In the Hall of the Mountain Kings

[Großlausitz]

Palais Tucher
EDF-Ville/Nürnberg
Franken

It wasn't a usual occasion: For the seasoned diplomats at the EDF headquarters, which was situated in Nürnberg's suburb called Neunhof aka 'EDF-Ville', it was a rare event to see the Council receive one leader as a guest. If Franken's ambassador to the EDF Council remember correctly, it happened once or twice a year, at best. All members with the right to sit on the council were assembled in the so-called Ratssaal, the excellently furnished and equipped council's chamber. Except for Eiffelland, Montelimar and Franken, the EDF Council members were represented by their ambassadors, as the meeting was scheduled on relatively short notice. The far away member-countries didn't have the time to re-direct one of their ministers to this particular meeting.

For practical reasons the Prime Minister of Batavia had been asked to address the Council in the chamber. Being the guest of honour the head of government had been assigned a seat right to the Secretary General Edwin Wolfe and the Council Chairman. Rotating each month the chair was currently held by Franken, which was represented by Ministerpräsident Graf Peter Solms. After a few words to open the meeting, the Secretary General introduced the EDF Council's guest and finally yielded the floor. Behind the seats of the chairman and the secretary general there hung a modern nevertheless aesthetically painting depicting the ideal of stability, which was the paramount and somewhat notorious credo of the alliance.​

 

[Batavië]

Prime Minister Alex de Jonghe smiled and began speaking into his microphone. He addressed the Chamber in German, not having a trusted interpreter with him and he was quite fluent, anyway.

'Thank you for having me on such short notice. I will be frank and to the point. My government is aware that EDF peacekeeping forces are on standby in Éierann and are ready to be deployed. We all know that the CN Security Council lost its chance. The bickering between Oikawa and the Levant has cost human lives. They could care less about the struggle in the North of Batavië.'

'As far as my government is concerned, should we request and authorise EDF troops to operate in our own country, than that is our sovereign right. No country, including Oikawa, can deny that right. EDF peacekeepers would not be acting unilaterally, as the SC resolution states, but multilaterally and with the full support of Vlaanderen.'

'But before we can go ahead with an EDF peacekeeping force, we must devise a way to prevent conflict. I wish to know what the EDF thinks can be done in order to prevent other countries from blocking this right of ours to request foreign peacekeepers. If a solid plan can be drafted, then I say let us implement it and bring an end to the suffering.'

 

[Großlausitz]

Having listened to de Jonghe's statement in impressively fluent German, Ministerpräsident Graf Peter Solms answered his colleague, smiling noncomittally. "Your good CN ambassador left some impression on our own envoy, Prime Minister, I can tell you. Indeed, EDF forces have been ready for deployment for weeks. Of course a peace-keeping mission will be only efficient if it is tied to a carefully devised bundle of economic aid. Both civil and military aid by the EDF will have a price, Mr de Jonghe. We're neither cheap nor too expensive - our help comes at the right price for every situation. With this in mind, dear colleague, I come to your final question. Naturally there will be resistance and international indignation. It's most likely that such a move will alienate Oikawa, while the Levantine States may probably protest but be secretly glad that a democratic regime is preserved. We need to ensure that any Batavian mission will not prevent us from guarding our weakpoint."

 

[Batavië]

'I can assure all of you gathered here before me that my government and the Batavian military will not prevent EDF forces from entering and working in the country, so long as they have authorisation. We are asking for this help, therefore it is not unilateral, but multilateral. As far as prices go, forgive me, but I am rather confused. You do not mean to say that we will need to pay for these services? Or have I misunderstood?'

