NationStates Jolt Archive

Ambassador Rickdoff brushed his large hand threw his thick blond hair as he leaned back in the comfortable seat in the airliner known as 'The Cresent Star'. Highest Minister Riyabuo was busy in the Dominion of The Translyvania, while Foreign Minister Rednight was busy with New Empire and the situtation in Malkyer--and thus he was sent. He was the top diplomat of the Monotheistic, having served during the reign of all the various coups, avoided being exterminated by Kraven, and still kept his sanity. Clearly all that, or more so the mental survival of all that, was the sign of a true diplomat, or so he thought at least for whatever it was worth.

He wasn't the young man he was when he first signed up to be a diplomat under the reign of Hunter Norris, the humble old man turned egomanic emperor. He was older now, reaching his mid-sixties and his blond hair was reverting back to its natural silver color, the natural color of all Jagites. His skin was rough and jagged to some degree, he had the face of a bitter old man--yet the soul of a compassionate man willing to compromise. To those whom would look upon him they would think a titanium will, and a stone cold heart, yet nothing could be farther from the truth.

Permission had already been given via the government of the Beltway to come--though this meeting was a little secret. Jagada has recently constructed a Consulate in the Beltway--a de facto embassy of the Monotheistic Republic. Like most liberal and 'good' nations they had a hard time swallowing Jagada's 'limited' civil rights. Despite the fact that most Jagites were extremely opposed to most civil rights--restraint and the will of the government played a role in every Jagite life. Though the people weren't so reliant upon the government that they couldn't function without it. Jagites were a mystical people, enveloped in spirituality and philosphy--not to mention poverty and corruption.

The plane would soon land and he would make his way to the consulate where he expected a Beltway diplomat to be awaiting him. He focused himself via meditation and prayer--as every Jagite did. This meeting was of critical importance.

7:30 AM
"Amy, what's my schedule for today?" Kostas Alexakis, officially the Deputy Foreign Minister but, with Foreign Minister Mark Warner campaigning for the PM, now essentially the chief diplomat of The Beltway, asked, striding into his office in the Foreign Ministry building in Foggy Bottom.

"Let's see... nothing until 9, when you're briefing Kaine. Then, brunch with the Isselmere ambassador at 10:15, lunch meeting with Senator George Allen (R-Clarke) at 11:45, meeting with Jagada at 1:30-" his secretary, Amy Kowalski, said before being cut off.

"Jagada?" Alexakis interjected, a bit surprised. "Oh, right, it's about Kraven, isn't it?"

"According to this schedule, we're also to discuss aid for their nation, and possibly a trade agreement with them," Amy replied. "I'm really not sure what we're doing with Jagada, however; Jagada seems to have nothing in common with us."

"Hey, they are democratic. Besides, they elected a woman as their head of government; we have yet to do so. Though, personally, I think you'd make a pretty good PM," Alexakis said, smiling.

"You're too kind. Here's your briefing notes for the PM," Kowalski said in turn, smirking, then handed Kostas a manila folder for the briefing.

1:20 PM
"Okay, we've taught the band the Jagite national anthem, got the pastor - that's what you call them, right? - of the National Cathedral to come down here, set up Jagite flags, and have the limos ready at National. Looks like we're ready," Alexakis muttered to himself, running through a mental checklist of things needed for a reception. He stood inside the Jagite consulate in Georgetown, awaiting Jagada's diplomat's arrival. They should be here in ten minutes; the flight landed at 1:15, and the drive would be rather quick. Traffic was fairly light at this hour; everyone's at work or lunch, and sometimes both.

The plane came into the Beltway and came to a slow stop. Ambassador Rickdoff stood up, and grabbed his briefcase and made his way towards the door of the aircraft, as a stairway was brought up to. After making his way down the stairway a limo was waiting for him. He laughed internally, "A limo for an unoffical meeting? Not exactly what I expected." Rickdoff stared out the window, reviewing notes in his head. The Beltway's involvement in the Third Kraven Wars was not known to Jagada--despite investigations by the 'Eye', not surprising though as the Beltway wasn't on Jagada's list of nations to contact, and only happened to stummble across them when a Jagite media outlet reported the Beltway Prime Minister saying he would be interested in a meeting with Jagada if a certain criteria was met.

