Forum on Security and Democracy [ATTN: All]

[Imimoya]

[TOKJIN]

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The port city of Tokjin is perhaps the city, to be precise: most western metropolis of the entire republic of Tianlong. Located in the center of the island of Tortuosa, province of the same name, the city dominates with its central position all the routes in the direction of Gallo-Germany and Touyou. Due to its characteristic position, the Tianlong culture has had the opportunity to come into contact with that of Himyar and of Gaul-Germany itself, mixing and giving origins to the most modern and lively cities of the Touyou continent.

Unfortunately, the circumstances of the situation did not allow guests the time to savor life in this city that never sleeps. As promised a few days earlier by the president of the republic himself, Zhuan Lingxin, a summit was quickly organized and an official invitation was issued through the press and through the various diplomatic missions to all democratic nations. Nations that share with Tianlong the growing concern over the deterioration of global peace by aggressive imperialist nations.

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Link the president's speech on the current crisis

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[Hanseatic Republics]

The delegation from Metsamaa was first to arrive and had done so rather purposefully. Getting one-on-one face time with their hosts would be helpful. Metsamaa was trying eagerly to expand international ties in order to gain more and more independence from the Scanlaw, but of course this was difficult. Foreign Minister Jaan Anton Pärn was there himself alongside Permanent Under Secretary Hillevi-Iida Laine in hopes to expand ties, but also to see if they could gain some kind relationship with Tianlong that perhaps the Scanlaw itself could not get. They understood there was a large degree of tension. The Scanlaw was involved in an operation that was not appreciated in Tianlong. Jaan and Hillevi-Iida did their best to exchange pleasantries upon their arrival and made it clear that they wished to truly see a real democratic alliance be crafted from this meeting with everyone they met. They wanted to make their ability to arrive independent of the rest of the Scanlaw a symbol as to where they stood.

 

[Imimoya]

The Metsamaa delegation had arrived earlier than expected, almost as if it were a race to get there before the other delegations at the Forum on Security and Democracies. An action that took the Tianlong representatives off guard, still busy fixing the area where the forum was to be held. The other representatives would not have arrived yet for at least at least one day.

When the plane carrying Foreign Minister Jaan Anton Pärn and Permanent Under Secretary Hillevi-Iida Laine was spotted in the vicinity of Tianlong airspace, President Zhuan Lingxin himself was on his way to a ceremony in central of the republic, but had to change course of his personal fly to return to Tokjin and welcome unexpected guests.

When the Metsamaa plane had arrived at the international airport, due to the short notice times, the military band was replaced with one from the local police, certainly not inferior for the quality of the music, but rather different from the standard protocol. Waiting for them was President Zhuan Lingxin, who landed a few hours before the guests. It would have been a fairly spartan meeting, but above all a quick one. A ceremony of the hymn in front of the police music band, exchange of greetings and customary photos, and then travel to the hotel where they would host the foreign delegation.

[Hotel meeating room]
Their first meeting and chance to talk to each other would take place inside the meeating room of a downtown luxury hotel, booked on the spot, but not before the president's security searches the room from top to bottom. There had to be absolute certainty that there were no listeners other than those in the room. The first to speak was the President himself:

"Honorable representatives of Metsamaa, welcome to Tokjin, I apologize for such a spartan welcome, but your arrival was expected much later. I was also hijacked by my previous encounters. What do I owe this rush to reach our beautiful island?"

 

[Natal]

The second delegation to arrive was the Ebrian one. It was headed by Ada Valen y Codony, the Minister of External Affairs. Normally, considering the importance, the Prime Minister should have lead it, but because of the events back home, with his majesty the king entering a coma, it was important for Siveri Massanas to stay and sort the potential issues that would arrive should he never wake up. Even so, it was only a mere fortnight since Ada Valen was in Tianlong, first meeting with President Zuan Lingxing in Uicheon, and now arriving in Tokjin. She was quite happy that a nation as big as Tianlong would start to become more active and it would push for what was clearly necessary, an alliance of the democratic nations. By now, she was already on the verge of forming a friendship with President Lingxing, considering how often they met in the recent times. ​

