12-13-2006, 07:06 AM
We echo many of the previous comments to ours; we are delighted so much thought has obviously been put into this conference. That said, and mindful of the initial notes of caution we sounded, and further wary of appearing impatient, we must urge that discussion move to more specific proposals. General characterisations of how we should progress are fine, but at some point they must be acted on. We believe it is time to move towards that. I am personally unsure of what protocol will be observed from now on - whether we will fall to round table discussions, or whether we will remain in formal plenary, for example - but I shall, anyway, start the ball rolling with some suggestions my staff and I have devised. I must stress that at this point I am speaking generally and openly, and not necessarily conveying the wish of the government or people of Quintessence of Dust.
Firstly, we would oppose the creation of a superregional parliament. We do not believe such an assembly could accurately represent the views of the people. There appears to be a growing consensus that a two-tier system might emerge, of higher and lower level mandates, perhaps of differing strength, certainly of differing degrees of effect; we would tentatively not oppose this. If this is to be the model - the Friedman Model - then we would propose the following order of operations.
Should this summit prove useful, we would move to sign a general convention on regional cooperation, which would establish here, in Klouch, in the IDU capital, or elsewhere, a (small) permanent secretariat to administer the convention. This secretariat would prepare proposals on issues, and be able to take into account national interests: nations would be able to make representations to secretariat committees, which would anyway be staffed by IDU nationals. The 'higher' proposals would then be debated and voted at regional summits; 'lower' proposals would be forwarded to national governments, who would choose to sign them, to ratify them, or otherwise. The secretariat would also oversee the administration of such treaties, including their renewal and amendment.
As to specific proposals, we concur on the matters of human rights and environmental cooperation being of paramount concern. Other useful areas would perhaps be in security and energy policy. I am aware that my department has prepared a potential proposal for the United Nations on extraordinary rendition; we would certainly encourage a good faith internal IDU agreement on this practice, perhaps as part of a broader torture initiative. Also of interest to us would be an IDU Space Agency, or if not, then at least heightened regional cooperation regarding the use of space.
Dwight produces a piece of paper, frowning slightly that his notes are scribbled on a program, and squinting to read the hurried scrawl.
Additionally, we would like to propose as our contribution an 'IDU Value Initiative' - he turns to wince at his staff, who cringe in the background - perhaps to be retitled, which would stress the values 'justice, environment, industry, education' through a four-strand raft of measures: an agreement creating an international war crimes court; an agreement on carbon emission reduction; an agreement on the free movement of people; and a university exchange program.
I thank you for your time, and hope that we can move to discussing these, and other, measures, in the spirit of productivity and progress.
--Secretary of State James Dwight
Firstly, we would oppose the creation of a superregional parliament. We do not believe such an assembly could accurately represent the views of the people. There appears to be a growing consensus that a two-tier system might emerge, of higher and lower level mandates, perhaps of differing strength, certainly of differing degrees of effect; we would tentatively not oppose this. If this is to be the model - the Friedman Model - then we would propose the following order of operations.
Should this summit prove useful, we would move to sign a general convention on regional cooperation, which would establish here, in Klouch, in the IDU capital, or elsewhere, a (small) permanent secretariat to administer the convention. This secretariat would prepare proposals on issues, and be able to take into account national interests: nations would be able to make representations to secretariat committees, which would anyway be staffed by IDU nationals. The 'higher' proposals would then be debated and voted at regional summits; 'lower' proposals would be forwarded to national governments, who would choose to sign them, to ratify them, or otherwise. The secretariat would also oversee the administration of such treaties, including their renewal and amendment.
As to specific proposals, we concur on the matters of human rights and environmental cooperation being of paramount concern. Other useful areas would perhaps be in security and energy policy. I am aware that my department has prepared a potential proposal for the United Nations on extraordinary rendition; we would certainly encourage a good faith internal IDU agreement on this practice, perhaps as part of a broader torture initiative. Also of interest to us would be an IDU Space Agency, or if not, then at least heightened regional cooperation regarding the use of space.
Dwight produces a piece of paper, frowning slightly that his notes are scribbled on a program, and squinting to read the hurried scrawl.
Additionally, we would like to propose as our contribution an 'IDU Value Initiative' - he turns to wince at his staff, who cringe in the background - perhaps to be retitled, which would stress the values 'justice, environment, industry, education' through a four-strand raft of measures: an agreement creating an international war crimes court; an agreement on carbon emission reduction; an agreement on the free movement of people; and a university exchange program.
I thank you for your time, and hope that we can move to discussing these, and other, measures, in the spirit of productivity and progress.
--Secretary of State James Dwight