 

[Großlausitz]

"Alas, forgive me, sometimes I indulge in using analogies way too excessively, Mr de Jonghe. My weakness, so to say. What I meant to say was that we need to have written assurances as well as some sort of collaterals by your government to ensure you don't suddenly get second thoughts. We certainly have the power and influence to fend off objections and counter-measures against an EDF-only deployment. Nevertheless, there will be opposition. Vittoria may be the most vocal one, followed by Oikawa. In a nutshell, we need to assess whether deploying troops on our own to Batavia will be worth the trouble. If we can gain a valuable friend in the process, we will be very glad.", Graf Solms cast his colleague an amiable smile.

OOC: Sorry, maybe I was still confused from work. I hope it's more clear now.

 

[Batavië]

Alex de Jonghe, after consulting with his aides to ensure he had understood the German precisely, smiled and responded.

'Of course. I won't say that my country will join the EDF, but we certainly envision a partnership of sorts on the economic and political level. We can draft a treaty preventing any mishaps, if that is preferred. As far as opposition from other states go, I suggest we prepare a very strong legal team. A legal team that will be able to point out quite clearly that, because this is multilateral and will be approved by Vlaanderen, it is totally legal and acceptable.'

 

[Großlausitz]

"Excellent, I think any of our fellow memberstates will have fine constitutional and international law experts at their disposal. It shouldn't be a problem to set up a capable team. As we are already discussing the legal framework, your government will have to submit an official written request to the Council of the European Defence Federation, which in turn will be ratified. Provided we reach a profitable agreement today, my dear colleague. For appearance's sake I suggest will restrain herself to assume command over logistics units. For now this is Franken's individual stance and I'd like to invite the other honourable delegates to offer their input." While the first delegate indicated he wanted to address the Council, the Ministerpresident sat down and nonchalantly leaned back.

 

[Anglyn]

Sir Edwin Wolfe stands, though General Secretary of the EDF, he also represented the Kingdom of Mayaland, and as it will likely be those EDF members that are located in the Batavian region that will provide the bulk of the operating manpower, it is they who will need to be the ones most active in the meeting as Mayaland would ideally be supplying logistical support due to its distance from the area of operation.

"Mr. Prime Minister. On behalf Mayaland, I wish to first of all congratulate you and your people in organizing a new government in such trying times and His Majesty's government is most hopeful of its success and does eveyone here. As it is this reason we have been in full support of peacekeeping operation from its conception, and why, with the failure of the CoN, we are now here to lend our full support."

"As it has been the diplomatic interaction between Batavië and Franken that has laid the groundwork for this gathering here today, I will rely on Ministerpräsident Solms' wisdom and the professionlism of his diplomats and advisors to continue to speak for the EDF, though I am hoping that those members who's forces will be most active in the operations will have constructive suggestion and participation in it planning and as it will be their responsibility to execute the actual operation."

"Though I would perfer the Kingdom of Franken to have operational command, due to proximity, Ministerpräsident Solms' has indicated that Franken would command the logistics support, so, if that is the case, may I recommend that operational command fall to the Kingdom of Montelimar, if, of course, that is satisfactory to you Mr. Prime Minister as well as to the rest of the Council and especially the Honorable representative of Montelimar."

 

[Großlausitz]

Ministerpresident Graf Solms addressed the plenum once more as Wolfe sat down again. "Thank you for your trust in Franken's humble diplomatic service, Sir Edwin. Indeed, we have the capability and assets to take over the command of the mission, but I think it would serve our ends best if e.g. Montelimar assumed the command. Franken would be happy to provide the second-in-command and as many staff officers as necessary. It goes without saying that we know about our responsibility and will live up to it under the current situation. What further questions do you have, Prime Minister?"​

 

[Batavië]

'The suggestions presented are satisfactory for my government. I have no further questions, I just would like an estimated date of arrival of forces and support staff. Once the date is presented, it should be kept publicly secret, but my government will need to know it to prepare on our end.'

 

[Großlausitz]

"So far, so good. Then I'd like to motion on behalf of the Kingdom of Franken to close this meeting of the Council. If you were our guest at the luncheon, we would feel honoured, Prime Minister."