12-24-2020, 06:49 PM
(Joint post with [nation]Democratic Republic of Eiria[/nation])
As the preliminary discussions ended, Texōccoatl approached the Eirian delegation. “Good to see you all here. We’re going to be meeting with the ANAN group in one of the conference rooms in a bit to discuss how we’re going to rein in that witch on the other side.” It was clear Texōccoatl was referring to Calhualyana. “Would you like to join us?”
Alice nodded and smiled at the comment. "We'd be glad to. Just make sure we're out of her wicked hex range". She gestured for the rest of the Eirian Delegation to follow Texōccoatl to the meeting room. "Glad to see some welcoming faces, from both you and the Laeralites. I think Liu's relieved to have us here."
Yauhmi stood up to shake Alice’s hand as she walked in. “I think so as well. We’re glad to see you here also.” She nodded to President Matōchmizalo, who shook Alice’s hand as well. “I know I’m glad to see anyone who agrees with us that Calhualyana needs to be dealt with.”
"Agreed." Alice sat, with Lira Nērala taking the seat next to her. "Now, we all have given too much to not have this treaty mean anything. What it shall say, however, is a matter of personal opinion. We need to present a united front against Calhualyana, and it's probably wise to make any compromises in here, to save face. Would anyone want to go first, and state what they want?"
”Our goals are simple,” Matōchmizalo said. “We want to ensure that the independence of the Netlcoātl Islands and Manauia Island are guaranteed, that the Intra-Xiomera Canal becomes an international zone, and that Xiomera pays reparations in an acceptable amount for the harm that it has done to the people of the islands, as well as Milintica for historic damages.”
“We agree in broad principle, and there are some in Huenya who are seeking eventual reparations as well,” Yauhmi said carefully with a nod to Huacue, the Necatli leader. “But we believe the Canal should be given to Huenya, and also that demanding reparations from Xiomera is a bit premature in this opening stage.”
Ahuac, the leader from the Netlcoātl Islands, snorted. “600 years is hardly too soon for Xiomera to pay for its crimes. It is 599 years overdue, in my estimation. We believe they should pay now.” Tanqui, the leader of Manauia Island, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Alice made sure to keep her diplomatic façade stable, but her hope fell a little. Broad Principle. No kidding. All we have in common is broad ideas. This will be harder than I thought. "Well, for starters, Eiria has very similar views to you, President Matōchmizalo. The conditional guarantee of Netlcōatl Islands and Manauia Islands are a requirement for us, as well as the International DMZ around the Canal. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely we'll get Calhualyana to completely cede the Canal, probably impossible. However, an international DMZ with split profits is much more likely, given that you each hold half."
Lira Nērala spoke up when Alice finished. "I was personally hoping to put in a contingency plan of some sort as well, in case any side breaks the agreement. It's better to have a backup than to want one in hindsight."
Yauhmi sighed. “You’re probably right about the Canal, and if we let her keep some chunk of land in eastern Zapotlán that may allow Calhualyana to save enough face to make a peace deal possible. I do want to make clear, we are not ceding our claim that Calhualyana’s government is illegitimate and that we are the only legitimate sovereign government over all of Huenya. We are merely placing that claim in abeyance for now in the interest of peace.”
“A backup plan sounds promising,” Matōchmizalo said to Nērala. “What did you have in mind?”
"Well, I was hoping for mandatory sanctions and/or forfeit of Canal profits. Would anyone else have a backup plan idea?"
"That would be acceptable for us, provided that there is a clear list of actions that would trigger the sanctions,” Yauhmi replied. Matōchmizalo nodded. “A clear list of actions that signatories can’t take to continue receiving profits from the Canal, as well as an escalating list of responses to violations.”
"That sounds reasonable. However, there is another issue that Calhualyana will throw at us." Alice said, looking over at Ahuac. "The expulsion of Xiomerans living on the Netlcōatl Islands."
"Indeed. It is our position that Xiomerans living on Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands must be allowed to remain if they wish, free and unhindered,” Yauhmi said. Huacue grimaced and added, “But the feelings of the native inhabitants of the islands must be taken into account somehow. They suffered greatly at Xiomeran hands.”
“Thank you for raising that point, Huacue. It is frankly appalling to us that our feelings are dismissed out of concerns of protecting the people who stole our land and oppressed us,” Ahuac said grimly. Matōchmizalo grimaced as well at that point. “This is a point we can work on. But we can’t just kick people out or commit crimes against them just because Xiomerans acted that way. This is why we think the issue of reparations is so important. It provides a means of redress to the victims of Xiomera while still protecting Xiomerans who may be innocent.”
