Tijd voor praten

[Batavië]

The chalet was nestled in the side of a hill, secluded by trees, accessible by a gravel drive. It was only an hour outside of Augsburg, but it was far enough away for Hans Rembrandt. The rest of his delegation had flats in the city. Rembrandt as well had one for his use, but sometimes it was better to relocate to the country for some peace of mind, fewer distractions.

The Oikawan ambassador was expected at any moment. There was but one maid in the chalet, charged with cooking, cleaning and general upkeep. Rembrandt liked it quiet like that. He heard the gravel crunch of the approaching car. Rembrandt's journal was shut and put into his desk drawer.

'So good of you to come. Please come in.' he led the Oikawan to the great room. The floor to ceiling bay windows gave a nice view of the fields and the cows.

The maid came in, poured the wine, brought out the bread and cheese and left them to talk.

Rembrandt left it up to the Oikawan to begin. He wanted to hear his concerns without the pressure of the press and international community on top of them.

 

[Touzen]

"An excellent wine."

Takayama nodded in appreciation towards the bottle and placed his glass back on the table.

The man was in his mid-50s, and had slightly gray hair that however still grew in abundance on his head. As during official meetings, he liked to wear plain and simple dark suits and, probably most anachronistic, was his tendency to at times switch his glasses for a golden monocle he had always stored in his right breast pocket. Whether for show or for genuine comfort, nobody could tell. All in all though, he was giving off the vibe of a traditional Oikawan gentleman.

The man, who had become famous in the West as 'Mr. Iie' during his over 20 years in service at the Council of Nations for his notorious consistency in rejecting proposals uncountable times before a workable resolution was finally presented, enjoyed wine and bread - especially the later being rare in his native Oikawa, where bread of the Western style was almost unknown. Having worked for most of his life in an international enviroment however had taught him to enjoy the culinary specialities of the international kitchen.

"First of all, thank you for the invitation again. Nice estate you have here, very nice."

He paused, putting his finger onto his nose as he always did when he was thinking.

"Of course, Nokanawa is interested in finding a workable solution, you will have realized that..otherwise we would not have been so insisting in the Security Council. A solution that fits all sides."

He paused again. Sometimes he could get rash and loud in the Council, but in private he liked to think slowly and carefully.

"Nokanawa is..how to put it..concerned... about the possibility of peacekeeping forces interpreting the mandate liberally, if you know what I mean. That is why we wish to make very certain that certain influences in the world do not spread their reach any further - and the current situation in your country provides an ideal breeding ground for just that."

"Now..of course I understand your concerns in regards to Imperial forces and all that. Of course. However, it is by now too late to back down from this demand, as it has now become an issue between the Levant and the Empire. Quite apart the other option we have right now on the table would result in an unilateral EDF deployment until further notice." Saying the words "until further notice" he put his hands in the air and moved his index and middle fingers to indicate for what he took that statement.

"I am sure that isn't in your interest either."

 

[Batavië]

Rembrandt sipped his wine as he listened to the Oikawan speak. He removed a silver cigarette case and removed a Vangalan type, offering one to Takayama. He lit his wife a match, puffed the smoke around himself and thought through his response before speaking.

'I completely understand your reservation and worries. But I think Oikawa should not worry about "EDF" deployment. The Montelimar early deployment would be under a a CN mandate and they would not be under EDF control. Besides, wouldn't it be in everyone's interests for there to be some peacekeepers on the ground before the 12 March elections? Between now and then the CSB will most likely find a more complete and permanent structure. There is already a list of countries who have offered there troops.'

Rembrandt laid he cigarette in the ashtray, the line of twirling smoke rising into the air. He grabbed a piece of cheese and bread and while preparing this, continued.

'Oikawa is a necessary part of this operation. But not in the form of troops. The same goes for the Levant and Franken. Where you are needed his more important. The troops that have been offered will need funding via the CN for uniforms, ammunition, food, medicines, quarts etcetera. Equally important are your logistical capabilities. Only Oikawa and the other major powers will have the ability to airlift the foreign troops and equipment in.'

He munched on his concoction before washing it down with his wine.

'So you see,' he took a drag on his cigarette, 'this is for the best. Oikawa will have oversight in this mission as it will be providing a bulk of the funds and logistics. But we can avoid ideological skirmishes and issues on the ground, protecting the Batavian people and the world from war.'

 

[Touzen]

"My proposal is as following."

As he took another sip from his glass, he reached for the black leather suitcase he carried with him at all times and put it on his lap. Turning some buttons for a few moments, the case opened with a mechanic sound and jumped open. Takayama retrieved one sheet of paper in a plastic wrapping, closed the suitcase and slipped it back to its place.

"I have verified statements by my counterparts in the National Republic of Bashiristan, the Great Kokuryūkō Empire and the Kingdom of Kyzyl here, showing their willingness to contribute troops to the peacekeeping mission in your country. Should these troop offers be accepted, the Empire would be willing to reconsider its position and form of involvement in the mission in a manner similar to the one that you just suggested to me..and well, always suggested, really."