 

[Pelasgia]

Foreign Minister Alexandros Metaxas and the delegation of the Union of Pelasgia were the third to arrive to the coastal metropolis on the western edge of Tianlong. The grey-haired, blue-eyed septuagenarian, with the manly but amicable face more suited to an experienced family doctor than a seasoned diplomat, could not help but feel slightly anxious at the momentousness of the occasion; for the first time in his lifetime, he was not the representative of a colony or junior kingdom, the delegate of some Governorate-General, the secondary voice accompanying a Carian colonial master; he was the Foreign Minister of a country, representing a sovereign, independent Pelasgia.

For two hundred years, since the Engell annexation of the then-Levantine Empire as a colony, his people had always been forced to let someone else speak for them, taking a secondary role--if any at all--in the best of times. Before the Engells had come the less explicit but equally humiliating domination of the Radillans, the Ebrians, the Franks, and even the Tiburans; and after them had come the Carians, the Pelasgians' own cousins and ancient progenitors, who had done everything in their power to assimilate the Pelasgians and stump out their identity and faith once and for all. Yet, the Pelasgians had outlasted them all--and, today, eight centuries after those unwashed heretical Crusaders sacked Propontis, Alexandros Metaxas was here to represent the will and interests of his sovereign people.

All that was left of the former masters were the twin lions on the surface of the pin that adorned the Pelasgian Foreign Minister's suit jacket (the first being the heritage of the crusaders, and the latter of the Engells and the Carians); that, and the largely ceremonial monarch to in whose name Metaxas formally spoke, omitting the dynastic family's name of "Notaras" as if to forget that the first independent Pelasgian Sovereign in two hundred years was the second son of a Carian King.

"Sir," said Prokopios Argyropoulos, the Foreign Minister's chief adviser and dauphin. The forty-or-so year old man with the near-shaven head was dressed in the diplomatic uniform of the Union's Diplomatic Service--an unassuming black suit, which differed from ordinary civilian clothes only in the ornate golden-threaded patterns at the cuffs and lapel. "We're about to arrive."

Metaxas nodded. "Very well," he answered, before raising his voice. "Look sharp, gentlemen. Let's show Europe that the Union of Pelasgia has fully assumed its equal place among the international community of nations."​

 

[Rheinbund]

The Rheinbund had the same problem as Ebria had: Its head of state was in bad health. Meanwhile it became questionable who would die sooner: King Johannes of the Rheinbund, or King Arnau of Ebria. An extra complicating factor was the fact that the Rheinbund had just got a new government. The Chancellor could not be missed in the first days of a new government. The coalition agreement had already been briefly discussed in Parliament on the day the Chancellor was elected, but the more in-depth discussions with the opposition had to be done in the week after the government had been sworn in.
Therefore, it was decided that Minister of Foreign Affairs Gustav Kohlschreiber would lead the Rheinian delegation instead. The chapters on foreign affairs had been discussed first thing, and after that Minister Kohlschreiber stepped into the plane.

Several hours later, he landed in Tokjin, to represent a country that had put itself under neutrality after having suffered under the Great War. It was offered a mandate after that war, but refused. Nowadays, the Rheinbund was a democracy that combined religiousness with liberality. Religion still played a role in the country, because it was part of someone's identity. A Rheinian was first a citizen of his/her/their memberstate, then a Catholic / Lutheran ("Evangelisch") / Calvinist in whichever form, and then a Rheinian. And its main principle in its foreign politics was "we govern ourselves like we think it's best, but won't tell other countries to govern themselves like we do". It was not up to the Rheinians to tell the Tarusan Tsar to turn his country into a constitutional monarchy.

Of course the Rheinians had their opinions. Also on the Tarusan invasion of Al-Magrab. Unofficially, the Rheinian government had a negative opinion on the Tarusans. Officially, it behaved itself towards the Tarusan government equally polite as towards other governments. Although it did not forbid protest actions against the Tarusan invasion of Al-Magrab.