Then again, Jagada could use all the allies it could gain. The Beltway was clearly in the liberal side of the World--if Jagada hoped to stand against Kraven and eventually its ultimate foe--whom Rickdoff hadn't been told who exactly that was yet by Riyabuo. Than an alliance or some relations with the Beltway was needed. Something to become more acquianted with the Liberal nations of the World. Rickdoff looked at the large building that was the Jagite Consulate--he was impressed by his luxury-look, yet not too luxurious. The car stopped in front of the door, and instead of waiting for the driver to open the door--Rickdoff did hoping for two things. To show that Jagites weren't about formalities, nor were they about living it soft. As Rickdoff entered the doors of the Consulate, followed by two men in white trenchcoats (the semi-secret police of Jagada) he entered to the sound of the Jagite National Anthem which was none other than "Carry my Cross", it was very much a modern song and went far off what one would expect a conservative nation to play as their national anthem--some would even call it rock to a small degree.

He was sure that when the anthem was playing it would shock the Beltway ambassador, as it required someone to sing or else the anthem sounded ridiculous. Rickdoff simply smirked internally as the band played, and looked around to see the various Jagite flags hanging down from the cieling, walls, and various other places. Rickdoff, after a moment of looking upon the grand room walked towards the Beltway diplomat and extended his hand, and despite the loudness of the band, he spoke, "Greetings sir, I am Ambassador Rickdoff of the Monotheistic Republic of Jagada. Thank you for meeting with me sir."

"Greetings, Ambassador. I apologize that Foreign Minister Mark Warner is not present; unfortunately, he is busy campaigning for the position of Prime Minister. Nonetheless, I, Kostas Alexakis, Deputy Foreign Minister of The Beltway, present myself as representative of my country in this meeting. Welcome to your consulate, Ambassador Rickoff," Alexakis said, shaking Rickoff's hand.

"What was that?" Rickoff shouted, unable to hear Alexakis over the pounding music.

"Sorry. Ambassador Rickoff, I am Kostas Alexakis, Deputy Foreign Minister of The Beltway. It's nice to meet you as well," Alexakis shouted back. "Let's find a quieter space to talk. You have a nice anthem, but it's rather loud."

Rickdoff nodded and followed the Beltway Deputy Foreign Minister into a room not far from the room they were in, once they entered it was much quieter, and the whitecoats were outside so it provided a level of privacy. Rickdoff took his seat behind the desk and motioned for the Beltway Deputy Minister to take a seat.

"Pardon my manners, and the manners of my country, Deputy Minister. The Highest Minister herself would be here right now if she wasn't off on business in The Translyvania, and the Foreign Minister, Alfred Rednight, is off in New Empire and dealing with some Malkyer issues. I would offer you something to drink, but all we Jagites drink is water, soda, cool-aid, and the like. And the fact that I still have to take a tour of the place," Rickdoff said, he was also a humorous guy and wished to express that, if only to show that the Jagite people weren't always uptight.

"Now, Deputy Foreign Minister, where would you like to begin?" asked Rickdoff.

"As host, I should be the one offering you a drink; I can probably get an aide scrounge up a can of Sprite if you want. I'd like to begin with discussing the possibility of aid to your nation, currently in the process of rebuilding. What, specifically, do you need right now? I can probably get DuPont Chemical to supply you with natural gas at reduced rates for the next few years, and could arrange other deals with Beltway corporations.; further, we do have a few hundred billion left from war subsidies received during our short-lived war with Gilabad," Alexakis answered.

