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Decree of the Straits; Cologne takes action against the Baltic conflict.
Topic Started: Sep 13 2011, 02:43 PM (1,382 Views)
Comrade Queen
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Comrade Bitchqueen
The Yshurakan delegate, Magnus Berg, arrived in timely fashion. He was confident that he could gain a quick agreement with the representative of the Papacy, as Yshurak had not participated in the hostile strong-arming that Russia and Quaon had engaged in. It had publicly announced its respect for Cologn's territorial waters while waiting from the shadows to see where the situation would progress in the case something to its benefit, such as the chance for unrestricted military passage through the Straits, arose. The treaty negotiated between the Papacy and Russia was just the situation Yshurak's government had been hoping for.

Now it was time to become part of that agreement.
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
"Welcome."

As soon as all were settled Cardinal Rodriguez, the Pope's chief negotiator, began to speak,

"Let me get straight to the point. You wish unrestricted passage as per the Baltic Treaty. We are currently in the process of renegotiating certain aspects of the treaty, as His Holiness wants to make it clear that if any power were to take advantage of his kindness in giving vouchers for exemption, that the treaty would be nullified unilaterally by Cologne and the Papal Bull reinstated. I am telling you this because until the Russians are in agreement, the treaty is under temporary suspension. Now until this can be dealt with, His Holiness is willing to give you access using the treaty stipulations as the guideline until the treaty is officially in force, though once so, any changes made would be applicable to you.

Your choice is then simple, you may sign the treaty now and enjoy the same privaleges as Russia for the moment but subject to any changes that are negotiated between His Holiness and Russia, or you can wait until the revised treaty is available and then sign, though until then the Papal Bull will remain in effect with you until the treaty is signed."
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Comrade Queen
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Comrade Bitchqueen
Magnus stroked his chin thoughtfully as he considered the Cardinal's words. While Yshurak's government still maintained a semblance of order within its northern territories with many of the cities locked down, the rebellion in that area was straining that stability to its limits, especially with the seizure of an air base. If Yshurak was to maintain its military might within the area, let alone its own borders, it needed that unrestricted passage of the straits for its navy. He considered carefully.

Yshurak was on excellent terms with Russia to a point where they could be considered allies. Ergo, if the treaty was to be renegotiated, Yshurak would have Russia's ear and able to give it support to stand firm to keep whatever terms that would be most beneficial for both powers. But the benefits were needed now, regardless of the cost.

"Very well," Magnus finally said after great deliberation. "Yshurak shall choose the first option. My nation trusts the judgment of the Russian... and Colognian delegates when the treaty is renegotiated."
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
Cardinal Rodriguez nodded in understanding. His Holiness had not been blind to the problems facing Yshurak in the north and this, coupled by its status as a respected regional power, had convinced His Holiness to authorize the cardinal to do business with the ambassador.

"Very well, Mr. Ambassador," he said while sliding a copy of the treaty to sign, "Just wanted to make sure everything was made clear to you. As soon as you have signed, I'll countersign and you will be given an exemption per the treaty."
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Comrade Queen
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Comrade Bitchqueen
Magnus took out his pen and quickly scribed his name on the treaty and smiled before offering his hand to the Cardinal in a handshake. "Perhaps this is a stepping stone toward increased peace and prosperity in the region. I am glad both of our governments could come to an agreement on this."
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Kasnyia
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Cardinal Rodriguez returned the smile as shook his counterpart's hand,

"As is His Holiness, Honorable Ambassador."
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

With war in the Americas and still military conflict in Yshurak, the Russian Empire was running thin of senior-most ministers to represent the Tsar in diplomatic matters. With the Prime Minister held up in Moscow and his own senior most subordinate in Venice, the Tsar reluctantly sent his Minister of Transportation, Count Aleksey Bobrinsky. Not entirely an odd choice as the straits did in fact fall somewhat under the concern of his ministry, it was still an odd choice at best.

Arriving in Cologne to little fan-fair given the relatively small technicality of the situation, the Prince was quickly moved from the airport to the seat of the Catholic Church in Cologne. There he was quickly greeted and shown in to the room where the negotiations were to take place. Smiling at his host, he thanked them for their hospitality, while adding: "His majesty is eager to ensure whatever worries the church has over the treaty are taken care of. Naturally, we hope that this small and unassuming matter can be dealt with quickly so that the integrity of the treaty can remain a hallmark of our two country's diplomatic capabilities."
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
Cardinal Rodriguez wasted no time.