"Reparations are a much better idea than deporting all Xiomerans. And I must insist that the expulsions stop, and may request that it goes into the treaty as well. I know that others in the international community agree with me on this matter, including our gracious hosts." Alice took a firm, but still cordial, tone. "It's an important matter, one we cannot overlook. Plus it gives Calhualyana the opportunity to play the victim."
"We will agree to the inclusion of a ban on expulsions on two conditions,” Ahuac said. “One, that the international community agree in writing, in the treaty, to guarantee that our independence and that of Manauia Island be protected from either Xiomera or Huenya, with a military commitment if necessary. Also, that it also be documented in the treaty that Xiomera will be required to enter mediated talks with us at a later date on reparations.”
Lira nodded. "Those are more than reasonable terms. We would agree to them. It may be a bit more difficult to get Calhualyana to agree to the latter point, but that's something we can work on. Another matter we haven't quite discussed is who would guard the Canal. I'm not entirely sure who would be accepted by both sides."
"It would have to be an international force not composed of any party to the civil war, to be acceptable to the witch, I am guessing,” Yauhmi said. “So that definitely excludes Eiria and Legionas. We would have to see what other nations would be willing and able to contribute peacekeepers.”
"True, true. Was there anything else anyone wished to discuss in this meeting?"
"I believe that is everything, we seem to all be on the same page now as far as what we hope to achieve here.” Yauhmi sighed. “I will admit, I am a bit troubled that reunification of all of Huenya may not be possible to achieve now. But this is the best we can do for now.”
Alice nodded and stood. "Well, thank you for meeting with us. This was quite productive, and as long as we stick together, we can actually get something done with Calhualyana." The Eirians went around, shaking each representative's hand.
After the Eirians had left, Matōchmizalo simply smiled. “We’ll see the rest of you out there,” he said, leading the other ANAN delegates out. Yauhmi leaned back in her chair. “I’m glad that we are in agreement on the major points with the others, but something tells me Calhualyana will not be so cooperative.”
“She has something planned,” Texōccoatl replied. “I just wish I knew what it was.”
As the preliminary discussions ended, Texōccoatl approached the Eirian delegation. “Good to see you all here. We’re going to be meeting with the ANAN group in one of the conference rooms in a bit to discuss how we’re going to rein in that witch on the other side.” It was clear Texōccoatl was referring to Calhualyana. “Would you like to join us?”
Alice nodded and smiled at the comment. "We'd be glad to. Just make sure we're out of her wicked hex range". She gestured for the rest of the Eirian Delegation to follow Texōccoatl to the meeting room. "Glad to see some welcoming faces, from both you and the Laeralites. I think Liu's relieved to have us here."
Yauhmi stood up to shake Alice’s hand as she walked in. “I think so as well. We’re glad to see you here also.” She nodded to President Matōchmizalo, who shook Alice’s hand as well. “I know I’m glad to see anyone who agrees with us that Calhualyana needs to be dealt with.”
"Agreed." Alice sat, with Lira Nērala taking the seat next to her. "Now, we all have given too much to not have this treaty mean anything. What it shall say, however, is a matter of personal opinion. We need to present a united front against Calhualyana, and it's probably wise to make any compromises in here, to save face. Would anyone want to go first, and state what they want?"
”Our goals are simple,” Matōchmizalo said. “We want to ensure that the independence of the Netlcoātl Islands and Manauia Island are guaranteed, that the Intra-Xiomera Canal becomes an international zone, and that Xiomera pays reparations in an acceptable amount for the harm that it has done to the people of the islands, as well as Milintica for historic damages.”
“We agree in broad principle, and there are some in Huenya who are seeking eventual reparations as well,” Yauhmi said carefully with a nod to Huacue, the Necatli leader. “But we believe the Canal should be given to Huenya, and also that demanding reparations from Xiomera is a bit premature in this opening stage.”
