The Two Ends of Himyar [ATTN: Serenierre]

[Pelasgia]

Propontis, Pelasgia

The soft singing of birds filled the air, and a cool breeze swept through the garden of the Great Palace of Propontis. From within the enclosed balcony overlooking the Propontine Straits, through which massive cargo ships and tankers sailed under the watchful eye of docked warships of the Pelasgian Meridian Sea Fleet, President Alexios Ioannopoulos could be quite certain: spring had surely come to northern Pelasgia. An aide poured tea from a golded pot into the traditional gilded glass teacups of the President and his guest, and the Pelasgian leader turned to the man sitting beside him: President Nicolas Serazin of the National Republic of @Serenierre. "Would you like some honey, Your Excellency? That is how we traditionally drink Propontine tea."

Once the Serenien leader had made his choice, the aide politely left the two presidents' side, allowing them a quiet morning chat, overlooking the vast gardens of the old Imperial and now Presidential residence. This would give them a chance to work out the broad details of their arrangement regarding the future of Himyar--and the Pelasgian side's proposal for a regional association. Once that conversation was done, they could return to the main working room, where the delegations of the two sides, assembled in banco, would collaborate to formalise and finalise their proposals, as had been the case for the previous days comprehensive Trade Agreement between Himyar's regional powers.

Ioannopoulos pointed to a large cargo tanker that was transiting through the Straits, sailing under a Central Himyari Republic flag. "I believe that that tanker was built by our State Shipyards at Nea Lycaonia, just south of Propontis. I remember inspecting it during the works, alongside the Central Himyari Ambassador." He paused to take a bite of

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, a traditional biscuit offered alongside tea, before continuing. "From what our Ambassador in Villesen has told me, Serenierre is a tad concerned at our increased presence in that country. Is that so? We hoped to counter Natal's influence in the region, to prevent the further intrusion of external powers into Himyar--though, truth be told, I believe that there are other solutions to achieving Himyari unity and independence, such as the regional union our Foreign Ministers discussed briefly yesterday. If you are open to such alternatives, I think they might be best for us both; after all, Pelasgian has not much interest in maintaining a presence so far from our own borders, and so close to yours."​

 

[Serenierre]

"Concerned perhaps is a strong word." Nicolas looked away from the other man and rested his gaze on the waves in the distance. "But I can say that it is only natural for us to wonder what exactly is happening in a bordering country." Rather pointedly, Nicolas avoided the subject of the Himyari Union, which was a major policy initiative of the Pelasgian government for quite some time. First, he had to address the situation in the Central Himyar Republic. "I am sure you understand my concern, while I understand your approach regarding Himyari regional sovereignty... as you are well aware, I truly believe in the cause myself, but I am cautious when it comes to Central Himyar... I do not want to see a situation where either Natal or those war mongering Tarusans get threatened by anyone. I do not want our Himyar to fall prey to the same horrors as Gallia and Germania are witnessing."

He spoke seriously and it was well known that Nicolas did not appreciate the imperialistic policies of far off nations. But prudence, as well, was the need of the hour. He hoped his counterpart understood that. Though, he was relieved to note that the Pelasgian president did not seem annoyed at his words. He carried a serious, almost sombre expression. So much so that Nicolas felt it was only right to cheer him up slightly. Perhaps President Iannopoulous was thinking that he was entirely rebuffing his dream of a Himyari Union.

He paused only to take a sip of the Pelasgian drink. Nicolas continued: "I suppose in respect of Himyar, your idea regarding some sort of a regional association could go some way to strengthening our continent... however, it is not entirely clear to me what the goal would be. Are we looking to establish a defensive fortress to keep out all others? Are we looking to bond our national economies? I must say that I will bother you Mr. President with my queries... I am a curious man."

 

[Pelasgia]

"That is a perfectly reasonable concern," Ioannopoulos answered as his eyes fixed on a warship transiting through the straits. The situation in Gallo-Germania was so horrid that even Pera, the Pelasgian exclave province on Germania's southeasternmost tip had seen waves of Pannonian refugees on its borders. "We, for one, have no desire for a direct military confrontation with any external powers; at least not in the present, since they do next to nothing to pose a military threat to us."

The Pelasgians, a militaristic nation since their foundation and by their very essence were, truth be told, rather predisposed to military solutions. But, for the moment, their swords were pointed toward neighbouring Caria, and they had little appetite for escalating what was, at the moment, an easily containable and relatively minor presence of two external powers. Two powers, which, all in all, got along rather poorly between them, while one of them was allied to nearby Justosia--hardly a small power by any measure, though an inexperienced one. Now, as for the second facet of Pelasgians, their mercantile and seafaring nature, that could serve as a much better tool for Propontis' Himyari designs.

