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EU-DCA Diplomacy
Topic Started: May 17 2011, 11:06 AM (526 Views)
Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

The reports streaming from Quinaranum were beyond comparison and it took a strong stomach or a heartless soul to not be shaken and moved by the scenes. Porcuian and international aid and medical ships poured into the region with nervous expressions, not knowing if another salvo of missiles would descend upon them to make sure that not even wild grass could grow anew. Many kilometers away in Toledo, the heart and center of international diplomacy, Porcuian officials had thus far only managed to scrap together a miniscule consensus against the barbaric actions of the Republic of Zanzibar.

Morale was not high. Defeatism was spreading. Support, most importantly of the image of Porcuian strength, competence, and solidarity with oppressed peoples and groups, was eroding at an incredible rate.

Still, despite the obvious need for a concentrated military strike against Zanzibar, President Gularis felt that the words of the Kasnyian representative in ICON were correct: the Democratic Confederacy of Africa was the major crutch on which the current regime of Zanzibar stood, and if the DCA could be persuaded to ignore its treaty obligations it would be a major step. But, how?

With the utmost secrecy, even amongst members of her own government, President Gularis had her Minister of Foreign Affairs forward a top-secret dispatch to the leadership of the DCA, informing them of Stockholm's willingness to negotiate for a cooling of tensions and for the DCA's temporary inactivity on the continent of Africa with regard to the support of Zanzibar.

Terms of a meeting, including who would attend and where such a meeting would take place, were left completely in the hands of DCA leadership.
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Kasnyia
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"What do we make of this?" asked Field Marshal Mintsa, holding up the secret telegram, "How shall we respond?"

"We ignore them and claim victory!" Colonel Za Zanga exclaimed, "Show off the telegram to the world!"

"Nevermind that," said Air Marshal Boleka, deadly serious, "We take them up on the offer. We need to meet in secret at a neutral location, but one preferably friendly to us."

"Aksum?" Mintsa offered. Boleka shook his head.

"You have the right country in mind, but not the capital," Boleka replied, "We have a safe house in the city of Nazret. That is where we will meet. Its out of the way and low key."

"And who do we send?"

"Send Colonel Za Zanga and myself," said Prime Minister Rawiri, "Carrot and stick approach."

"So be it."

--------------

Encrypted Message
TOP SECRET

I am sending the Prime Minister and my Foreign Minister to meet you. I suggest you send your foreign minister and leader to the meeting. It will be quiet. If any nonsense is tried, instructions have been given to ensure you don't leave Africa alive. If you cooperate, then we might both get what we want.

- Field Marshal Karl Mintsa
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

The brief, yet succinct reply chilled President Gularis as she looked at the message again while waiting in her office. Soon enough, a firm series of knocks was heard on the large and magnificently decorated wooden doors before the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs were seen inside by members of the elite Presidential Guard. Gularis stood and welcomed them, providing a slight bow of the head and asking if they required anything to drink.

"None at the moment, Madam President." replied Prime Minister Lucius Ollo van der Vaars.

Marimus Cavo Alcesus, newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Gularis administration, politely declined a drink as well. Both gentlemen bowed deeply just as they entered and the doors to the President's office were being closed before following Gularis to a set of chairs and a couch located near the windows of the office. Once comfortable, the group wasted little time in outlining their plan.

"Are you aware of the situation, Van der Vaars?" Gularis asked her Prime Minister.

"Yes, Madam President. Foreign Minister Alcesus was kind enough to inform me beforehand."

"I assume you have a response then?" Alcesus asked.

"Indeed..." Gularis said, moving back to her desk to grab the encrypted message from Mintsa.

After reading it over, Alcesus passed it over to Van der Vaars. "How do you wish to approach this, Madam President?"

"Carefully, to say the least."

"Can they even be trusted?" Van der Vaars replied, a high degree of worry and suspicion in his voice.

"We don't have much of a choice." Gularis replied. "Negotiations in ICON have proceeded much more slowly than hoped, though the general response, especially from the Russians, is encouraging. Furthermore, we still have yet to hear anything from Constantinople."

"What of the EU Council?" asked Van der Vaars.

"The Council is set to meet again in four days' time." Alcesus said. "Interestingly enough, Prime Minister Augurinus has recently become one of the strongest voices in support of increased EU presence and I expect him to push for even more EU troops to be sent to Avaricum, though with focus temporarily being turned to Zanzibar I'm not sure what decision the Council will arrive at."

