12-18-2020, 08:07 PM
13th December
The Kerlian delegation entered the conference centre close together with their security surrounding them. Ever-paranoid, especially given their last experience of peace negotiations, the Councillors feared some kind of attack. Councillor Pierre in particular was nervous; she didn’t know whether or not foreign intelligence agencies had managed to uncover who proposed the EUCDA amendment.
Councillor Georgiou, who was at the head of the group, spotted President Liu Mei-han and made a beeline for the Laeralian head of state, the rest of the delegation trailing her in their awkwardly tight formation. On the outside of the ring of security personnel, a couple of aides trailed awkwardly, looking around in the way Kerlians tend to do when abroad – a mixture of fear and awe.
“President Liu, thank you for hosting these,” Georgiou said, offering her hand for the president to shake. “We’ve been concerned about the conflict, peace is the best way forward and hopefully this will enable a solution to be found quickly.”
“A pleasure to meet you again, Councillor Georgiou. Welcome to Laeral. I assume you arrived without any trouble?”
“Our journey was pleasant, Madame President. May I introduce Councillors Greenwood and Pierre, alongside our Foreign Minister Katrine Porter, who I believe you’ve met before.”
“A pleasure,” President Liu said to the others. “So down to business. I am curious as to Kerlile’s position during these talks, so as to aid in deliberations going forward. What policy outcomes would be your goal in any peace accords?”
Pierre had not been paying attention, and instead was looking over warily at where Tanvi Misra stood. At the word “accords”, however, she jumped as if she’d been hit and spun back around, opening her mouth to speak then stopping herself, and taking a deep breath.
“I cannot pronounce her new title, and I fear any attempt would just end up being offensive, but we would like support for Yauhmi as she tries to reform her nation. We do, however, recognise that Xiomera and Huenya have very different priorities and are willing to accept a solution which leads to the creation of multiple states,” Pierre said, speaking quickly.
“As my colleague said,” Georgiou frowned at Pierre, confused as they’d planned to have her do most of the speaking. “Our main goal here is a lasting peace. And we would like to see an agreement that all sides in the conflict can abide by without it placing too much strain on their economies or systems of government. We in the Matriarchy have found that when agreements place great strain on nations, it can lead to tensions. Tensions can lead to further conflicts; if not the same conflicts then new ones.”
“We would also like to discuss the matter of Prisoners of War,” Letitia Greenwood piped up. “Xiomera has a number of Kerlians in custody, among citizens of other nations. There is also the matter of… of a war crime committed by a Kerlian citizen on Calhualyana’s side. The individual in question disobeyed orders from the Matriarchy and defected to Xiomera. She was responsible for various crimes. We would like to discuss, therefore, the matter of war crimes and their punishment.”
Georgiou and Pierre both turned to stare at Letitia. This had not been agreed by the Kerlian delegation as a whole. In fact, given Kerlile’s history with war crime prosecutions, they had agreed to refrain from bringing up this matter. The two Councillors eyed Letitia to make it clear they would need to have a discussion later in private. They would not, however, show disunity in front of the Laeralites.
“I see,” President Liu said, conscious of the fact that something unspoken was passing between the Kerlians. “I’m quite pleased to hear that we share the same philosophy as to the outcomes of these talks, and I’m very happy to have your support in brokering a lasting, not punitive, peace. The exchange of prisoners of war, as well as the repatriation of remains, are an obligation incumbent upon us to fulfill at this conference. What of the matters of the intra-Xiomeran canal, Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands?”
“International control over the canal would be preferable,” Georgiou said quickly before either of the others could interrupt with something unplanned. “However, if that is not possible, we would be willing to compromise on this issue. As for the two prospective island states, if their people wish for independence, that is their business. We are concerned about the Netlcoātl Islands leader, however. He seems to be calling for what we view as ethnic cleansing, which is completely unacceptable. Something will need to be done to prevent him from committing genocide.”
“Thank you, Councillor.,” said Liu with a smile. “That aligns closely with the consensus of the delegations I’ve spoken with so far, and it will be most helpful in sorting out the priorities for these talks. I’m confident we can work out an agreement that fulfills most, if not all, of your priorities,” nodded the president, then glanced over at the press area. “I believe the media are keen to speak with you Councillors in particular.”
“That’ll be fun,” Pierre said under her breath. “Thank you, Madame President.” The Councillors walked off towards the media area, trailed closely by their security and their aides. Behind them, and clearly part of their group, walked something that Liu had not expected to see as part of a Kerlian delegation. A man.
“Excuse me,” President Liu said to the man as he went to walk past. “Are you part of the Kerlian delegation?”
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” he said softly in an unmistakably Kerlian accent. “The others certainly didn’t want to, but they couldn’t stop my cousin. She was entitled to send a representative, and they had no right to question her choice, especially given she’s unable to leave the country herself.”
“Your cousin?”
“My name is Finlay Hale, Jennifer’s cousin and the Hale family representative in the Kerlian delegation.”
