NationStates Jolt Archive

Sirdar Ali-Shah sat down in the First Republican's office. The First Republican Finished his phone call and smiled at her. "Well Sirdar, what di Ms. Bi Bere say?"

Sirdar nodded "She would be delighted for me to visit , that will be the frirst step in opening an enbassy and normalizing relations."

Unrath nodded " Good, I'm afraid you are going to be very busy. As our Minister of Foreign Affairs, you are the weak link, we need solid gains in international prestige and you have to bring it to us. You wouldn't even be in office had the former Minister gotten out of the way of that tank."

Sirdar nodded again " We can take at least partial responsibility for any sucess with the Lavenrunzian Council. Trust me, I'll make sure that I have a long list of accomplishments to bring before the people before the next election. The R.O.P. and the P.R.P. are finished!"

Unrath smiled "You have the list of candidates for ambassador?"

"I e-mailed them to the whole Republican Council" Sirdar replied

Unrath nodded again "We'll get started on that then, good luck. Oh and have fun in the third world!"

*******
Back at her office the Minister of Foreign Affairs called and arranged for a charter flight to Tanah Burung, there wre no regularly scheduled flights between the two nations.

She then placed a call to Violet Bi Bere's office
"Ms. Bi Bere, this is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ilek-Vaad. I will be leaving tonight and should be in Tanah Burung in about 10 hours. I look forward to meeting you and seeing your nation."

Violeta Bi Bere took the call in her office in the Green Palace, formerly the seat of a long-dead Sultan and now the headquarters of the ministry of foreign affairs and human rights. She had been impressed with the plain-speaking common sense of the Ilek-Vaad representatives at the mediation summit in Lavenrunz, and was pleased to finally put a name to the title "Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilek-Vaad."

But there was a lot to do. There was only one airport in the country that could handle jet aircraft, and it was over on Pulau Tiga Burung, the island of three birds. Well, she'd just have to go there, greet the minister, and escort her back to the diplomatic city of Ukun Rasikan by blimp. The problems of trying to run a decentralized country never ended. But at least, it would give her a chance to do some campaigning in another province.

She started preparations to depart for Pulau Tiga Burung.

(ooc: i'm using Bi Bere in three separate threads right now, so to be clear: this takes place after the summit in Lavenrunz, after the protest in the embassy quarter going on in the TB election thread, but before the actual election is held)

While discussing her travel plans with Violeta Bi Bere The Minister being informed that there was only one air port that could handle jet airplanes she replied

"That is no problem, the Marathon plane that I have chartered is VTOL, it can land anywahere a large helicopter can. I'd hate to have to drag you away from your work to come and meet me. If there is any small airport ,or even an open neare your offices, let me know I'm sure I can have the pilot land there. If that is more convienant for you?"


OOC:good, protests and riots make Vaadians queasy ;)

(well, i don't know that it's a riot. not yet, anyway.)

"It's not that," Bi Bere replies. "The province of Ukun Rasikan does not allow jet aircraft to land, by popular vote. In Tiga Burung, they love jets, and you can expect a crowd of people to come gawk at your VTOL aircraft. Anyway, it's no trouble to meet you and the blimp ride would give us a chance to talk."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs smiles "It's settled then, I'll arrive at Tiga Burung. Don't worry about arranging any special ceremony or anything. We in Ilek-Vaad do not like to waste the People's money with ostentatious ceremony and such. I would simply like to see your country and meet your people as soon as possible."

After the converstaion the Minister packs her things and heads for Lassic International Airport with her assistant.

It was very early in the morning, still dark when the Marathon VTOL landed silently at the Tiga Burung International Airport. It was a smaller one, perhaps with enough room for 60 people. The Marathon's sleek carbonite exterior and it's smooth slim lines showed that perhaps if it's transponder has not been, radar would not have seen it.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, her Assistant (Yash Chuk-Muul) and the Marathon's pilot (Colonel Ingram) disembarked and checked in with customs at the airport, then headed for a motel to freshen up and await Violeta Bi Bere.

Bi Bere arrives, later than she had hoped. "A thousand apologies, my friends," she says. "I would have been here to greet you in person, but there was a spot of trouble at home." Her hand grazes a bruise that is forming where a piece of fruit had hit her at a protest the day before. "Please, come aboard the blimp. I'm certain you'll find it comfortable. And there is nothing like seeing Ukun Rasikan from the air."

