Round 3: Vistrasië

[Batavië]

NC Tower
Bloemhof, Hilversum
Gauteng Province
Batavië

Yet again the conference room with splendid views of the city of Hilversum and surrounding region was filling up with diplomats, interpreters, caterers and the guests of honour from Vistrasia. Today being an unusually clear day, one could look north into nearby Arendaal. Karl Oosthuizen, Batavië's High Representative to the NC, was sent today instead of a different diplomat. Vistrasia was seen as a rather special candidate for NC membership. The history between the two Dutch-speaking countries was rich, confusing and incredibly interesting (still being written!). When everyone was seated, Oosthuizen addressed the Vistrasians in Vlaams. He knew that the guests would find his accent odd and perhaps at first even difficult to understand, but they would adjust, or so he hoped. Oosthuizen himself wasn't quite sure if he would be able to understand them.

'Welcome to Hilversum. Welcome to the Northern Council and, last but not least, welcome to Batavië. It is my pleasure to welcome you all here today. We are here to clarify and discuss what, exactly, the Northern Council is for Vistrasia. While we are certain that Vistrasia would make a perfect member and will have much to offer, it is our custom to invite diplomats to discuss concerns, ask questions and perhaps present suggestions or ideas before a formal vote of the Grand Council takes place. The floor is yours.'

The others in the room, many of who were learning Dutch as they settled into life in Hilversum, waited for the interpretation to finish.

 

[Vistrasia]

The First Minister Albrecht van Voorne headed the Vistrasian delegation to the Northern Council. His visit, though it was primarily for Northern Council business coincided with the first Vistrasian state visit to the brother-nation of Batavia with whom relations had quickly gone down hill after the establishment of the Communist regime. The isolationist Batavia had not been very eager to support the new Republic, although obviously sympathizing with the new regime the government had generally agreed that it would be an dangerous investment, the two days he had been here was also spent inspecting Hilversum, he wanted to see first hand what the current situation in Batavia was like.

During those two days he had grown used to the Dutch spoken in Batavia and though he might misunderstand one or two words in a sentence he was able to grasp pretty well what someone meant. While he didn't need interpretation to understand the Flemish dialect, he was not convinced the interpreter would be acquainted enough with his dialect to present a proper translation to the other delegations and he decided to use English.

"Dear Sirs,

for Vistrasia, the Northern Council is a way to become further integrated into the regional economy, a state the size of ours cannot stand alone in this globalizing economy with increasing amounts of blocs. Economic and to a certain extent political non-alignment will eventually cost our economy. We consider the nations in the Northern Council to be very much alike our own, independent, developed and democratic, non-aligned to the bureaucratic and corrupt alliances. It are nations we are happy to trade with, and are certainly preferred partners on the international stage.

Finally, it is a way for the Vistrasian Commonwealth to integrate within region in a way my government can actually justify to the Parliament and to the voters. We are entering an organization in which we give up a limited extent of sovereignty and which has us cooperating with independent non-aligned nations rather then becoming a stooge to the two major power blocs. Ideologically, taking note of the nations currently a member of this organization, we consider a more influential Northern Council a positive development in this Europe. These are the main reasons for Vistrasia to join the Northern Council,

I thank you for time."

The First Minister sat down again, awaiting the reply of the other delegations.

 

[Batavië]

Oosthuizen waited for the interpretation to complete; he didn't speak a word of English. When Van Voorne had finished with his very positive introduction, he continued in Dutch.

'Thank you, Minister Van Voorne. If any of the other representatives have questions or comments, we will now take time for those to be heard and answered. As a representative of Batavië, I do have one question. Vistrasia has noted its willingness to fully become a part of the cooperative regiment of this body, would that also include the so-called "final phase" steps of near full market integration, in the form of a single currency?'

 

[Vistrasia]

Oosthuizen waited for the interpretation to complete; he didn't speak a word of English. When Van Voorne had finished with his very positive introduction, he continued in Dutch.

'Thank you, Minister Van Voorne. If any of the other representatives have questions or comments, we will now take time for those to be heard and answered. As a representative of Batavië, I do have one question. Vistrasia has noted its willingness to fully become a part of the cooperative regiment of this body, would that also include the so-called "final phase" steps of near full market integration, in the form of a single currency?'

"Well, ideologically, we are very interested in integrating our markets, reducing trade barriers and eliminating tariffs. However we cannot give guarantees that Vistrasia can join in a currency union with the rest of the Northern Council, that is a matter I would first have to propose to Parliament. "

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

Lena Mykjåland nodded as some rather dull conversation continued. She wanted Vistrasia in the Northern Council. Her government wanted Vistrasia in the Northern Council. There really wasn't anything special to note about it. She felt compelled to ask a few questions as to not feel like they had wasted the time of the First Minister.

"First Minister van Voorne... it is my understanding that the people of Vistrasia have had the opportunity to possibly join the Germanian League. If you could please elaborate on why Vistrasia has decided that the Northern Council provides something more for the Vistrasian people? I believe your answer here has been made some what clear via your introduction with this Council's non-alignment to the imperial power blocs of Europe, but I feel this question gives you the opportunity to speak of something much more. Something bigger and more defining and certainly something quotable that I can take home with me to my Government, to my press and most of all to my people as to why this Council is the right place to be. I feel if you can fulfill this to my expectations I feel then you are indeed in the right place as well. That said please don't confuse my question. My Government already readily feels that your nation is up to the standards of this institution in terms of democracy and market strength. So again, I will ask... why has Vistrasia decided that the Northern Council provides something more for the Vistrasian people that cannot be found anywhere else?"​

 

[Vistrasia]

Upon hearing the translation in his right ear, van Voorne was silent for a bit while he was coming up with something. Unfortunately, his staff hadn't prepared him just yet with a one-liner for the press, and this meant he had to improvise which meant walking the thin line between being outspoken and creating a diplomatic row which could potentially harm Vistrasia, and his position. He saw the people around him looking at him curiously, eagerly waiting for his reply.

"Well, I am not saying that we have had a specific invitation to join the Germanian League, saying that the idea of an application has been considered. However the people of Vistrasia are not too fond of their nation becoming a tool in maintaining the existing power structures of the EDF and the LFS. And if we are honest, the Germanian League is simply an expansion of these power structures, it's member states are either a member of either the LFS or the EDF or are associated with them. By contrast, the Northern Council is a strictly non-partisan entity, composed of independent non-aligned nations. Joining the Northern Council is an act we can, with good conscience, justify to the Vistrasian voter. Joining the Germanian League and becoming guilty by association of some of the horrid crimes committed by some of the nations in these alliances is not.

I hope this will work for you, Miss Mykjåland."

As he sat down again, he knew he might have pushed it a bit too far. Maybe not for the Tysk press, but certainly by Vistrasian standards he had. "At least I was honest" he thought to himself, as he leaned back in his chair, ignoring some of the looks by his staff.