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A note arrives from the Tilapian embassy.
[OoC just start the ceremony in the ENDTech thread or Presidential Briefing Room (depending on privacy preference) and I'll follow your lead.]
[OoC just start the ceremony in the ENDTech thread or Presidential Briefing Room (depending on privacy preference) and I'll follow your lead.]
A fax arrives from the Coast Guard Station at Landfall.
- Voshkod as demi-mod
- Voshkod as demi-mod
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unclebryan said:
A secure call from Joover comes back with alacrity:
"This is an odd one, sir. My boy at Landfall took a look at the documents, and we had a guy check out Neuwestbaden. The ship's manifest contains what appears to be an original end user certificate permitting the export of the research items from Germany to Eutopia, signed by Truman. Since this stuff is proliferation technology, MDIS would have to sign for it.
"Here's where it get weird. No one at Neuwestbaden says they ordered anything like this. They have smaller versions of that equipment for their physics labs, and say they wouldn't need or want anything like the stuff that went down on the Boldwater. You want me to interview Truman?"
- Voshkod as demi-mod
"That is indeed a weird twist on the matter. Well it is safely at the bottom of the ocean for now, so hopefully our Coast Guard will keep an eye out for any unauthorized salvage operations, but the equipment would not seem to represent an immediate threat to anyone, unless the merfolk want to develop nukes."
Loic chuckles at his own joke.
"As to Per Truman, I think I may be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together more easily than you. Since it isn't an immediate concern, why don't you let me speak to him, and I will get back to you in a week. If we don't have a complete picture then, then it would be your turn.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly."
Loic chuckles at his own joke.
"As to Per Truman, I think I may be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together more easily than you. Since it isn't an immediate concern, why don't you let me speak to him, and I will get back to you in a week. If we don't have a complete picture then, then it would be your turn.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly."
Former President Al'Aeshir sends another letter to current MTIA and President Fourgeres.
"Loic,
Glad that the information from Japan was of some use to you. I believe the Russians will be the most likely to use their veto power, what with the negotiations you have been doing with them. I am not fully aware of the details, but I am sure you have more up your sleeve. I am happy to have been of service to Eutopia.
Sincerely,
Amric Al'Aeshir"
"PS: Just so you don't forget, here is the gist of the conversation I had with the Japanese Ambassador...
"The Chinese do not have a legal, diplomatic, or military leg to stand on. Their proposal to the Security Council will not pass...as it is. However, I do not feel anyone will use their veto power to come to Eutopia's aid, Mr. President. You see, even if the Chinese are in the wrong, whoever exercised their veto power on the Council would suffer a very real cost indeed. Unless someone in Eutopia can offer one or more of the permanent Council members something worth more than the political fallout that follows a veto, I think it more likely that the Council will simply pass a watered down version of China's bill of demands...it would placate the Chinese, without compromising other countries' interest in Eutopia. But that is just my opinion...expressed to you, it is but idle chit-chat."
Hopefully you can use this to impress upon the GA and the rest of the cabinet the seriousness of this and that getting someone to veto Chinese demands ought to put paid to their ambitions to bully us."
"Loic,
Glad that the information from Japan was of some use to you. I believe the Russians will be the most likely to use their veto power, what with the negotiations you have been doing with them. I am not fully aware of the details, but I am sure you have more up your sleeve. I am happy to have been of service to Eutopia.
Sincerely,
Amric Al'Aeshir"
"PS: Just so you don't forget, here is the gist of the conversation I had with the Japanese Ambassador...
"The Chinese do not have a legal, diplomatic, or military leg to stand on. Their proposal to the Security Council will not pass...as it is. However, I do not feel anyone will use their veto power to come to Eutopia's aid, Mr. President. You see, even if the Chinese are in the wrong, whoever exercised their veto power on the Council would suffer a very real cost indeed. Unless someone in Eutopia can offer one or more of the permanent Council members something worth more than the political fallout that follows a veto, I think it more likely that the Council will simply pass a watered down version of China's bill of demands...it would placate the Chinese, without compromising other countries' interest in Eutopia. But that is just my opinion...expressed to you, it is but idle chit-chat."
Hopefully you can use this to impress upon the GA and the rest of the cabinet the seriousness of this and that getting someone to veto Chinese demands ought to put paid to their ambitions to bully us."
After getting some helpful advice passed along by a former President, Loic drafts individualized messages to the foreign ministers all countries currently sitting on the UN Security Council, excluding China. The ones for the Permanent members were more detailed.