After the plane had parked on Tokjin's airport, Minister Kohlschreiber stood up. "Well, my dear fellow-members of the Rheinian delegation to the Forum on Security and Democracy," he said, still struggling with keeping his addresses gender-neutral, "we have a clear task in front of us. No matter how neutral we are, we can't be sure about the democratic world's safety any more. The Rheinbund has never imposed its system on other countries, or scolded other countries for not being democratic. But now we have to find ways to preserve democracy. Let's give our input: Rheinian efficiency."

 

[Gran-Occidentia]

The Gran-Occidentian delegation arrived next. The Caudillo would not be attending the forum, while the domestic situation was beginning to settle it was felt by many in the government that with the upcoming election the country was not stable enough for the Caudillo to travel Foreign Minister Francisco de Rosas would attend in his stead. De Rosas was a tall, thin to the point of gauntness a man of aristocratic bearing with a patricians nose and flint coloured eyes that betrayed nothing of what he was feeling. Like the men in his entourage he was clad in the Integralist Party's bottle green uniform although as a member of the Party's elite it was noticeably more extravagant

De Rosa's was quite aware of the irony of Gran-Occidentia's attendance at such an event, not too long ago the People's State and the Integralist Party had shunned the notion of liberal democracy as effete and powerless, now Gran-Occidentia was ready to take its place as one of its staunchest defenders "What strange paths fate leads on"

 

[Imimoya]

[The day following the arrival of Metsamaa]
The following day, as scheduled, the rest of the delegations had also arrived in the port city of Tokjin, to be more precise, at its international airport which was only a few kilometers from the city. Waiting for them, unlike the previous day, there were all the honors as per protocol, unlike the political representatives of Tianlong, who awaited the individual delegations at the Forum itself, where the actual meeting would be held. The Forum would be held in a modern structure, the cultural center of the city, set up for the occasion in the concert hall was transformed into a meeting room for the current event. The representatives would have been surrounded by a millennial culture of the island and of Tianlong itself.

After lunchtime, the first diplomatic representation cars had begun to arrive, one followed by the other by a few minutes. Waiting for them, in front of the structure, was the President Zhuan Lingxin, with his black suit and the golden dragon brooch, ready to welcome each guest with a formal greeting and direct them inside the structure.

"Welcome to Tianlong, I hope traveling was pleasant." President said to each arrived, varying the form to diversify.

RP OFF: Before the actual meeting there will be time, in which whoever wants to can make some RP interventions.

 

[Hanseatic Republics]

The Metsamaa delegation had arrived earlier than expected, almost as if it were a race to get there before the other delegations at the Forum on Security and Democracies. An action that took the Tianlong representatives off guard, still busy fixing the area where the forum was to be held. The other representatives would not have arrived yet for at least at least one day.

When the plane carrying Foreign Minister Jaan Anton Pärn and Permanent Under Secretary Hillevi-Iida Laine was spotted in the vicinity of Tianlong airspace, President Zhuan Lingxin himself was on his way to a ceremony in central of the republic, but had to change course of his personal fly to return to Tokjin and welcome unexpected guests.

When the Metsamaa plane had arrived at the international airport, due to the short notice times, the military band was replaced with one from the local police, certainly not inferior for the quality of the music, but rather different from the standard protocol. Waiting for them was President Zhuan Lingxin, who landed a few hours before the guests. It would have been a fairly spartan meeting, but above all a quick one. A ceremony of the hymn in front of the police music band, exchange of greetings and customary photos, and then travel to the hotel where they would host the foreign delegation.

[Hotel meeating room]
Their first meeting and chance to talk to each other would take place inside the meeating room of a downtown luxury hotel, booked on the spot, but not before the president's security searches the room from top to bottom. There had to be absolute certainty that there were no listeners other than those in the room. The first to speak was the President himself:

"Honorable representatives of Metsamaa, welcome to Tokjin, I apologize for such a spartan welcome, but your arrival was expected much later. I was also hijacked by my previous encounters. What do I owe this rush to reach our beautiful island?"