As the party moved on to the luxuriously-appointed airship, they were served milky tea and offered shrimp crackers and satay pork with peanut sauce. Along with the standard salad plates, kept in stock for when some of the more militantly vegetarian countries come to visit.

"So, Minister," Bi Bere says once everyone is settled. "We have some time to talk. I've only met a few of your countrymen, but i must say your Sir Ilem was cahrming at the recent meeting in Lavenrunz. Please do tell me more about Ilek-Vaad, it sounds like an enchanting land."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs smiles "Sir Ilem had a very high opinion of you as well." She looks out of the window at the scenery below. "I wouldn't say Ilek-Vaad is enchanting, but it's good enough to call home. I'm from Costa-Mela on the southern coast, it's mostly rainforest and mangrove swamp interspersed with beaches here and there. I understand that Tanah Burung was once a colony of the Democratic Dutch Republic?"

Her Assistant Mr. Chuk-Muul interrupts "They are very close allies of ours."

"Yes, we have a short list of allies, and an even shorter list of of nations that we even have embassies in. Our constitution forbids us from allying with any autocratic governments, or governments actively engaged in colonialism." the Minister continues "I would be interested to hear about your government, I understand it is democratic? And how are things economically? We see great potential in Tanah Burung."

The blimp was approaching the coast, where mangrove swamps intermingled with beaches. "You should be right at home, then" Bi Bere smiled at Sirdar, indicating the view. "So many visitors find it too hot here. I'm glad you won't be one of them."

She turns back to face her guests. "Yes, Tanah Burung was once styled the Knootian East Indies. We fought a revolution for our independence, and although those days are behind us, tensions can flare on occasion." She avoided giving examples, preferring to dwell on the positive. "There are some diehards in their country still, and a few people here who love the romance of revolution too much and remember the blood shed too little. We were right to fight for our freedom, but i feel the time has come to put the past behind us. So, Knootoss is your ally? Tell me, who else are you allied with? We have avoided alliances, ourselves."

She sips her tea as the economic question is asked. "Well, we are certainly democratic, yes! I'm one of eleven people elected to the collective presidency, although i may be replaced if i do not win re-election next week. Most decisions are made by referendum. And one referendum that passed recently was the one to join the International Fair Trade Agreement. So with a few exceptions, we only trade with other IFTA signatories."

The Minister nods "We are members of the UnAPS alliance. That is the only organization that we are affiliated with and they are our only allies. We haven't signed IFTA and probably won't, we are very protective of our workers and our markets. Only companies that agree to meet government minimun pay , enviromental and working condition standards can operate in our nation, even if they are headquartered in foreign nations. We find that this p[olicy keeps our large companies from moving offshore, unless there is a worker or space shortage, and it also hinders the development of sweat-shops in developing nations. The IFTA does level the playing field, but that is not important to us, we are more concerned with the enviroment and the welfare of the workers, we could care less about being fair on trade, it does no good if fair trade is built on the backs of the People."

The Minister sips her tea and looks out over the mangoves "Yes it is very much like our southern coast, Me and Mr. Chuk-muul (she pronounces it KOOK-mole) are both of Tolteca descent and will have no problem with the heat, Colonel Ingram is a Coventry man, like Sir Ilem and Sir Alec, I'm afraid he'll most likely retreat to the air-conditioning!"

The Colonel laughs, he looks rather reserved and haughty like Sir Ilem, but more like Sir Alec he quickly grins and replies "It's not that much hotter here, I daresay in the summer it gets well into the nineties in Coventry, and I have vactioned on the coast, though I do sunburn easily so I hope someone is prepared to apply my sun block for me? Or with my survival training I could build a lean-to and stay in the shade!"

"

"It does no good if fair trade is built on the backs of the people, i certainly agree! The fair trade agreement is specifically designed to protect workers, not the so-called rights of business to trade," Bi Bere says. "But forgive me, i am not here to try to sell a trade agreement! I do have a tendency to ramble in my old age."

Of course she is aware of the UNAPS, but asks the question anyway: "Tell me more of this alliance. It's always been my personal opinion that alliances start up trying to prevent war, but they end up creating military blocs that sooner or later go to war against each other."

The Minister nodded "The UnAPS, was founded mainly to form a bulwark against humans rights abuses and to oppose autocratic, authorotarian despots. So far the UnAPS has taken no military action and has resolved conflicts that we have been involved in through negotiations." she pauses for a second "and we are unusually unified. There are a diverse group of nations will all different forms of governments and ideas about how nations should act but we reach concensus through debate. None of our members has been anywhere near coming to blows, with the exception of Pyrrhus, which is unfortunately under going a civil war."