"We will be back in four days' time, else my absence from another Council meeting will draw suspicion." Gularis added. "Critically, however, it is absolutely imperative that word not get out about the Minister and I's trip to Nazret. You, Van der Vaars, must also work to stem any questions as to my whereabouts, however."

"How will we arrive?" Alcesus asked.

"By plane, naturally, however I think it best to utilize one disguised as a civilian aircraft." Gularis replied. "I've already contacted the necessary people in the SDF."

"Judging by the response from Mintsa, I imagine you are ruling against security personnel joining us?"

"Correct."

"Best of luck." Prime Minister Van der Vaars awkwardly said after a moment of silence.
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Kasnyia
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The house was a nondescript two-storey in a non-descript neighborhood of a non-descript town. A perfect location for the meeting. Rawiri and Za Zanga had arrived the day before, along with clandestine SCORPION units who swept the house and the surrounding area, quartering themselves in nearby vacant houses. The next day, when the EU delegation was to arrive, Rawiri and Za Zanga entered the house itself, along with a servant to prepare a simple but nice meal and chilled water.

They were soon informed that an old sedan was approaching the meeting site, with their guests inside. They had been escorted into the neighborhood and to the specific house by a motorcycle patrol of two SCORPION agents, who stopped in front of the house and pointed toward the door. They waited until the two entered the house and then left behind the corner.

"Good day, Madam President," Rawiri replied, "Let us begin."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

The sun shone bright and the heat was debilitating to the Porcuians, who were from Scandinavia after all. President Gularis had wisely decided against restrictive professional dress and donned khaki shorts with a short-sleeved, button-up shirt made from fantastically light material. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Alcesus was more conservative and now desperately wished to shed his blazer. Once being shown were to enter, Gularis and Alcesus were greeted by Prime Minister Rawiri.

"Yes, let's..." replied Gularis curtly.

After moving further into the house and noticing that only two foreigners had made the trip that day, Rawiri asked aloud if they were the only two.

"Indeed we are." Gularis said. "This is my Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marimus Cavo Alcesus."

"Oh?" Rawiri replied with a chuckle.

"We two are more than capable of conducting these negotiations on behalf of the Republic of Porcu and the memberstates of the EU."
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Kasnyia
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"We will hold you to that," muttered Colonel Za Zanga before a quick glance from Rawiri made him hold his tongue.

"You wished to discuss Zanzibar," Rawiri stated, emotionlessly, "What do you want?"
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"The current government of the Republic of Zanzibar is one of...poor taste. With discussions proceeding at ICON, Porcu is looking to isolate Zanzibar politically. Their choice to devastate the EU memberstate of Quinaranum and slaughter millions of innocents is criminal. The international community has not held its tongue in criticizing Zanzibar.

"Despite your country's ties to Zanzibar, the Democratic Confederacy of Africa need not be dragged into conflict or suffer the indignation of the international community." Gularis said.

"Simply put..." Alcesus added. "We hope that your government will ignore its treaty obligations to politically and militarily support Zanzibar. For some time, heavy trade restrictions have been in place against the Mintsa regime, as per agreements decided at ICON, but the Republic of Porcu may be able to work to ease or eliminate these restrictions, guaranteeing as a minimum no further addition of financial or economic pressure against Vallisburg."
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Kasnyia
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Rawiri sneered.

"The Democratic Confederacy only cares about Africa. The trade sanctions are laughed at in our cities. Of course, you may put that on the table and we'd appreciate the symbolic gesture of removing your attempts to insult my government and my head of Army...but it will get you no where."

"Do you think of us as truely that corrupt to be bought off from helping an ally? Do you recall the SEVERAL times that ally told you not to enter its waters and you did so anyway?" Colonel Za Zanga exclaimed indignantly, "Your war with the TIM dragged them into the struggle unwillingly. You nearly destroyed their naval forces in your attempts to not respect your lamented 'international law'. That they attacked the EU with such retaliation was a bit much, especially as innocent Africans were also killed, but please do not insult us by trying to play yourselves off as victims. Especially when you enlist the help of American BLACK SLAVEKEEPERS in your efforts to 'pacify' the 'unrest'."

"You will have to do better," Rawiri added quietly, "Zanzibar has acted well within the rules of war. Porcu has often said it was the EU as a whole helping out with the conflict in Tanganyika. And since that force broke Zanzibari sovereignity, the EU as a whole is subject to attack."