THE EARLY ARRIVAL TIMELINE
Hotel Meeting Room, Tokjin

Jaan nodded, "The welcome was most generous nonetheless. We do not expect so much formality in Metsamaa. I am quite sorry to have arrived so early, I am sure that it was difficult for you and your schedule. I rush to this meeting for a simple purpose. I will keep it quite brief, but my people look to find ways to differentiate ourselves from the Scanlaw. As you may know the circumstances for this very meeting seem spurred on by such terrible news of war. I do not know if you read our news, I excuse you if you do not for we are such a small country, but our President is soon to be recalled for this blunder. My colleague and I do not know who will be the next President, but it is our job to secure a future for Metsamaa. It is quite possible that our nation will seek to leave the Scanlaw at some point and I am here to see if Tianlong will support this."

His partner also nodded and made a strange inhaling noise. She handed the President a folder. It had several pictures of Metsamaa at the beginning but deeper in the file had some text which outlined a variety of scenarios in which Metsamaa might declare independence. Hillevi-Iida continued, "I think we all acknowledge that Tianlong would like to avoid any circumstances in which they might be drawn into a distant conflict, so our goal would be to ensure no conflict occurs to begin with. We believe this can be done with lengthy attempts at integration of our economies and cooperation abroad in as many possible scenarios. Furthermore, we believe that scientific study is a great way to extend Tianlong's reach. So we invite you to establish a Polar Research Base." Jaan interrupted seamlessly, "Do you have any questions or concerns?"

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

The Meeting Actual Timeline
Airport Arrival (and to the Hotel), Tokjin

Nine representatives from Scanlaw arrived from the same airplane and exited along with President Bakken. Each nation was in attendance and Bakken was there in theory to lead them. The bigger problem of course was that theory was not practice. Each of the nine representatives had a desire to gain something, none of the them had 100% common cause with President Bakken either. They would largely not be speaking at any formal meeting, but backdoor channels is where they would make their presence felt.

They would engage in photo-ops with their hosts and shake hands with the President of Tianlong. Shortly there after they'd proceed to the hotel and prepare themselves for the meeting. They didn't all have agendas, but they all had a lot going on behind the scenes.

 

[Imimoya]

THE EARLY ARRIVAL TIMELINE
Hotel Meeting Room, Tokjin

Jaan nodded, "The welcome was most generous nonetheless. We do not expect so much formality in Metsamaa. I am quite sorry to have arrived so early, I am sure that it was difficult for you and your schedule. I rush to this meeting for a simple purpose. I will keep it quite brief, but my people look to find ways to differentiate ourselves from the Scanlaw. As you may know the circumstances for this very meeting seem spurred on by such terrible news of war. I do not know if you read our news, I excuse you if you do not for we are such a small country, but our President is soon to be recalled for this blunder. My colleague and I do not know who will be the next President, but it is our job to secure a future for Metsamaa. It is quite possible that our nation will seek to leave the Scanlaw at some point and I am here to see if Tianlong will support this."

His partner also nodded and made a strange inhaling noise. She handed the President a folder. It had several pictures of Metsamaa at the beginning but deeper in the file had some text which outlined a variety of scenarios in which Metsamaa might declare independence. Hillevi-Iida continued, "I think we all acknowledge that Tianlong would like to avoid any circumstances in which they might be drawn into a distant conflict, so our goal would be to ensure no conflict occurs to begin with. We believe this can be done with lengthy attempts at integration of our economies and cooperation abroad in as many possible scenarios. Furthermore, we believe that scientific study is a great way to extend Tianlong's reach. So we invite you to establish a Polar Research Base." Jaan interrupted seamlessly, "Do you have any questions or concerns?"