The elder diplomat tipped the end of his cigarette and leaned forward, offering his counterpart the paper.

 

[Batavië]

Rembrandt set down his glass to take the paper from Takayama's hand. He read through it carefully recalling his law school days ensuring he interpreted every word correctly. Takayama had been kind enough to write up the paper in French.

'Are these dependencies of the Empire, Ambassador? If that is the case, then are they not, at some point, under the flag and jurisdiction of Nokanawa? I just don't see how the Levantines and Frankish would accept this. Otherwise it seems to be a step in the right direction.'

He was seeing some light, but it was almost as if Nokanawa was deliberately trying to delay the proceedings for as long as possible until it would be tabled.

 

[Touzen]

"That is the point of view the demagogues in the West try to promote, that is what they want you to believe. We all know that there have been a number of disagreements on this issue in the past decades. They claim those are dependencies, vassals, puppets, marionettes, constructs, whatever fancy term is en vogue on the boards of their propaganda machines right now. I say they are sovereign states, liberated from the cruel fist of criminal tyranny and ethnic oppression the warlords of the West forced upon them for hundreds of years."

The face of the Oikawan man had adopted a slightly reddish touch as he began to elaborate. The mimics on his face, the slightly tense posture of his body and his speech, that was slowly taking in speed and volume, indicated that he was now talking with passion about a topic he clearly cared about.

"Only through our efforts did these people, sometimes again, sometimes even for the first time, taste freedom. The Oikawan people came as liberators, not as oppressors, and this is reflected in our relation to all of these states. We are united in brotherly bonds and treaties on commerce and cooperation in various fields, but for all intends and purposes Nokanawa considers them to be sovereign states shaping their own destiny, and that is the point of view we encourage the world to adopt. At least the Kingdom of Franken has indicated its willingness to share this viewpoint to an extend in the past. Levantine obstructionism, if it arises, will ultimately have to yield to international pressure. Some nations have realized that the values governing our respective cultures are fundamentally different, while others are still stuck in their Great War mindsets, wishing for a return to the colonial slaveholder past. The Empire has long ago recognized and accepted these differences. We do not try to force our values on the countries of the West. Now the West should proceed to follow suit."

 

[Batavië]

Rembrandt listened and watch Takayama speak. He didn't believe much of what he said but didn't show it.

'Despite what Nokanawa thinks or says, the Levantines won't accept this. At the end of the day, these countries are in some way connected to Oikawa proper. How will the Levantines think of it? No disrespect intended, Ambassador Takayama, but Jerusalem probably won't give in to international pressure over this. They will simply veto it.'

Rembrandt laid down the paper on the coffee table and crosses his legs.

'I believe that the best compromise, for now, would be to make Oikawa's logistical and organisational role very prominent and large. Military observers, election officials, medical teams, organisational leaders, logistical operational leadership duties. This will make Oikawa's presence necessary and vital but assure the worried Levantines that no Oikawan troops would be on the ground. Not everything is in need of guns and tanks, if you understand me.'

 

[Touzen]

"I am willing to put it to a test in the Council of Nations. This will not involve Oikawan troops, it will involve troops that are well...whatever the Levantine States say, even by their definition they are definitely not Oikawan."

Takayama put on a sly face. Of course this was legalese, and the facts were probably pretty obvious for either side, but he had been long enough in the business to enjoy playing the words to gain an advantage over an opponent. It had been an important skill in the Council since its creation, and it didn't seem like it would become less useful anytime soon. And he definitely enjoyed the prospect of crossing mental swords with his Levantine counterpart.

"Provided however the resolution will be vetoed..I have a possible workaround. However, that will require Montelimarian cooperation."

The ambassador reached for a small bottle with mountain water, filled his glass and cleared his throat with it.

"Passports."

"If, say, the troops that our allies are prepared to send, would be given Montelimarian citizenship, they could technically operate in the nation and do their duty. After the mission is over, they could immediately drop their new citizenships again, and everything would be settled. What do you think?"

He put his arms behind his head and grinned, confident that he had found a loophole that would solve the situation for good.

 

[Batavië]

Rembrandt was not so enthusiastic, not at all, but he did not show it.

'Hmm, well it doesn't hurt to try. If you present a draft resolution to the Security Council, perhaps we can see what they think of it.'

He stubbed out his last cigarette and resumed drinking his wine.

'Perhaps you could provide me with some more details. If, say, the number of these passport-swapping troops is relatively low compared to the other parties involved, it might make it easier to support?'

 

[Touzen]

"I suppose so. I was thinking about around 1000 men maybe, a bit more, a bit less. It wouldn't be a big detachment, but it would indicate that our allies and us are willing to take global responsibility while also furthering the international status of the states in question. Should that then all be settled, the Empire would throw its full weight behind the operation in logistical and monetary terms, secure in the knowledge that it will have a tool of checks and balances in the area that ensures that our money goes where it is needed and doesn't somehow get diverted to sources that we would rather make sure do not enjoy our fiscal support."