Mr. Chuk-Muul leaned forward "THAT will be over soon, the dog Antiachus that proclaimed himself Emperor is now facing our full Retaliatory Guard........."

The Minister smiled and shook her head while looking at Mr. Chuk-Muul and he leaned back and resumed his silence. She then contimued "But that is neither here nor there, we have remained unified despite our great diversity and remain committed to opposing oppression and championing human rights."

The Minister continued, finishing her tea

"As for a few facts about Ilek-Vaad, we are ranked in the top 1% in the world for education, automobile production, enviroment, technology and we have one of the best ratios of rich/poor. We manage to do that while having a mostly capitalist economy and about as close to a pure democracy that you can get with 2.5 billion citizens. We hold elections every February and there are only 6 offices in our nation that are not elected by direct national vote. The Republican Council has 8 elected members, we in turn elect the First Republican, the First Republican appoints the Supreme Republican Commander and the Velite General. The Minister of Judicial Affairs nominates candidates for the Supreme Judiciary who are then elected by the Republican Council. So you see, we have to directly answer to the People each and every year."

"A very democratic system," Bi Bere says. "It sounds like we have much in common. Our own elections are held once a year for the 11 members of the collective presidency, the six governors and the five people's representatives. Although some years the votes are closer than others!"

Below, the city of Ukun Rasikan is approaching. The blimp begins its descent.

The Minister enjoys the view as the blimp descends

Colonel Ingram watches the slow descent as he muses "I wasn't quite sure that anyone used blimps anymore? I've only ever seen them in movies."

"Lovely contraptions, blimps," Bi Bere says, her voice sounding as if she'd just eaten a pot of honey: sweet and slow. "They loft up so gently into the air, there is no nasty acceleration, it's just gentleness and comfortable seats and a nice civilized cup of tea as we soar through the skies and watch the earth roll by below us. I love blimps. They're non-polluting, and there is nothing more like being a bird. And our country's name, after all, means the Land of Birds. That's probably why we only allow them in Tuga Burung, despite the inconvenience it so often causes distinguished guests such as yourself."

She coughs, embarassed. "Oh dear, i'm rambling again. I must sound like a tourist brochure."

As if to illustrate, she beckons towards the city spread out below: a mix of old colonial-era buildings, older stone temples and tenements, ornate churches, art deco pastel apartment blocks, modern skyscrapers and shanty towns. A canal lines the city and separates it from a parklike area. This is embassy row. At one end is the Green Palace, office of the foreign ministry. The blimp decends towards the spacious lawn of this rather grand building and touches down.

"Well, welcome to my workplace," she says. "Would you like to freshen up and have a bite to eat, or shall we get straight to business?"

double post :oops:

The Minister smiles

"We should get straight to business. There will be plenty of time for freshing up and a meal after we take care of business. The first thing we want to do is officially normalize diplomatic relations, that should be pretty standard. The second and trickier bit, because of IFTA , is normalizing trade relations. We have a company that recently lost an overseas factory due to political instability and they are eager for a location to build a new one. Now by Ilek-Vaad law, I must approve of that nation and I must say that this is why I thought of Tanah Burung. I think that bringing in this company could be very benifical to your nation and to your people."

Like most Vaadians, the Minister had gotten down to business before even getting entirely off the blimp. It seemed that Vaadians had no capacity for hiding their intentions or hedging any topic................

Bi Bere laughs. According to the diplomatic protocols of her country, there should now be some more tea drinking, exprsssions of mutual regard, a meal accompanied by local dancers and singers performing.... But she'd guessed that the diplomats from Ilek-Vaad woudl prefer a more direct approach. It seemed she was right.

"Perhaps we mighht go inside first," she says gently, leading the Vaadians into the palace and inside -- where, as advertised, everything is green. The group enters her office and takes their seats, and Bi Bere takes a pen crafted from a blowpipe out of her desk.

"We are prepared to sign an agreement establishing diplomatic relations immediately. There is still room in embassy row." She gestures vaguely westwards, the direction of the foreign embassies that stretches out along Canal Street. "You'd be welcome to establish an embassy there, and we have the staff to set up a small mission in Ilek-Vaad too." She offers a standard-form agreement for an exchange of diplomatic relatins that she has already signed.