THE EARLY ARRIVAL TIMELINE
Hotel Meeting Room, Tokjin

The President listened to the guests' speech with some interest. "Ceremonies are important, if not a fundamental part of our culture. We could do three hours of ceremony for an introductory speech of a few minutes and no one would have anything against it. Let's say it is our link to our past." Zhuan smiled faintly at the end of the sentence before resuming the conversation. "If I have to be honest, there was some discontent within the government whether to allow you to take part in this forum or not, as you are a party to the aggression of Magrab and Hajr along with the other two nations. Only the existence of democratic systems within your political system, which we believe have been stripped of their power of decision in the ongoing war, made us reach the decision to allow you to take part of the ongoin forum."

The president opened the folder containing the documents that was passed to him and looked through its contents. "Does Tianlong support your request for independence? Difficult question to answer. Personally, I believe that you have the right to seek your own path for the future in full autonomy. Politically, an independent Metsamaa would favor Tianlong and rebalance the powers in the area, perhaps even making you an interesting economic partner due to the presence of offshore oil, which Tianlong needs. Militarily I understand that your defense is entrusted to the Scanlaw, even if you are not obliged to follow their decisions politically if I understand correctly. We cannot project our military presence and weight that far north. Not at present and without other strategic partners in the area." There was a second pause to let the counterpart digest the answer. "As for Polar Research Base, it would be the first for Tianlong, I guess our scientists will be happy to have this kind of experience. It should remain in close proximity to Metsamaa territory, otherwise there is a risk that Tarusa will try to sabotage it in some way."

 

[Imimoya]

The Meeting Actual Timeline
Cultural Center of Tokjin

GDR OFF: I make a list of the people present on the Tianlong side inside the structure, for those who want to interact befor the beginning of the real forum.

1. President of the Republic of Tianlong, Zhuan Lingxin
2. First Lady, Shen Ya
3. Foreign Minister, Liao Jianhong
4. President of the Province of Qiandaong (where are you now), Kato Katsuo

 

[Gran-Occidentia]

Francisco sought out President Lingxin, he sidled up to the man " Hello sir, I would like to thank you on behalf of my nation for the republic's generous investment to develop Gran-Occidentia's wealth. But if I may I would like to speak to you about the current situation in Himyar. You seethe People's State of Gran-Occidentia is resolute in its wish to combat Tarusan and Frankish imperialism, however materially we are limited and if we are to be truly effective we and our allies will require support mainly financially and militarily. Now would the Tialong Republic be receptive to such an arrangement?".

 

[Radilo]

The Meeting Actual Timeline
Cultural Center of Tokjin

GDR OFF: I make a list of the people present on the Tianlong side inside the structure, for those who want to interact befor the beginning of the real forum.

1. President of the Republic of Tianlong, Zhuan Lingxin
2. First Lady, Shen Ya
3. Foreign Minister, Liao Jianhong
4. President of the Province of Qiandaong (where are you now), Kato Katsuo

Ooc: sorry I'd I'm a bit late to this.

A bit fashionably late, the Most Serene Republic's delegation arrived a bit after @Skånskelag . Radila was fortunate compared to some democratic nations, as its heads of state and government were both alive and well. His Serenity, Doge Clemente III was the first out of the plane, resplendent as ever, followed by Prime Minister Lacé, dressed in a frumpy burgundy pantsuit. Foreign Minister Barnapola was also in attendance.

It was a bit of a risk sending the three top officials in the Most Serene Republic during a time of rampant armed conflict. But it demonstrated the commitment to democratic republicanism within Radilo that the second junior partner in the coalition, the Green leader could be reliably left in charge without concern. It also showed the commitment to Radila's oldest ally, symbolically ay least.

The Doge was also looking to schmooze and drink his way into a more solid democratic alliance... or at least distract from any overly overt mafia activity.

 

[Rheinbund]

The Meeting Actual Timeline
Cultural Center of Tokjin

The Rheinbund was in a bit difficult situation. The country was officially neutral, but unofficially did not like what was happening in Hymiar. However, directly delivering weapons to the Magrabbines and the Hajri would be interpreted as taking a side. IF the Rheinbund would be delivering weapons, it had to happen unofficially and indirectly. Rheinian companies could sell the weapons and the ammunition to another country, and that other country could transfer the weapons to Hymiar and Hajr with the needed steps in-between, but that was it. That wasn't a solution for now, but could be a solution on the longer term to assist a guerrilla.