The Kerlian delegation entered the conference centre close together with their security surrounding them. Ever-paranoid, especially given their last experience of peace negotiations, the Councillors feared some kind of attack. Councillor Pierre in particular was nervous; she didn’t know whether or not foreign intelligence agencies had managed to uncover who proposed the EUCDA amendment.
Councillor Georgiou, who was at the head of the group, spotted President Liu Mei-han and made a beeline for the Laeralian head of state, the rest of the delegation trailing her in their awkwardly tight formation. On the outside of the ring of security personnel, a couple of aides trailed awkwardly, looking around in the way Kerlians tend to do when abroad – a mixture of fear and awe.
“President Liu, thank you for hosting these,” Georgiou said, offering her hand for the president to shake. “We’ve been concerned about the conflict, peace is the best way forward and hopefully this will enable a solution to be found quickly.”
“A pleasure to meet you again, Councillor Georgiou. Welcome to Laeral. I assume you arrived without any trouble?”
“Our journey was pleasant, Madame President. May I introduce Councillors Greenwood and Pierre, alongside our Foreign Minister Katrine Porter, who I believe you’ve met before.”
“A pleasure,” President Liu said to the others. “So down to business. I am curious as to Kerlile’s position during these talks, so as to aid in deliberations going forward. What policy outcomes would be your goal in any peace accords?”
Pierre had not been paying attention, and instead was looking over warily at where Tanvi Misra stood. At the word “accords”, however, she jumped as if she’d been hit and spun back around, opening her mouth to speak then stopping herself, and taking a deep breath.
“I cannot pronounce her new title, and I fear any attempt would just end up being offensive, but we would like support for Yauhmi as she tries to reform her nation. We do, however, recognise that Xiomera and Huenya have very different priorities and are willing to accept a solution which leads to the creation of multiple states,” Pierre said, speaking quickly.
“As my colleague said,” Georgiou frowned at Pierre, confused as they’d planned to have her do most of the speaking. “Our main goal here is a lasting peace. And we would like to see an agreement that all sides in the conflict can abide by without it placing too much strain on their economies or systems of government. We in the Matriarchy have found that when agreements place great strain on nations, it can lead to tensions. Tensions can lead to further conflicts; if not the same conflicts then new ones.”
“We would also like to discuss the matter of Prisoners of War,” Letitia Greenwood piped up. “Xiomera has a number of Kerlians in custody, among citizens of other nations. There is also the matter of… of a war crime committed by a Kerlian citizen on Calhualyana’s side. The individual in question disobeyed orders from the Matriarchy and defected to Xiomera. She was responsible for various crimes. We would like to discuss, therefore, the matter of war crimes and their punishment.”
Georgiou and Pierre both turned to stare at Letitia. This had not been agreed by the Kerlian delegation as a whole. In fact, given Kerlile’s history with war crime prosecutions, they had agreed to refrain from bringing up this matter. The two Councillors eyed Letitia to make it clear they would need to have a discussion later in private. They would not, however, show disunity in front of the Laeralites.
“I see,” President Liu said, conscious of the fact that something unspoken was passing between the Kerlians. “I’m quite pleased to hear that we share the same philosophy as to the outcomes of these talks, and I’m very happy to have your support in brokering a lasting, not punitive, peace. The exchange of prisoners of war, as well as the repatriation of remains, are an obligation incumbent upon us to fulfill at this conference. What of the matters of the intra-Xiomeran canal, Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands?”
“International control over the canal would be preferable,” Georgiou said quickly before either of the others could interrupt with something unplanned. “However, if that is not possible, we would be willing to compromise on this issue. As for the two prospective island states, if their people wish for independence, that is their business. We are concerned about the Netlcoātl Islands leader, however. He seems to be calling for what we view as ethnic cleansing, which is completely unacceptable. Something will need to be done to prevent him from committing genocide.”
“Thank you, Councillor.,” said Liu with a smile. “That aligns closely with the consensus of the delegations I’ve spoken with so far, and it will be most helpful in sorting out the priorities for these talks. I’m confident we can work out an agreement that fulfills most, if not all, of your priorities,” nodded the president, then glanced over at the press area. “I believe the media are keen to speak with you Councillors in particular.”
“That’ll be fun,” Pierre said under her breath. “Thank you, Madame President.” The Councillors walked off towards the media area, trailed closely by their security and their aides. Behind them, and clearly part of their group, walked something that Liu had not expected to see as part of a Kerlian delegation. A man.
“Excuse me,” President Liu said to the man as he went to walk past. “Are you part of the Kerlian delegation?”
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” he said softly in an unmistakably Kerlian accent. “The others certainly didn’t want to, but they couldn’t stop my cousin. She was entitled to send a representative, and they had no right to question her choice, especially given she’s unable to leave the country herself.”
“Your cousin?”
“My name is Finlay Hale, Jennifer’s cousin and the Hale family representative in the Kerlian delegation.”
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax