Peace for our time

[Natal]

Palau del Corts, Valls, Ebria

Ada Valen i Codony wasn't happy it came to this. A new crisis in the EF and Thrakia, the socialist revolt in Eugenia offering the perfect casus belli for the Tarusans and their allies in southern Pannonia and as the sun was setting, literally any spark could start a war where Remion, Ebria and Eiffelland would clearly be on the unfortunate side. She had to save the peace, at least give her allies time to heal. The status quo was deeply unbalanced, Tarusa turning from the isolated revisionist power to the one courted by the most and with the most advantage, so the time has come for her to take the reins. Pannonia was a tragic episode that was still bleeding crisis after crisis after crisis, unending crises giving her no chance to do anything but react to everything that is happening. A deep breath had to be taken, to make us that at least things are cemented where they are, so as to not end up in the complete destruction of civilisation with a continental war that will turn into a global one. The Great War episode from exactly a century ago needs not to repeat again.​

"Good evening, Stepan Nikolayevich," she said, as a secretary introduced into her office, the Tarusan diplomat Baron Stepan Nikolayevich Kadurin. Ada Valen knew him from the days when he was young and was stationed as an ambassador in Valls. She used the polite and formal way of addressing, using the name and the patronymic, using a clean Tarusan. "I am quite sad that we had to meet each other again in such circumstances, after so many years. Hopefully, if what we do today will end well, we might enjoy some less tense times," she said with a slight smile, reminiscing certain times in both their youths, when he was an ambassador and she was just a sub-secretary at the ministry.​

She invited the Tarusan diplomat to sit down, and nodded towards the secretary to leave them alone. The room, which was her official office was decorated with a big desk, with the portrait of the Ebrian King, Arnau V de Vilar, sided by two royal Ebrian blue-white flags. They weren't sitting there, they were sitting at a table farther away from the desk, closer to a window that offered a panorama of the Gran Via des Corts d'Ebria, one of the city's main thoroughfares. The table had sheets of paper and writing instruments for both of them, a map of Pannonia and some water for both.​

"I am deeply sorry that I am jumping directly to the subject here, but I feel that we must be swift, yet thorough so as to save the peace. I would say that peace in necessary and I think you approve, your excellency. That is why the situation in Pannonia cannot continue like this. It needs to be stabilised. No simple ceasefire will end ever be enough, especially when people are tense, hot headed and trigger happy. We need a peace treaty that is to be respected by both sides, whose violation can only be seen as unimaginable and unthinkable. That is why, I propose the following. We save the peace by offering recognition to all successor states in Pannonia, we sort the Serbovian communities in Eugenia and we sort the issue of the prisoners. If we solve those issues, I would say that there will be nothing to stop us from enjoying a peaceful reprieve from this quagmire that is and was Pannonia. This is my proposal:"​

1. All states created in the aftermath of the collapse of Pannonia are to be recognised and be seen as legitimate. That includes the Kingdoms of Csengia and Pojazerna, the Confederation of Bourdignie but also, and especially the Socialist Republic of Eugenia. And I will say this is important. Ebria, Guyenny and the likes already recognise them. Remion will recognise Csengia and Pojazerna, while Tarusa and Serbovia will recognise the Socialist Republic of Eugenia. With this recognition, the borders will be considered inviolable and we won't see from each side militias or other unlawful crossings.​
2. The borders of Eugenia will be redrawn, with the republic losing approximately 500 square kilometres in those two regions on the border where the Serboves are the majority. We will accept that and Serbovia can administer that territory, with the condition of giving non Serboves living there the right to move into Eugenia or Remion and afterwards respecting the involability of the Eugenian border and recognise its government.​
3. A change of prisoners. The Tarusan soldiers that have been put under arrest by Remion for crimes against humanity, will be liberated and sent to Tarusa. In exchange, Tarusa will release the crew of the Oyleric and allow them safe passage to a port of their choosing.​

"Those are the main ones and I would say that this gives us the chance to settle down. After we do this, my hope is that we can see a steel curtain fall down and we don't see the threat of war every time we wake up. At the same time, I also hope that this will turn Tarusa into our side regarding the rights and duties of free shipping, and there won't be other episodes like the recent one," she said, waiting to see what the Tarusan diplomat had to say.​

 

[Tarusa]

The Baron had been the Ambassador to Ebria for many years and had moved higher into the diplomatic corps of Tarusa, not only due to his family connections but his Pragmatism, something that was well developed for the Imperial Diplomatic Corps.