"Now, as to your factory idea. Normally this would have to be dealt with by my colleague the people's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives. Howver, she is away on a trade mission in the Non Human Union, so i can discuss it with you." It was a blessing that her colleague was away, actually. The troublesome division of labour within the collective presidency always slowed things down; this would make things easier.

"What sort of a factory did you have in mind? I should tell you of the obstacles up front, i suppose. You already know that normally we trade only with other IFTA signatories. Of course, that obstacle could be cleared away easily if you felt inclined to sign the IFTA, more and more countries are!" She laughs again. "I seem to have an unfortunate tendency to advertise today, forgive me again.

"The other obstacles are that factories are required to conform to environmental regulations, and that foreign companies are required to partners with a local cooperative that retains actual ownership. Instead of direct foreign investment, we work through a profit-sharign arrangement. But please, tell me what sort of arrangement you had in mind."

The Minister nods and signs the agreement after a cursory reading of it.

"The business concerned is Avery Frost Aeronautics and it would be a replacement for the Orion Works assembly plant in the recently defunct nation of Cyberjaya. As I mentioned earlier, to sell his Orion Fighters to Ilek-Vaad Mr. Frost must meet our minimum safety, ecological and pay scales. Our ecological laws are very punishing so in regards to enviromental friendliness Avery Frost Aeronautics is a world leader. Profit sharing, local ownership are things that we would leave entirely up to you and Mr. Frost."

The Minister pauses "The only thing that my government requires is that you give consent to deal with Mr. Frost. Currently our labor laws require that employees are union and meet a minimum pay requirement of 18,000 DR per year (1 drachma is approx $2.00),and that all full time employees receive full medical coverage . I cannot speak for Mr. Frost but he normally goes beyond our requirements. In other nations that he has built factories in he has built housing, schools, parks and hospitals in conjunction with local government, we press our international corporations to be as worker friendly as possible. We would also encourage him to obtain raw materials locally if possible. We are still not considering signing IFTA, but that may not be required for you to deal with Mr. Frost, he would simply be acting as the head of his own company that is based in Ilek-Vaad, we are only concerned that you know what standards we are holding him to and that we have an open line of communication. We are not adverse to expanding trade in the future, but we should move ahead carefully."

The Minister takes a deep breath, having gotten out, everything, up front.

(Cyberjaya, what a great name! very Indonesian-sounding)

Bi Bere's head reels. Not such a routine diplomatic mission after all, it seems.

"It certainly sounds like an interesting project," she says. "And i'm sure we'd be happy to set Mr. Frost up with an appropriate cooperative to work out the arrangements. But i don't think it would be, ah, wise of me to announce an offshore arms manufacturing project in the middle of an election campaign. And if i understand our agreement with our trading partners correctly, we woud be in contravention of the IFTA if aircraft manufactured here were exported outside the IFTA area."

With a sigh, she adds: "They're often inconvenient, but we respect our treaty commitments. I wish i could give a better answer." She does indeed look personally pained to not be able to say yes.

The Minister smiles sympathetically

"I fully understand. We would not want your nation to try and circumvent a treaty that you had signed and were in support of. It is after all, up to Tanah Burung what is good for Tanah Burung. We simply wished that you know where we stand. What you decide to do with Mr. Frost will in now way hamper our new relations, it was just a point that I wished you to be aware of."

The Minister smiled again "And there is no need to say anything during an election about a fighter aircraft manufacturing facility...........but imagine what it would do for your polls to have Mr. Frost begin building his schools and housing and medical centers, in preparation for a factory? A huge influx of foreign capital in key areas, perhaps your rivals areas, engineered by you could very well clinch things."

The Minister looked thoughtful "Perhaps we should even bring Mr. Frost in and see what exactly the two of you could work out?"

(apologies, i must have missed seeing this earlier)

Bi Bere was all ears. Of course, the country needed no more schools, but health care was a problem. She would not lightly turn down anyone willing to build hospitals.

"I'd be pleased to speak with your Mr. Frost at any time, Minister," she said. "Again, we would have to run any agreement past our trade partners to see if it meets the terms of our treaty commitments, but something might be possible. This is a bit out of my purview, so it might be best of Mr. Frost spoke with the Governor of Tiga Burung. That's where most factories are located, and all airplanes!"

She poured herself some more tea, forgetting to strain out the leaves.