He took a sip of his drink as he stared at the Porcuians through his thick-rimmed glasses.

"And let's be frank: They did not use nuclear weapons, as harsh of an attack as it was," he continued, "And they only attacked because the remnants of the Slavekeeper's fleet that attacked them were docking there for repairs. And to be more frank, the international community has been mostly quiet on this issue, funnily enough. Moscow won't back up their words, and neither will Venice. Only the EU and the Slavekeepers have said anything and they're hardly neutral judges. So if you want to deal, let's deal. Do not patronize me with this lofty talk and offer me things we don't care about. And do not insult my office by suggesting that I'm merely an envoy of the Army Chief. I am the Prime Minister. You will treat me as such. Let us deal."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"A rat, no matter how kingly or well-dressed, is still a rat, and inevitably betrays his primitive nature." Alcesus said under his breath in Latin.

Gularis heard this and expertly managed to deflect attention away from her Foreign Secretary when Prime Minister Rawiri inquired as to what he had said. "I cannot concede, even for a moment, Mr. Prime Minister, the argument that Porcuian and EU forces, in fact, violated the territorial waters of Zanzibar and disregarded international law.

"Naval forces and supply convoys were destined for the city of Avaricum and remained entirely within international waters. As the Russians are well aware, it was Zanzibar, if anyone, who violated international law and placed a blockade against Avaricum that prevented any shipment of supplies from reaching the inhabitants of the city. Positions taken against facts are not helpful. And with regard to the massacre of millions in Quinaranum, even your ally the Federation of East African Nations has taken a strong position against Zanzibar.

"Now," Gularis said after a brief pause. "If you, Prime Minister, are not interested in the removal of the economic embargo. What are you interested in - you've been quick to dismiss my proposal, yet have contributed little to this negotiation thus far?"
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Kasnyia
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"Why contribute when my people and I continue to be patronized by you," Rawiri said, "You still have not answered my question as to what your illustrious collegue said, and I can only assume its an insult or otherwise negative from this fellow's expression. Proof as to your 'values' perhaps. And if you want to bring the EAF into this, you must then remember that THEY recognized, along with us, that Zanzibar is a sovereign state, who blockaded their own waters to prevent your military forces form doing what they pleased in waters that did not belong to them. Russia is inmaterial. And I have already conceded that the act by the DCA was harsh, but if you aren't even willing to concede that Porcu was in the wrong, publically, then we have no reason to abandon our ally."

"You want terms? The terms are simple: Admit your fault to the public, loudly and clearly, that you violated Zanzibar's sovereignity. Quit Africa at once," Colonel Za Zanga added, "Or we will wipe you off the continent. And for fun, let's throw in removing the economic sanctions as well. They don't affect us, but we find them insulting."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"Quit Africa?" Gularis replied quizzically. "Am I to understand that you merely wish our military forces to leave the African continent or do you also wish to see the EU memberstates of Quinaranum and Tanganorium erased from the African landscape? Continuing to play the part of a patronized victim is tiring, Mr. Prime Minister."

"International pressure is mounting and action will be taken against Zanzibar." Foreign Minister Alcesus said slowly and clearly. "And what if Constantinople decides to shed its quiet, neutral cloak? Will the DCA continue to occupy this tenuous position? Threatening us does little good."

"Besides, the most I can do is order Porcuian and EU military forces out of the theater. I cannot pack up two free states and their populations and simply move them out of Africa. Frankly, I am willing to admit Porcuian fault with regard to Zanzibar's sovereignty, but I cannot 'quit Africa'."
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Kasnyia
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"The very fact that you are attempting to scold me like some school teacher is only proof of your patronization," Rawiri replied, "But at least we are making progress with regards to the sovereignity issue. As for Constantinople, they too are inmaterial to Africa. Their waters were breached, but as they were not attacked, and so I doubt they will do much of anything. And if they did, it would by quite costly to them."

"Free states?!" Za Zanga blurted out, "Tanganyika is a war zone becasue you refuse to recognize that the people there don't want you anymore! You can leave and save some semblence of your credibility, or be thrown out into the bloodsoaked seas of Zanzibar!"