Rickdoff nodded, "Yes, a can of Sprite would do nicely." He then put his breifcase on the desk and opened it up, and pulled out a manila folder, and then opened it and laid it before the Beltway Deputy Foreign Minister. "As you can tell, Jagada lacks energy. We have oil, and plenty of it. We don't need it of coarse, as we've managed to get our biodesial industry up and running. Oil is something we didn't have in Old Jagada, it was scarce there, but plentiful here. Not quite sure why, as our original geographical surveys didn't show any oil, and suddenly a farmer decided to go off on a limb and struck it rich. He now owns most of the countries farming industry--to no one's surprise."

"What Jagada needs is basically, like you offered. Nature gas, foodstuffs, iron, steel, chemicals, and textiles are right now the main nessecities of our economy. We lack iron ore and and the like, and thus our steel industry is very small. We are in a crisis in that regard and unless we start importing these goods, we will be very much hard pressed to have economic growth. Do you and your country have any of these resources?" asked Rickdoff.

"The Beltway can provide you with food, natural gas, and chemical products; we can offer you a $100 billion US aid package for you to purchase ores and metals abroad. We're especially famous for our crabs; the Chesapeake Bay has begun to rebound, so crabbing has become more viable," Kostas said. "Now, if you'll excuse me for a second, I'll get you your Sprite."

He then pulled out his cell phone and called an aide, saying into the phone, "Hey, could you get us a can of Sprite? Good."

Rickdoff nodded, and waited until the Deputy Foreign Minister finished his call. "Yes, I believe my nation would accept that deal." He then smirked, "Where are my manners? I forgot to congradulate your nation on its victory, or so I have been lead to believe, over Gilabad."

Rickdoff then remebered the aid deal and crabs, "As for the financial aid and crabs. I'm sure it would bring a sigh of relief to both the Ministry of Commerce and the stomachs of many a Jagite, sir."

"We did indeed win that short war with help from our allies; although not necessarily a complete victory, we did secure a peace agreement in our favor," Kostas said. "Now, the second matter to be discussed is a free-trade agreement. The Beltway is a staunch supporter of free trade; we recently got passed a UN resolution securing free trade of civilian nuclear power. We would like to know if the following is acceptable." Kostas then handed the Jagite Ambassador a piece of paper detailing, in brief, the basic outline of a proposed free-trade agreement.
Jagite-Beltway Free Trade Zone (JBFTZ)

1 - Jagada shall end any existing tariffs on goods/services for The Beltway.
2 - The Beltway shall end any existing tariffs on goods/services for Jagada.
3 - Any tariffs enacted in Jagada or The Beltway shall not apply to the other party.
4 - Beltway corporations shall respect the laws of Jagada; further, any products or services banned in Jagada shall not be exported by The Beltway.
5 - Jagite corporations shall respect the laws of The Beltway; further, any products or services banned in The Beltway shall not be exported by Jagada.
6 - Jagite and Beltway corporations shall be permitted to invest in The Beltway and Jagada to the extent that they are allowed to under the laws of the nation in question.

Rickdoff scanned over the peice of paper and nodded. "Very good, and may I add nice wording," he stated. He then looked back up at the Deputy Foreign Minister, "Though I'm curious if you'd be willing to add a clause of non-agression in there. Jagada probably will never invade the Beltway, unless you do something extremely radical like ban religion, and I don't see a reason for you to invade us--we are in the process of democractization. We even elected a woman Highest Minister, first time in our nine-hundred year history to have a woman leading the country, I might add."

"Well, I suppose we could combine the non-aggression pact and the free-trade zone..." Alexakis replied.

An aide walked in after explaining to the guards outside what she was going in for and showing them her soda; she brought in the can, opened it, and gave it to Rickoff.

Rickdoff thanked the aid and then opened up the can and took a drink, "Nothing beating a soda--at least where I come from," he said before going on, "If the Beltway is willing to make a non-aggression pact that would be a sign to our people that our government, this Monotheistic Republic, is firmly in power and there won't be anymore coups. We've had close to five, majors ones that is, thats not counting the ones that don't work and you never hear about them."