Ahuac, the leader from the Netlcoātl Islands, snorted. “600 years is hardly too soon for Xiomera to pay for its crimes. It is 599 years overdue, in my estimation. We believe they should pay now.” Tanqui, the leader of Manauia Island, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Alice made sure to keep her diplomatic façade stable, but her hope fell a little. Broad Principle. No kidding. All we have in common is broad ideas. This will be harder than I thought. "Well, for starters, Eiria has very similar views to you, President Matōchmizalo. The conditional guarantee of Netlcōatl Islands and Manauia Islands are a requirement for us, as well as the International DMZ around the Canal. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely we'll get Calhualyana to completely cede the Canal, probably impossible. However, an international DMZ with split profits is much more likely, given that you each hold half."
Lira Nērala spoke up when Alice finished. "I was personally hoping to put in a contingency plan of some sort as well, in case any side breaks the agreement. It's better to have a backup than to want one in hindsight."
Yauhmi sighed. “You’re probably right about the Canal, and if we let her keep some chunk of land in eastern Zapotlán that may allow Calhualyana to save enough face to make a peace deal possible. I do want to make clear, we are not ceding our claim that Calhualyana’s government is illegitimate and that we are the only legitimate sovereign government over all of Huenya. We are merely placing that claim in abeyance for now in the interest of peace.”
“A backup plan sounds promising,” Matōchmizalo said to Nērala. “What did you have in mind?”
"Well, I was hoping for mandatory sanctions and/or forfeit of Canal profits. Would anyone else have a backup plan idea?"
"That would be acceptable for us, provided that there is a clear list of actions that would trigger the sanctions,” Yauhmi replied. Matōchmizalo nodded. “A clear list of actions that signatories can’t take to continue receiving profits from the Canal, as well as an escalating list of responses to violations.”
"That sounds reasonable. However, there is another issue that Calhualyana will throw at us." Alice said, looking over at Ahuac. "The expulsion of Xiomerans living on the Netlcōatl Islands."
"Indeed. It is our position that Xiomerans living on Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands must be allowed to remain if they wish, free and unhindered,” Yauhmi said. Huacue grimaced and added, “But the feelings of the native inhabitants of the islands must be taken into account somehow. They suffered greatly at Xiomeran hands.”
“Thank you for raising that point, Huacue. It is frankly appalling to us that our feelings are dismissed out of concerns of protecting the people who stole our land and oppressed us,” Ahuac said grimly. Matōchmizalo grimaced as well at that point. “This is a point we can work on. But we can’t just kick people out or commit crimes against them just because Xiomerans acted that way. This is why we think the issue of reparations is so important. It provides a means of redress to the victims of Xiomera while still protecting Xiomerans who may be innocent.”
"Reparations are a much better idea than deporting all Xiomerans. And I must insist that the expulsions stop, and may request that it goes into the treaty as well. I know that others in the international community agree with me on this matter, including our gracious hosts." Alice took a firm, but still cordial, tone. "It's an important matter, one we cannot overlook. Plus it gives Calhualyana the opportunity to play the victim."
"We will agree to the inclusion of a ban on expulsions on two conditions,” Ahuac said. “One, that the international community agree in writing, in the treaty, to guarantee that our independence and that of Manauia Island be protected from either Xiomera or Huenya, with a military commitment if necessary. Also, that it also be documented in the treaty that Xiomera will be required to enter mediated talks with us at a later date on reparations.”
Lira nodded. "Those are more than reasonable terms. We would agree to them. It may be a bit more difficult to get Calhualyana to agree to the latter point, but that's something we can work on. Another matter we haven't quite discussed is who would guard the Canal. I'm not entirely sure who would be accepted by both sides."
"It would have to be an international force not composed of any party to the civil war, to be acceptable to the witch, I am guessing,” Yauhmi said. “So that definitely excludes Eiria and Legionas. We would have to see what other nations would be willing and able to contribute peacekeepers.”
"True, true. Was there anything else anyone wished to discuss in this meeting?"
"I believe that is everything, we seem to all be on the same page now as far as what we hope to achieve here.” Yauhmi sighed. “I will admit, I am a bit troubled that reunification of all of Huenya may not be possible to achieve now. But this is the best we can do for now.”
Alice nodded and stood. "Well, thank you for meeting with us. This was quite productive, and as long as we stick together, we can actually get something done with Calhualyana." The Eirians went around, shaking each representative's hand.
After the Eirians had left, Matōchmizalo simply smiled. “We’ll see the rest of you out there,” he said, leading the other ANAN delegates out. Yauhmi leaned back in her chair. “I’m glad that we are in agreement on the major points with the others, but something tells me Calhualyana will not be so cooperative.”
“She has something planned,” Texōccoatl replied. “I just wish I knew what it was.”
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