadt was something of a comfortable city, in part due to the expanse of government offices and the like - one third of residents in the Capital Territory worked for the Confederate government - and in part because it was considered a showpiece of the Eastern States as a whole.

"Of course", Robert Hauer replied while giving a nod to an aide who had accompanied him, who then scurried off to make the preparations for such an effect, "As it is, I would be proud to give you such a tour of our capital when and opportunity manifests for that."

When Kazkhanov took up the Boliaturian question, Robert Hauer momentarily paused to think. Steinhauser was getting majorly pissed off with the way the Boliaturian regime was conducting itself, not in part due to the fact that their policy would provide ample ground for any country to intervene. From a perspective of realpolitik, Freistadt in essence worried about Engellex using the crisis as an excuse to extend its reach in Toyou and the Implarian-Oceanic region, and the same held true in case of other Occidental powers. The slogan "Oceanian solutions for Oceanian problems" came to Hauer's mind again.

"As you with all likelihood already know, the Confederate government has instituted sanctions against the regime in your neighboring country and has no interest in seeing such a destabilizing regime and terrorist safe haven to continue", Hauer spoke in a low tone of voice to Kazkhanov, "Though at the same time we do understand that you'd be concerned over your own interests in the matter. As such, we're in respect of your neutrality and expect others to do the same."