09-15-2018, 05:01 PM
Upon reading the copy of the Haven Accords placed on the table in front of her, Marie-Claire Beringer was unable to suppress a look of surprise from flitting across her face when she came upon the name "Keitha Noguera" as the next Prime Minister of Lauchenoiria. This changed things. For one, it put the considerable work Laeral had put into building ties with Prime Minister Moore at least partially to waste. She glanced across the table at Keitha Noguera, who seemed to be sitting up straighter with a politician's half-smile upon her face.
"Policy Planning will throw a fit," Alyssia Simonine whispered in her ear, and Marie-Claire gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. The Policy Planning Office was a group of high-level senior civil servants within the Foreign Affairs ministry, responsible for building institutional continuity within Foreign Affairs and ensuring that Laeralian foreign policy worked in the long-term, thinking past the political agenda any new Foreign Minister might bring to the table. They would also probably be very angry about their Central Hespian policy being upended as it was. But again, it wasn't as if Marie-Claire had much of a choice besides signing it. Marie-Claire, and the rest of the Laeralian delegation, just sat in their chairs and observed the discussion. As soon as they could, they excused themselves to find a quiet room to discuss.
The part on Aelurian independence wasn't a major issue. Once Aarón, the expert in the room, looked it over and proclaimed his approval, the three diplomats quickly turned to the part on the war itself.
"Are we okay with having to pull out our spies in Lauchenoria?" Alyssia asked.
"We have ways of getting around that," Marie-Claire said. "I don't like how the Sanctarians get to keep soldiers in place and administer the Accords."
"I think that their domestic politics will stop them from pulling Lauchenoirian too far into their sphere of influence," Alyssia replied. "I assume that we can just keep engaging with the country otherwise."
"Take a look at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," Marie-Claire said. "I think we can work with that. We weren't the side committing war crimes."
"Also, new elections are part of the Accords," Aarón said. "That condition's at least met, although Sanctaria's in charge of choosing when they are."
"I think we can trust Noguera to nominate a decent unity government?" Marie-Claire asked. "She's smart enough not to nominate a government made up of solely Aelurian separatists. Also, we'll need to make sure that 6.1 and 6.2 are carried out thoroughly."
Alyssia nodded in agreement. "Kerlile and Lauchenoiria have too many of our people in captivity. Odds are, they'll try to hang on to a few of our soldiers, maybe pass them off as dead."
"We won't let them get away with that," Marie-Claire said.
They let Josephine Alvarez's fate pass with little comment, having little idea of the hidden struggles that had gone into that clause of the Accords.
"We get repatriation of our dead," Alyssia said. "Overall, I think we can work with these Accords."
"The big winner here is Sanctaria, I think," Aarón said. "They get to play a major role in Lauchenoria's future. Are we comfortable with that?"
"We can work with that," Marie-Claire said. "And it's not as if anyone else could credibly do so. We can keep them honest." She picked up her cell phone to place a call.
"So you're going to sign?" Alyssia asked.
"It's not as if we have a great deal of choice in the matter," Aarón said with a glum expression.
"Yes, I'll sign," Marie-Claire said. "I discussed the matter with the President, and he granted me authority to sign provided that a few conditions are met. I'll be signing the Accords shortly."
"So the war's over," Aarón said.
"Not yet," Alyssia replied. "But I don't think it'll be long."
"Policy Planning will throw a fit," Alyssia Simonine whispered in her ear, and Marie-Claire gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. The Policy Planning Office was a group of high-level senior civil servants within the Foreign Affairs ministry, responsible for building institutional continuity within Foreign Affairs and ensuring that Laeralian foreign policy worked in the long-term, thinking past the political agenda any new Foreign Minister might bring to the table. They would also probably be very angry about their Central Hespian policy being upended as it was. But again, it wasn't as if Marie-Claire had much of a choice besides signing it. Marie-Claire, and the rest of the Laeralian delegation, just sat in their chairs and observed the discussion. As soon as they could, they excused themselves to find a quiet room to discuss.
The part on Aelurian independence wasn't a major issue. Once Aarón, the expert in the room, looked it over and proclaimed his approval, the three diplomats quickly turned to the part on the war itself.
"Are we okay with having to pull out our spies in Lauchenoria?" Alyssia asked.
"We have ways of getting around that," Marie-Claire said. "I don't like how the Sanctarians get to keep soldiers in place and administer the Accords."
"I think that their domestic politics will stop them from pulling Lauchenoirian too far into their sphere of influence," Alyssia replied. "I assume that we can just keep engaging with the country otherwise."
"Take a look at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," Marie-Claire said. "I think we can work with that. We weren't the side committing war crimes."
"Also, new elections are part of the Accords," Aarón said. "That condition's at least met, although Sanctaria's in charge of choosing when they are."
"I think we can trust Noguera to nominate a decent unity government?" Marie-Claire asked. "She's smart enough not to nominate a government made up of solely Aelurian separatists. Also, we'll need to make sure that 6.1 and 6.2 are carried out thoroughly."
Alyssia nodded in agreement. "Kerlile and Lauchenoiria have too many of our people in captivity. Odds are, they'll try to hang on to a few of our soldiers, maybe pass them off as dead."
"We won't let them get away with that," Marie-Claire said.
They let Josephine Alvarez's fate pass with little comment, having little idea of the hidden struggles that had gone into that clause of the Accords.
"We get repatriation of our dead," Alyssia said. "Overall, I think we can work with these Accords."
"The big winner here is Sanctaria, I think," Aarón said. "They get to play a major role in Lauchenoria's future. Are we comfortable with that?"
"We can work with that," Marie-Claire said. "And it's not as if anyone else could credibly do so. We can keep them honest." She picked up her cell phone to place a call.
"So you're going to sign?" Alyssia asked.
"It's not as if we have a great deal of choice in the matter," Aarón said with a glum expression.
"Yes, I'll sign," Marie-Claire said. "I discussed the matter with the President, and he granted me authority to sign provided that a few conditions are met. I'll be signing the Accords shortly."
"So the war's over," Aarón said.
"Not yet," Alyssia replied. "But I don't think it'll be long."