08-21-2018, 10:59 PM
"Prime Minister! Prime Minister" the chorus of reporters rang out as Charlene Hendry exited Government Manor and walked towards the podium placed about 10 feet on front of the large marble steps leading to the imposing double doors.
Hendry used to be nervous at press briefings, but that was over ten years ago when she first became leader of the Democratic Left Party and then-Leader of the Opposition. Now she was used to it. She knew all the reporters by name and was friendly with most of them.
"I'll take Joey Sessions from The Times", Hendry said quickly as soon as she reached the podium.
"Prime Minister, have all parties agreed to a ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations?"
"I have sought and received assurances from all factions that a ceasefire will be observed from 12 noon Buttercity time this Friday, August 24th."
"A quick follow up?", Sessions interjected.
"Sure."
"When do you anticipate negotiations to begin?"
"Negotiations are scheduled to begin 9am Haven time on Wednesday, August 29th. Patricia from the Sanctus Post next."
"Madam Prime Minister, have you determined who will be mediating the peace talks on behalf of Sanctaria? I'll have a follow up too."
"We've asked former Deputy Prime Minister Robert Smyth if he would mediate on the government's behalf. All of you know Robert, so I won't delve too much into his background, but for the foreign press here, Smyth is a former Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and was also twice Secretary General of the now defunct Council of IDU States. His ability is without question and he is respected not only here in Sanctaria, but across the IDU, so we felt it was an obvious choice. What's the follow up?"
"Do you know who will be representing the other factions?"
"I have been made aware of who they are sending for security purposes, but we have all agreed each faction may announce their own negotiation teams in their own fashion. I'll take Jim from S:TV next."
"Prime Minister, two questions. Firstly, what security is being planned and related to this, where in Haven are the peace talks being hosted?"
"Jim, I can't divulge the location of the peace talks just yet for security purposes, you'll be told around 8am on the 29th. As to what security will be there, I won't get into specifics, but we'll have Sanctarian Police, members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces, members of the Diplomatic Protection Bureau, and obviously some intelligence agents will be there too. Since your second was asked as part of your first, I'll let you go again", Hendry added with a smile.
"Thanks Charlene - is the Sanctarian government preparing for all eventualities here in terms of negotiations?"
"We have a pretty experienced negotiation team. Supporting Robert will be some of the team members we had during the Great Horn Conflict peace talks, which as you know ended very successfully, so we're hopeful we can come to a mutually agreeable situation for everyone. All outcomes will be considered, but we're confident in the peace talks. I'll take one last question ... Sandra, from the Haven Chronicle?"
"Thanks Prime Minister. You've mentioned the security of the attendees, but not much about the security of the people in Haven. Are you aware of planned protests and calls for the Divine Republic to immediately arrest the faction leaders as soon as they step on Sanctarian soil?"
"I'm not aware of those specific calls, no, but these are issues that arise every time we host peace talks. The Sanctarian government is working with Haven City Council and the SPF to ensure there will be a place for people to peacefully assembly and voice their opinions, should they wish to do so. Further security details, all designed for the protection of the people of Haven, will be announced in due course, but we are anticipating such things as streets being shut down to traffic, the potential of implementing a no-fly zone over the city during the day, and so on. There are a few agencies involved in this and for operational reasons we won't be going into too much detail this far in advance. You have a follow up?"
"Just to confirm, Sanctaria has no plans to arrest some of those who are accused of carrying out war crimes or acts of genocide?"
"Sanctaria has no plans to arrest individuals covered by diplomatic immunity, particularly when no arrest warrant, either domestic or by a recognised international tribunal, has been issued for them. That would be an abuse of power and would not only be insulting to the rule of law, but it would severely damage our reputation abroad, as well as domestically - we can not and will not undermine our own body of laws. Thanks everyone, Foreign Secretary Young will be taking care of further briefings over the next week from the Foreign Department."