"I understand why we must be hasty, this Pannonia affair has been quite tiresome for the entirety of my colleagues and I. If only more people were willing to negotiate and concede their hardliner points I do not think we would be where we are now, the Empire itself is always open for negotiations on affairs. As such, I know my role here and what it is the Tsar is willing to give and what it is he desires, and I have been given some room to manipulate things as needed, but not so much as to act independently.

Your points are for the most part fair, and acceptable to the Tsar. We have been tirelessly attempting to have our prisoners of war returned, but the Republic itself is too hardline, you would think they have already forgotten the fate of their seaman. They call us evil, we are not but opportunists. As for your first point, the recognition of the former Pannonian states, this is but merely a formality. More states recognize Csengia than those that have recognized Eugenia, and unfortunately even fewer recognize the Socialist government that has been proclaimed by the military. The Tsar offers to recognize the Congress as the proprietor of the east zarans/Eugenia, not full on recognition, but one of them as the governing body of those people and responsible for administration of that region. De-facto a recognition of independence, without the formality. The coup we cannot accede to recognizing, as it was just another move of interference in the governing of Eugenia by the same powers that caused the collapse of the Pannonian state, but if certain conditions are met, we will not necessarily violate the borders of Eugenia as our own ceasefire agreement stands, and we would leave it to be an internal affair.

What are these conditions? Some of them are your other points. The ethnic Serbovian enclave is obviously a must, as it is simply a point of further contention in the future. The fact that these regions were not already a part of the Federal State of Serbovia is appalling but comes down to history having drawn up Pannonia to eventually become a failed state in the face of nationalism resurging again. I do not doubt that our allies would allow the zarans to relocate if they wish from those regions, such a policy was being carried out in the Kingdom of Csengia until the military coup occurred.

The detainees from the Oyleric would be released in exchange for our prisoners of war, currently they are being charged with Human Trafficking and some other minor infractions related to the lying about identities by several zarans whom were aboard the vessel. While only some of this information has been released to the public at this time, the sentence in the Noks Free State where this crime has allegedly been committed is death should they be found guilty. I can assure you, the prisons in that country are not for the weak.

Now I will say again that we are willing to fiddle with some of these points once again, but, I can only wish you the best of luck in getting those very same concessions out of the Republic."

 

[Natal]

Ada Valen knew that the Tarusans were a hard bunch, negotiating with them was sometimes hard, if one took the purist approach, but interestingly, if one took the pragmatic approach and was talking openly with them, one could find them open to understanding and open to negotiations.

"It is true that Eugenia is currently in a constitutional kerfuffle. That issue can be sorted. What I want, is for the Tarusans and their allies to recognise Eugenia as a state and respect the inviolability of its borders, once we sort them out. As we did for Thalgau, where we are respecting the current status quo and are to recognise the results of the referendum there, I hope the same can be done here. Tarusa and its allies recognise that status quo, where the Eugenian state is recognised, its existence accepted and its sovereignty respected. As of yet, we are good for having the Congress of Gonzaga still be seen as an administrator, albeit interim, for until the constitution of the Eugenian state is signed and approved through a referendum. While the idea of a military coup providing legitimacy is quite problematic, I hope we can come to an agreement that should a constitution be signed, it can become the basis for a legitimate state and have it recognised. Until then, I would say that it should be left as an internal affairs problem and have Eugenia be seen as a sovereign polity in the external affairs department.

I would say that this recognition should also go as far as being approved and acepted should at some point in the future, the Remis and Eugenians decide to unite and a 2nd referendum on their union with the Republic of Remion is to take place. I would say it would take a lot of headaches from both of us, should that happen.

As for the two counties where Serboves are living, I agree that we should have them join the Federal State. Like I said, as long as the Zarans and other minorities living there are given free access to the Republic, and provided that Serbovia afterwards will respect the new borders of the republic, that can be done and sorted.

I would say that for the prisoners we are in approval. I would also ask that no harm would come to them, especially now that we are close to signing an agreement.