Rawiri shushed the Colonel,

"Forgive him, he doesn't take kindly to you people and your anti-African ways," Rawiri stated nonchalantly, "But he makes a good point. The people in Tanganyika are not free if the TIM is making such easy victories. They have popular support of the native people. And there isn't much of a North West Africa left TO take back. Nevertheless, total removal of your military presence is a start, but you must also use your links with the slavekeepers to keep THEM out of Africa too. Them and any other third party. The spirit of the idea being that you cannot use force or anyone else's force for your interests in this continent forevermore."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Alcesus bellowed back at Colonel Za Zanga. "The utter massacre of innocents in Quinaranum was met with what? Hmm? Those civilians were defenseless!"

Gularis sighed, allowing Alcesus to breath deeply for a few seconds and fall silent again. "I'm afraid that this is something to which we cannot agree. The Tanganyika Independence Movement is a terrorist organization and militia, plain and simple. It does not represent those which proudly call themselves citizens of Tanganorium. TIM has managed to kill many civilians and lay claim to territory only because they are well-equipped with weapons, whereas the peoples of Tanganorium are not, and the local police and gendarmerie are unable to single-handedly defeat TIM - that is why the SDF is in Africa, Mr. Prime Minister, not because we are anti-African or imperialists."

Alcesus was not convinced with the progression of the dialogue thus far. "I have yet to see how this is progress of any kind...Do you really mean to not withdraw your support of a hostile regime and to threaten us, while drawing as many concessions as you can?"
Edited by Porcu, May 31 2011, 07:51 PM.
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Kasnyia
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"I would tell your bloodhound over there that, once again, my government has already condemned the move, and that yelling at US is pointless" Rawiri said, nonplussed, pointing to Alcesus, "As for TIM, 'one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter'. Your statistics may or may not be accurate and in any case are certainly biased and thus they don't interest me. Mine and other sources say different."

He took a sip of his water.

"I did also say we were making progress. If we can cut through the nonsense of your patronizations, we will make even further progress," Rawiri added, "You must bear in mind, we do not actually like the idea of betraying a fellow African state, and so we intend to exact a very harsh price for it. You will quit Africa, along with your allies the slavekeepers, you will publically admit fault, remove sanctions, and then we in turn will not interfere in your punishments against our allies."

"We can negotiate on the degree you will quit, but that is about as much leeway as we feel is necessary to give you."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"What do you mean by 'quit'?" Gularis asked. "Fundamentally, we will not abandon our comrades in the EU memberstates of Quinaranum or Tanganorium. That is their home and there they will remain. I'm sure, however, that I can manage to have all Porcuian nationals retire from the African continent in the future."
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Kasnyia
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"Along with the military forces," Rawiri stated, "I think we should continue this in the morning, it is dinner time."

With that, he ordered the steward to bring in dinner to their respective rooms in the house and retired for the evening.

OOC- We need the reality of the war to catch up, so we'll come back to this later.
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Kasnyia
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They met back downstairs the next day to continue discussions.

OOC- reactivation! :D
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

The previous night had featured an intense discussion between Gularis and Alcesus, and was most likely recorded and listened to by their less than honorable hosts. Suspecting that any conversation would be overheard, the two Porcuian masterfully maneuvered between a series of languages in those late night hours in the hope that even if their discussion was actively being translated it would take considerably longer than it otherwise would.

Centered around precisely the amount of argumentative position they were willing to give to the DCA, the two Porcuians took decidedly different paths and retired for the evening even more angry and frustrated. Then there was the heat. Unconditioned with regard to the local temperatures and not provided with any artificial cooling system, the Porcuians showed themselves to be fully Scandinavians and frailly navigated Sleep's misty currents throughout the night.

Waking up drenched in sweat, her clothes sticking indecently close to the curvature of her body, President Gularis moved to one corner of the room she shared with her Foreign Minister and quickly disrobed, donning clean clothes immediately after she had wiped as much sweat from her body as she could. Turning and facing back towards the center of the room, a few rays of sunlight crept in and extended across the empty bed of the President as well as the oddly frozen body of the Foreign Minister. Though his clothes were noticeably damp, he slumbered on, much to Gularis' bewilderment.

Moving to the edge of his bed, Gularis gently woke Alcesus.

"What time is it?" he asked, sitting up.

"I'm not sure." Gularis said softly. Her demeanor simultaneously weary, serious, and nervous.