As she turned to leave the clamour of "Prime Minister! Prime Minister!" rose again. It was going to be a long few weeks.
Hendry used to be nervous at press briefings, but that was over ten years ago when she first became leader of the Democratic Left Party and then-Leader of the Opposition. Now she was used to it. She knew all the reporters by name and was friendly with most of them.
"I'll take Joey Sessions from The Times", Hendry said quickly as soon as she reached the podium.
"Prime Minister, have all parties agreed to a ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations?"
"I have sought and received assurances from all factions that a ceasefire will be observed from 12 noon Buttercity time this Friday, August 24th."
"A quick follow up?", Sessions interjected.
"Sure."
"When do you anticipate negotiations to begin?"
"Negotiations are scheduled to begin 9am Haven time on Wednesday, August 29th. Patricia from the Sanctus Post next."
"Madam Prime Minister, have you determined who will be mediating the peace talks on behalf of Sanctaria? I'll have a follow up too."
"We've asked former Deputy Prime Minister Robert Smyth if he would mediate on the government's behalf. All of you know Robert, so I won't delve too much into his background, but for the foreign press here, Smyth is a former Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and was also twice Secretary General of the now defunct Council of IDU States. His ability is without question and he is respected not only here in Sanctaria, but across the IDU, so we felt it was an obvious choice. What's the follow up?"
"Do you know who will be representing the other factions?"
"I have been made aware of who they are sending for security purposes, but we have all agreed each faction may announce their own negotiation teams in their own fashion. I'll take Jim from S:TV next."
"Prime Minister, two questions. Firstly, what security is being planned and related to this, where in Haven are the peace talks being hosted?"
"Jim, I can't divulge the location of the peace talks just yet for security purposes, you'll be told around 8am on the 29th. As to what security will be there, I won't get into specifics, but we'll have Sanctarian Police, members of the Sanctarian Defence Forces, members of the Diplomatic Protection Bureau, and obviously some intelligence agents will be there too. Since your second was asked as part of your first, I'll let you go again", Hendry added with a smile.
"Thanks Charlene - is the Sanctarian government preparing for all eventualities here in terms of negotiations?"
"We have a pretty experienced negotiation team. Supporting Robert will be some of the team members we had during the Great Horn Conflict peace talks, which as you know ended very successfully, so we're hopeful we can come to a mutually agreeable situation for everyone. All outcomes will be considered, but we're confident in the peace talks. I'll take one last question ... Sandra, from the Haven Chronicle?"
"Thanks Prime Minister. You've mentioned the security of the attendees, but not much about the security of the people in Haven. Are you aware of planned protests and calls for the Divine Republic to immediately arrest the faction leaders as soon as they step on Sanctarian soil?"
"I'm not aware of those specific calls, no, but these are issues that arise every time we host peace talks. The Sanctarian government is working with Haven City Council and the SPF to ensure there will be a place for people to peacefully assembly and voice their opinions, should they wish to do so. Further security details, all designed for the protection of the people of Haven, will be announced in due course, but we are anticipating such things as streets being shut down to traffic, the potential of implementing a no-fly zone over the city during the day, and so on. There are a few agencies involved in this and for operational reasons we won't be going into too much detail this far in advance. You have a follow up?"
"Just to confirm, Sanctaria has no plans to arrest some of those who are accused of carrying out war crimes or acts of genocide?"
"Sanctaria has no plans to arrest individuals covered by diplomatic immunity, particularly when no arrest warrant, either domestic or by a recognised international tribunal, has been issued for them. That would be an abuse of power and would not only be insulting to the rule of law, but it would severely damage our reputation abroad, as well as domestically - we can not and will not undermine our own body of laws. Thanks everyone, Foreign Secretary Young will be taking care of further briefings over the next week from the Foreign Department."
As she turned to leave the clamour of "Prime Minister! Prime Minister!" rose again. It was going to be a long few weeks.