"His Holiness wishes to change the term about the terms allowing for the abolishment of the treaty. It currently says it takes all signing parties agreement for the treaty to be nullified. As these waters are under the purview of the Church, we wish to change this so that it may be abolished by His Holiness if any signatory power were to abuse their status as an exempt nation from the Papal Bull."
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

Having not negotiated the treaty himself, Count Bobrinsky wasn't aware of any previous conversations on this topic prior to the signing of the treaty. Having seen no reports filed on the matter after the treaty was sign, eluding the the possibility that the Papacy could have possibly wished to negotiate such a matter, he had to assume this was a post-treaty transgression and that it was the Papacy's own second-thoughts on the matter now being manifested.

"Dearest and holy Cardinal, I can understand your point of view on this matter and I imagine I can very well bring this up with his majesty. However, it is my understanding and my own interpretation of the treaty, that your authority over the straits in made very clear. It was expressed upon me, through Russian reports on the negotiations and the treaty itself, that the very wording of the treaty was designed to ensure that there is no mistaking the Papacy's authority of the straits. Indeed, I remind your holiness of Article 2, clause 3 which specifically gives the Papacy the authority to deny vessel at their leisure, when the Pope feels territorial waters are being threatened." I also raise Article 1, Clause 3 which states that all signatories nations agree to defend all territories aforementioned in the treaty, which includes the straits. So should any nation dare threaten Papal waters, the Papacy shall find immediate assistance from Russia as well as all other nations that sign."

The Count paused, his tone had been regular and he'd not once made any remark or change in his voice that he believed could be interpreted as hostile to the Cardinal. Continuing, however, he did take special care to seem as gentle and as sincere as was possible. "Certainly the negotiations over this matter was started badly on the part of Russia, we've acknowledged this and tried as best we could, to accommodate the Papacy's wishes into this treaty. His majesty firmly believed that when both sides signed the treaty, we'd found common ground and that it represented the best and fairest agreement that could be struck between ourselves and future signatory nations. I can only imagine his majesty will feel a bit taken by this demand, as it will put us directly back where we started should the Papacy ever feel the need to expel us. Perhaps there is a compromise here which would again appease all parties involved."

"As I understand it, we're really discussing two clauses in the treaty, both falling under Article 4. The first is Clause 2, which states that expulsion by a member who has violated the treaty requires a majority vote in favor. If it would so please his holiness, I believe his majesty would agree to amending this clause. Instead, allowing the Papacy to temporarily suspend a violator's access to the privileges of the treaty until such time as a formal discussion can be had between all nations involved. This would give his Holiness immediate response power while also giving the other nations as well as the nation in violation with the treaty to ability to ability to confer with his Holiness on a more permanent solution to that particular situation. Finally, as for Clause 3 which currently states it take the unanimous decision of all to dissolve the treaty, this can easily be fixed by placing a expiration date of the treaty. This would force all signatory nations to gather and discuss any changes that may need to be made or if the treaty is at all, still need. Indeed, if the Papacy feels cheated, a expiration date would allow his Holiness to simply disband the treaty after it is up by not agree to new the treaty or sign an amended one."
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
"Depending on the expiry date, this would be an acceptable amendment."
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

"Would his holiness agree to somewhere in the range of 3 or 5 years? I feel any shorter than 3, and we would be incurring a lot of cost on the part of the signatory nations of the treaty, having to gather so constantly."

OOC: In terms of RL time, I imagine we can say a couple of months or just whenever you want to RP a treaty renewal/amendment conference.
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
OOC- Sounds about right.

IC-

We are agreed then.
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

The count was pleased with himself, "Very well, I shall see to the amendments at once. I am confident his majesty will sign again as I am assuming his eminence will also sign. I think I speak for all Russia when I say that we look forward to the peace, the Baltic Treaty brings."

With that the Count was shown out, only to be on a flight back to Moscow within the hour.

OOC: I'll amend the treaty and can I put the latest version in the first post of this thread Kas. So that its easily found by anyone in the future who'd be interested in it?
Edited by NRE, Jun 9 2012, 03:24 PM.
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
OOC- Sounds good to me.
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