After taking another bite from his biscuit, Ioannopoulos addressed his colleague. "I believe that, though a regional union defensive alliance of sorts for all Himyari nations would be a long-term ideal to aspire to, it is far, far too ambitious at the moment. We Himyaris have been dispersed and apart for far too long. Pelasgia's idea was for a regional association of sorts to facilitate trade and movement beyond Himyari states. Essentially, all members (which would only include free states and not colonies) would be provided with a permanent forum to discuss matters of common concern. There, they could conclude treaties on various matters, which the members of the association could choose to opt into or not, without any penalty for either choice. If our association is to succeed, it would have to be based on a purely voluntary basis."

He paused before broaching the more delicate subject of Himyari liberation. "Now, as for decolonisation: there is no need for us to go around invading Vriijpoort's colonies to achieve that end. We could simply use our regional association to impose economic pressures on the colonial regimes, if the membership of those bodies so chooses; and, where decolonisation leaves a gap, such as in the former E.F. Mandates at Hajr and Al-Maghrab, which now exist in a state of semi-anarchy, we could step in to provide international peacekeeping and rebuilding efforts in a practical demonstration of Himyari solidarity." He paused and examined the distant figures of the cranes of the harbour of Pyrgos, where cargo ships were unloaded with amazing speed. "If the last few decades have taught us in Pelasgia anything, it is that trade is often mightier than a thousand armies."​

 

[Serenierre]

President Serazin listened intently. In the distance, from inside the halls of the presidential palace, he could hear the murmur of conversation between the delegations - though it was entirely difficult to make out what was being said. In a way, it was interesting that while the summit had so far achieved considerable gains for both countries, by way of the Treaty of Propontis - which would with the stroke of a pen secure Serenien energy needs and establish an important financial link between the two largest Himyari economies. But the Pelasgian man, his counterpart, was clearly far more ambitious.

"I agree," Nicolas began, "A defensive alliance will be entirely premature at this stage. It might even prove to be counter-intuitive. Perhaps, even provide a pretext to the more hawkish nations of the northern and western continents to intrude in Himyar. So I must agree. That sort of arrangement remains entirely off the table."

He shifted in his seat and placed the tea cup back on the table set before them. "Although, the role for Himyari cooperation is essential. A trade and customs union, of course, is something I think will be positive... although of course without subjugating our national sovereignty in any way. We are more in line to cooperate on a multilateral basis rather than a supra-national basis."

Nicolas could almost hear the opposition in the Parlement screaming at the mere suggestion of compromising any national sovereignty to a far off supranational body and that too without any democratic representation.

"However, this idea of a regional association is intriguing as well. An important exercise of 'soft power', as they say. But I think what our response to the issues of decolonization and the ineptitude of the EF in Hajr and Al-Maghrab merit a very robust bilateral policy. We must move with one voice in liberating Himyar - of course without firing a bullet. I, also, think that now with IT, living as we are in the digital revolution, we must make the voice of liberation an important rallying cry in the realms which stand subjugated by foreign powers."

When the Pelasgian president brought the mention of a bilateral peacekeeping force, Nicolas nodded. "Wonderful proposition. I wouldn't hesitate sending a few regiments to restore order and ensure civil liberties and human rights are not being violated - although of course the exact framework would require endorsement from the EF. But i remain open to this discussion."

 

[Pelasgia]

Ioannopoulos was glad to see that his counterpart had responded well to assurances that the Pan-Himyari project was not of a military nature. If anything, President Serazin's talk of customs and trade unions was much more ambition than the initial humble body Propontis had envisioned.

"In that sense, then," he said, leaning forward, "we are in agreement: multi-lateral treaties negotiated under the auspices of the Pan-Himyari Union can do much to advance commercial integration between our countries, even more so than the bilateral matters concluded between our Ministers already. Though we have already closely connected our two economies, it is economic integration across Himyar that we must promote, if we are to eventually gain our freedom, piece by piece and without harm to peace."

In truth, the Pelasgians were skeptical of any supranational body that they did not fully control, as their recent behaviour in the European Forum had shown: the E.F., for they could not control it, had to be nothing more than a discussion forum with optional treaties at best. The double-headed guarded its sovereignty closely, doubly so since the advent of the communist regime.

"Indeed, Monsieur le Président, this century offers us unique means to exploit soft power: the appeals and information warfare campaigns of the Pan-Himyari Union, coupled with forms of diplomatic pressure such as limited sanctions on colonial authorities, can do much more to advance the cause of decolonisation than a thousand armies. Now, the Pan-Himyari Union could take the lead to pacify Hajr and Al-Maghrab--and, faced with sufficient and demonstrated political will from us, I doubt that the E.F. would offer serious opposition to our cleaning up their mess, seeing how easily they caved on the matter of the Mandates."

Ioannopoulos could not hide Pelasgia's pride at having bluffed the Mandate System out of existence--though he hoped this initiative would require less coercion than the question of the Isphilistines ever did.

Leaning back to sip the last of his tea, the Pelasgian leader turned to his counterpart. "Are there any other concerns you would like to discuss regarding Himyar, Your Excellency?"​