The Republic of Remion is our ally and we understand their views, we do share a lot in common and if we see this agreement as acceptable, I am pretty sure that they too can understand that."

 

[Tarusa]

I know that if we receive the Serbove enclaves, and a guarantee of sorts that no foreign forces will be positioned inside the zaran territories of Eugenia that the Tsar, and Serbovia will recognize the fact Eugenia is at this time an independent entity from any other state, while we will not go so far as to force the Kingdom of Csengia to recognize this, as they will still carry their claim to the lands, and we will not seek to cause any strife by forcing such a hand, we however can ensure that they will respect the territorial boundary the same as the rest of the Pressburg Pact.

As to recognizing any form of the government that comes from the internal issues of Eugenia, we will have to wait and see the outcome of such, as circumstances currently and if they change in other ways may make it harder or easier for us to recognize a government that comes into power there. Otherwise I believe we are in agreement on the rest of the points discussed.

 

[Tarusa]

The talks had continued for days with each side retiring in the early evening hours to resume the next morning. Progress had not been made, over several days of attempting as the negotiations had reached a standstill. Yet again the Baron prepared himself for another day of negotiations that would lead to absolutely nothing, this morning the paper had something different for him, front page was the Frankish invasion of Bourdignie. He sighed, whether it was a sigh of relief or one of disappointment even escaped him.

He once more headed to meet Ada, arriving shortly after taking the time to read up on the latest events of the day, arriving a bit later than normal for their now daily meetings it seemed.

"It seems destiny wants to keep us together, tiring us both out until one of us decides to die." Kadurin had sometimes a bit of a dark sense of humor, "It appears things have changed and my assumption would be for the worst. It appears the central part of this continent can't get enough action. I see the Franks have now crossed the borders, and I bet you thought we would be the ones who started the next great conflict."

This time he paused and looked Ada with the most stern and serious look she could have seen from this mans face in all the time she had known him.

"Im going to be blunt, and probably a bit rude with what I have to say. The balance has changed, I do not know what it is the Franks are doing, I do not know if they work with the Eiffellanders and Remionese or if they are acting unilaterally on their own behalf. So far these negotiations have been a waste. I do not blame you nor your government for wasting my time, but it does appear to have been a sham, a ruse, by the Republic to simply buy the time they think can be used to strike unexpectedly at the Empire and Kingdom of Csengia once more. It is obvious that while your government and yourself want to find a solution and keep the peace as much as ours does, but they only crave war and are unwilling to take the pragmatic approach and make concessions while we make concessions as well to keep the peace. It may very well be the Empire marches to war, not a limited conflict like before, but a full war footing. I hope that your government is wise enough to unchain itself from those whom obviously have no desire for peace on this continent unless its a peace on their terms. You can try and keep using the back channels with ourselves, and the Republic as you have been doing, I will be staying here for some time so you may summon me again. I do wish you the best Ada, and recommend you try and relay to your government which party has truly been the obstacle in these negotiations."

The Baron had said his peace, as he turned to walk back out the doors. Hoping that perhaps somehow, someway there was still a chance to reach some sort of peace. However if not, he had the full faith in the Empire to take the necessary steps to ensure the survival of itself and its allies.

 

[Tarusa]

The Baron had taken back to his residence and had watched the news, the hour was getting late and he decided he would attempt and push the peace process along on his own, that or fracture europe even more than it already was.

He picked up the phone and made a few calls, finally getting the number for the biggest news breaker of Pannonian affairs, Sophie Schneider.

"Yes, Miss Scheider, you do not know who I am but all of Europe knows who you are, and do I have a story for you."

The Baron did not hold back any of the details, informing Sophie of the days of backdoor negotiations that had gone nowhere. Things that were commonly agreed upon by both the Ebrians and the Tarusans, yet powers behind the scenes, other actors of the Pannonian crisis continued to play hard ball. How negotiations had broken down and been a failure while he was attempting to negotiate for a lasting peace in the former Pannonian regions. He was painting a picture of the Tarusan desire to find a permanent solution and those who acted unilaterally continued to do so even when their own allies were attempting to broker a peace, something that many appeared to want, but a select few did not.

@Guienny