Sensing the source of her troubles, Foreign Minister Alcesus tried to soothe away his superior's worries, noting that despite their differences of opinion they would support each other during the negotiations and act together in the best interest of Porcu and the people of Tanganorium.

Some time later, the Porcuian diplomats took it upon themselves to leave their quarters and to descend back down to where their hosts were waiting for them.
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Kasnyia
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"I have recieved word that there have been...developments," Rawiri stated as they entered the room, "All that remains of your holdings is in Avaricum. I would come to an accord soon or this will prove unneccesary."
Edited by Kasnyia, Oct 17 2011, 11:23 AM.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"Yes, let's...I'm not eager to continue discussions." Gularis replied as she took an open seat. Foreign Minister Alcesus remained standing for the moment, though he quickly took a seat once he was sure there were enough for everyone. "And what might these developments be?"

Allowing himself to answer before Rawiri, Alcesus took out the small laptop he had brought with him and linked with Abwehr officials in Stockholm over a secure network. Curious, Gularis leaned over and asked for a brief summary of recent events. Even with many details left out, the fall of Mwanza and the Victoria Lake holdings hit both the President and the Foreign Minister hard. The satellite imagery could not be clearer.

Turning to her hosts, Gularis wished to return to familiar ground more than ever. "Let's have a precise listing of demands and concessions."
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Kasnyia
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Colonel Za Zanga gave a lopsided sneer, though Rawiri was calm and his face stone-like.

"As you know, our delegations are negotiating at ICON as we speak," Rawiri said, "And I do not want the negotiations there to be all for naught. And so the first condition will be that you shall honor the agreements made there, regardless of what is agreed to here as to the DCA's obligations with Zanzibar. Any attempt to not do so will be seen in bad faith by my government and we will exact a harsh price for such transgressions. Secondly, there will be a public apology admitting fault for breaching the sovereignity of Zanzibar. Thirdly, the EU grants sole negotiating power over the fate of Tanganorium with the TIM sans whatever you control as of today. Fourthly, ALL Porcuian and EU military forces and their allies must leave Africa for good. Fifthly, lift all sanctions against the DCA. Sixthly, ending all haranguement and criticism of the DCA. Seventhly, no proxies or allies will be used to circumvent these conditions. And Finally, a permanent hold on any territorial, political, and/or economic expansion into Africa."

Then Colonel Za Zanga spoke,

"In return, we will not come to the aid of Zanzibar come time to do so. Secondly, we will ensure that what remains of the EU/Porcu's colonialist landholdings won't suffer further losses in territory or commerce. Other concessions, within reason, may be added if asked and specified."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Gularis visibly tensed, much to the enjoyment of her hosts.

"The first condition is agreed to, as are the second and the third."

"What?!" Foreign Minister Alcesus balked. "Surely, if we are to apologize, so must Zanzibar!"

"Just shut up, Alcesus." Gularis said in a low voice, again switching languages. "The fifth condition, regarding sanctions currently leveled against the DCA, is also accepted. However, I'm afraid that I cannot agree to the fourth condition outright. That decision is not mine alone to make, but I shall make every effort to make it so.

"Now, you earn criticism whenever you incite violence against peace loving individuals in Tanganorium and Quinaranum by the disgusting TIM. My administration will cease outright condemnation, but will not pass over calls for the destruction of the lives of EU and Porcuian citizens. The seventh condition is agreed to, but the economic component of the last condition cannot. The current, tenuous borders of what remains of Tanganorium are what I hope to salvage, and so there is no desire for any territorial expansion into Afrika."
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Kasnyia
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Colonel Za Zanga gave a wolfish smile, but Rawiri only gave a pleasant smile.

"To ensure that desire does not suddenly change, you will sign to that effect, Madam President," Rawiri stated conversationally, "As will we. The terms are acceptable."
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Gularis nodded softly, taking out a handkerchief and wiping her brow. Due to the unusual heat of the African landscape, sweat had beaded across both Porcuians' faces and bodies. Water had kindly been provided and despite the fierce animosity felt neither Gularis nor Alcesus were strong enough, nor stupid enough, to resist.

In time, a formal agreement was drafted and presented.
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Kasnyia
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Signed,

Werner Rawiri,

Prime Minister of the Democratic Confederacy of Africa, Party Chairman of PAFRESOC

---

Observing,

Colonel Emil Za Zanga,

Information Minister and Foreign Minister of the Democratic Confederacy of Africa
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