One of the Rheinian delegation members hinted on such a solution to a Gran-Occidentian delegation member in a private conversation in one of the hotel rooms: "As a neutral country, the Rheinbund cannot support Al-Magrab and Hajr directly. That also means that we can't sell weapons to countries that militarily support Al-Magrab and Hajr. But indirect support is possible: A country that is not militarily involved in the war can officially or unofficially deliver weapons to Al-Magrab, Hajr and the countries that support them, and then we deliver weapons to that non-involved country to replace the ones delivered to Al-Magrab, Hajr and the countries that support them. And I can also see if we can give unofficial financial support."

 

[Gran-Occidentia]

Pascual was a relatively junior member of the Gran-Occidentian delegation, he was not well versed in Rhenish but he thought he managed to get the grasp of what the man was saying "Yes, I think our two governments can come to some sort of arrangement. we will run your guns and your hands stay clean...I think my superiors can do that".

 

[Pelasgia]

Just before the official summit started, Foreign Minister Metaxas took a chance to talk to his counterpart from @Tianlong, Liao Jianhong.

"Mr. Jianhong, I have to thank you--and His Excellency, President Lingxin, for your hospitality. This being Pelasgia's first diplomatic mission as an independent nation in centuries, I could not have hoped for a better forum or host. I feel, then, that it is an ideal time for us to repay this honour and courtesy you've done us. You will recall, I hope, that, shortly before our independence, the then-Governor General of Pelasgia had concluded and oil-and-natural-gas-for-steel trade agreement between our nations; provided your Republic is prepared to continue this arrangement with our newly independent state, our Union would, in turn, be more than glad to offer you prices rates for both commodities that are rather advantageous--such that you would not have to rely on your strategic oil reserves to curb price rises."

---

While his boss was busy talking business with the Tianlong Foreign Minister, Prokopios Argyropoulos went ahead and met one of the delegates from @Skånskelag, whom he recalled meeting during a rotation at the European Forum. A few cordial laughs and pleasantries later, he had cut to the chase.

"Now, listen, I have to say, publicly at least, Pelasgia condemns all external interference in Himyar--which would include your own project for the setting up of a Himyari Anti-State. However, if we could be assured that this entity would be independent and not a mere satellite of the Scanlaw... perhaps Propontis would be more amenable to lending its support, which, given our clout in the region, could be quite substantial. The enemy of my enemy, as they say. What do you think?"​

 

[Imimoya]

Francisco sought out President Lingxin, he sidled up to the man " Hello sir, I would like to thank you on behalf of my nation for the republic's generous investment to develop Gran-Occidentia's wealth. But if I may I would like to speak to you about the current situation in Himyar. You seethe People's State of Gran-Occidentia is resolute in its wish to combat Tarusan and Frankish imperialism, however materially we are limited and if we are to be truly effective we and our allies will require support mainly financially and militarily. Now would the Tialong Republic be receptive to such an arrangement?".

"Francisco de Rosas is our honor to host at our home", replied the president. "If your goal is to join our cause in the fight against imperialism, on alternative levels to the purely economic ones, I advise you to wait for the conference proper to begin and listen to our proposal for a new free world. If our proposal is to the liking of your government, I imagine we will have more time to speak in the near future."

 

[Imimoya]

Just before the official summit started, Foreign Minister Metaxas took a chance to talk to his counterpart from @Tianlong, Liao Jianhong.

"Mr. Jianhong, I have to thank you--and His Excellency, President Lingxin, for your hospitality. This being Pelasgia's first diplomatic mission as an independent nation in centuries, I could not have hoped for a better forum or host. I feel, then, that it is an ideal time for us to repay this honour and courtesy you've done us. You will recall, I hope, that, shortly before our independence, the then-Governor General of Pelasgia had concluded and oil-and-natural-gas-for-steel trade agreement between our nations; provided your Republic is prepared to continue this arrangement with our newly independent state, our Union would, in turn, be more than glad to offer you prices rates for both commodities that are rather advantageous--such that you would not have to rely on your strategic oil reserves to curb price rises."