The Minister smiled and nodded

"Excellent , well I believe that all of the major business is concluded. Is there anything else you have in mind? If not, now would be an ideal time for whatever cultural or social activities you may have planned. Perhaps even a press conference to announce our new relations? The LNS (Lassic News Service) has been watching me like a hawk and it might be about time to give them something. "

She pauses and turns to Mr. Chuk-Muul " At the very least I want you to call in a press release, just let them know we will be opening an embassy here , don't mention Mr. Frost yet, but give him a call and let him know that he has our okay to approach our friends in Tanah Burung about his business needs."

She smiles again "This has turned out very well, I am most pleased to have laid the beginnings of what could be a very good international relationship."

Bi Bere, ever so delicately, picks a tea leaf out of her teeth. Meet the press? She'd love to.

"Yes, there are quite a few reporters in the press room from my country too, and it will be ncie to deliver such a positive announcement as a new diplomatic treaty. Shall we go face the tribunes of the people?" She chuckles. Violeta Bi Bere is not a politician who is very impressed with reporters, and certainly not one afraid of them.

Apart from the emerald green curtains hanging on its walls, the press room is spartan. Reporters sit on wooden benches. Two podiums have been set up with microphones on them, and someone has remembered to hang the flags of both countries behind them.

Bi Bere speaks, ever so briefly. "I'm pleased to annoucne that we have signed an agreement to exchange diplomatic relations with Ilek-Vaad. I am confident that our two countries are united in the causes of peace and mutual prosperity. Ilek-Vaad played a highly constructive role in the creation of the UN Mediation Council in very difficult circumstances, and i hope this will be the fiorst of many collaborations in international affairs. I now turn the floor over to my colleague, the Vaadian Minister of Foreign Affairs."

The Minister smiles and nods

"We in Ilek-Vaad are very pleased to have normalized diplomatic relations with our friends in Tanah Burung. We feel very very strongly about supporting our democratic friends and encouraging governments that forward the ideals of democracy and civil liberties. I believe that this is the beginning of a very close and worthwhile relationship between our two nations and I anticipate a healthy exchange of ideas in the years to come. It is important that we in Ilek-Vaad do not resort to isolationism and make every attempt to engage our international neighbors and support the spread of democracy."

The Minister not wanting to answer any questions, does an about face after the statement, much to the obvious disappointment of the LNS reporter and camera man.


*******
Lassic, Ilek-Vaad . Avery Frost Tower

Mr. Avery Frost is in the middle of a staff meeting with his junior nuclear technicians

"Now we have to be a team, and a team is built on trust. Homer, I want you to close your eyes relax and fall backwards ,you have to trust that I'll catch you........"

As he says that, the phone rings and Mr. Frost turns quickly to answer it "This is Frost, go...."

There is a loud THUD and a 'D'oh!'

"Minister of Foreign Affairs? Tanah Burung? Okay, fine, that's great...." he pauses and looks behind him "Oh my god, I have to go, I've got a man on the floor!"

He quickly hangs up the phone...........

:lol:

Bi Bere's jaw falls open. Not answer questions from the press? It's unheard of. She stays on to take a few questions and point out that the signing of diplomatic relations with another country is a good reason to re-elect her, before scurrying back to attend to her guest.

The Minister patiently awaits Violeta and smiles as she returns

"I hope I wasn't too rude, but those jackals from the LNS are in the pocket of the P.R.P. "

Just then Mr. Chuk-Muul returns "Well, I spoke to Mr. Frost."

The Minister nods "And?"

He shrugs "I have no clue, he was in the middle of some sort of crisis. I told him that he may approach the Goverment of Tnaha Burung if he wishes."

The Minister nods "Very well then" she then smiles at Violeta "So, what shall we do for dinner?"

OOC:The Republican Council has announced that Sir Alec Connover (you may remember him?) has been named as Ambassador to Tanah Burung, we can probably skip ahead to setting up the Embassy and sech ,or just assume it's done . :)

ooc: sorry, i was out of town for a while. i have a bunch of threads to catch up on, so we can assume the embassy was set up -- or play it out a bit later, either way.

OOC: that's quite alright. Maybe we could have Sir Alec arrive in the waning days of the Election for Foreign Minister? MJaybe Mr. Avery Frost as well, I wonder how their arrivals would affect the race?

Actually, that's not a bad idea.

Well, then we'll wait for the current nipple piercing contest to end. Having Sir Alec arrive during that would certainly harm his gentlemanly sensibilities. Just to let you know Avery Frost is modeled after Hank Scorpio (from the Simpson's, the episode where Homer is hired away from the plant......) so he is always interesting.