---

While his boss was busy talking business with the Tianlong Foreign Minister, Prokopios Argyropoulos went ahead and met one of the delegates from @Skånskelag, whom he recalled meeting during a rotation at the European Forum. A few cordial laughs and pleasantries later, he had cut to the chase.

"Now, listen, I have to say, publicly at least, Pelasgia condemns all external interference in Himyar--which would include your own project for the setting up of a Himyari Anti-State. However, if we could be assured that this entity would be independent and not a mere satellite of the Scanlaw... perhaps Propontis would be more amenable to lending its support, which, given our clout in the region, could be quite substantial. The enemy of my enemy, as they say. What do you think?"​

"Foreign Minister Metaxas right? It is a pleasure to see you, let me congratulate you on your recent independence and welcome you to the world of free nations!" Said the president shaking hands with his interlocutor while with his free hand he patted friendly the minister on the shoulder. "The tianlong republic will be more than happy to resume the terms of the previous contract. Our energy independence from the gothic pact is a top national priority. We are ready to resume the transport of raw materials to and from Pelasgia as of tomorrow."

 

[Hanseatic Republics]

THE EARLY ARRIVAL TIMELINE
Hotel Meeting Room, Tokjin

The President listened to the guests' speech with some interest. "Ceremonies are important, if not a fundamental part of our culture. We could do three hours of ceremony for an introductory speech of a few minutes and no one would have anything against it. Let's say it is our link to our past." Zhuan smiled faintly at the end of the sentence before resuming the conversation. "If I have to be honest, there was some discontent within the government whether to allow you to take part in this forum or not, as you are a party to the aggression of Magrab and Hajr along with the other two nations. Only the existence of democratic systems within your political system, which we believe have been stripped of their power of decision in the ongoing war, made us reach the decision to allow you to take part of the ongoin forum."

The president opened the folder containing the documents that was passed to him and looked through its contents. "Does Tianlong support your request for independence? Difficult question to answer. Personally, I believe that you have the right to seek your own path for the future in full autonomy. Politically, an independent Metsamaa would favor Tianlong and rebalance the powers in the area, perhaps even making you an interesting economic partner due to the presence of offshore oil, which Tianlong needs. Militarily I understand that your defense is entrusted to the Scanlaw, even if you are not obliged to follow their decisions politically if I understand correctly. We cannot project our military presence and weight that far north. Not at present and without other strategic partners in the area." There was a second pause to let the counterpart digest the answer. "As for Polar Research Base, it would be the first for Tianlong, I guess our scientists will be happy to have this kind of experience. It should remain in close proximity to Metsamaa territory, otherwise there is a risk that Tarusa will try to sabotage it in some way."

THE EARLY ARRIVAL TIMELINE
Hotel Meeting Room, Tokjin

The two diplomats nodded and intently listened to the President. They had no rebuttal to Zhuan's points and while he paused Jaan focused on what to say next. The very deliberate manner in which the Tianlong man spoke was impressive. Not in an exotic way, but because it felt more like home. When speaking with Frankish for example, there was a lot of extra chatter. As Zhuan finished Jaan was quick and deliberate in how he spoke as well. "I understand your concerns and will be keen to relay them home. I believe that the idea of the Polar Research Base is then settled. Our bureaucrats will take your concerns in mind and we'll have an appropriate location drawn up."

It would be Hillevi-Iida that would work to complete the meeting though, as she felt everything at been accounted for. As the junior diplomat here, she had more leeway to speak more freely and perhaps test the waters. "Metsamaa is keen to come to some agreement between our nations though. Some kind of rough alliance. Would it be safe to say we have the preliminary basis for an undefined alliance of sorts? A basis in which Metsamaa would agree to look out for Tianlong's interests in the North, and Tianlong would look out for Metsamaan interests elsewhere? I want to make clear when I say look out, I mean it in the loosest framework possible."