(OOC: See general outline in Embassy Row.)
(OOC: See general outline in Embassy Row.)
An aide knocks on the door to Loic's office, then pokes his head in.
"Sir, got a copy of the British amendment. They just held a vote to replace the Chinese resolution with the British amended version, and it passed! Voting margin was 12 for, 2 against, and 1 abstaining. The 2 against were China and France, and the Phillippines abstained. Here's the text of what we're facing now."
"It's the staff's opinion that, judging by the vote, this resolution would pass unanimously even if we did nothing. The only wild card is the Chinese, who are furious. They might veto the resolution if they think they can get more from us dealing one on one, or if they think they would lose face by accepting this outcome."
"Sir, got a copy of the British amendment. They just held a vote to replace the Chinese resolution with the British amended version, and it passed! Voting margin was 12 for, 2 against, and 1 abstaining. The 2 against were China and France, and the Phillippines abstained. Here's the text of what we're facing now."
"It's the staff's opinion that, judging by the vote, this resolution would pass unanimously even if we did nothing. The only wild card is the Chinese, who are furious. They might veto the resolution if they think they can get more from us dealing one on one, or if they think they would lose face by accepting this outcome."
Loic thanks the aide and asks him to stay while he reads the amended resolution.
"Well the only thing it gives the Chinese that I didn't offer was the return of the Hainan Star itself, which would have been ours by international law, as it was seized in the commission of an illegal act, but it is really a rust bucket anyway, so they are welcome to it. I was prepared to pay them two million ducats more, so I guess they bought the ship back for that price. Fair enough!
Let those who voted for know of our appreciation. There is no reason for any last minute lobbying or frantic deals.
France voted against us, well that just goes to show, like it says in the Gospels, when Jesus went back to preach in and around Nazareth, "...No prophet is accepted in his own country." I am not putting myself in that league, but you would think the French would appreciate me more. I appreciate them, I guess the feeling is not mutual. No, they probably just have some deal cooking with the Chinese, that they needed to beat out the English or Americans on. I bet it is the same when you go back home. Here you have a responsible job and work with the President daily. Back home, how much does that count for?"
Loic hands the aide one of the pens with which the treaty banning landmines was signed.
"Maybe this will help?"
"Well the only thing it gives the Chinese that I didn't offer was the return of the Hainan Star itself, which would have been ours by international law, as it was seized in the commission of an illegal act, but it is really a rust bucket anyway, so they are welcome to it. I was prepared to pay them two million ducats more, so I guess they bought the ship back for that price. Fair enough!
Let those who voted for know of our appreciation. There is no reason for any last minute lobbying or frantic deals.
France voted against us, well that just goes to show, like it says in the Gospels, when Jesus went back to preach in and around Nazareth, "...No prophet is accepted in his own country." I am not putting myself in that league, but you would think the French would appreciate me more. I appreciate them, I guess the feeling is not mutual. No, they probably just have some deal cooking with the Chinese, that they needed to beat out the English or Americans on. I bet it is the same when you go back home. Here you have a responsible job and work with the President daily. Back home, how much does that count for?"
Loic hands the aide one of the pens with which the treaty banning landmines was signed.
"Maybe this will help?"
After he learns that the amended resolution passed, President and MTIA Loic de Fourgéres signs the order transferring Ð31,000,088.88 to the People's Republic of China, to the account in Beijing already provided by Deputy Foreign Minister Yick Wo. He instructs that the thirty-one million be billed to MDIS, specifically to the Navy. He then reviews the files on the Hainan Star officers being held a material witnesses, and selects the youngest one with the appropriate license to command the ship and two even more junior ones to act as mates, and orders that the be offered the chance to provide depositions instead of waiting around for the trial, and having a chance to sail home in a couple of days. He orders the Hainan Star be refueled and a small cargo consisting of a sample of Eutopian products including tobacco and St. Brendans whisky in sealed containers be loaded. The sample had a total value of about one million ducats. As the crew had already left on other vessels, in coordination with the owners of the Hainan Star, the usual notices were put up on the appropriate bulletin boards (electronic and otherwise) and shipping exchanges looking for crew and cargo, respectively, heading towards China, or intermediate stops along the way. Speaking to an aide, Loic asks,
"Please make sure a copy of these instructions and the shipping manifest of the sample cargo are transmitted to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, to the attention of Deputy Minister Yick Wo. Please also send a copy to the French delegation at the UN, as I believe they just took over presiding at the Security Council at the beginning of this month."
"Please make sure a copy of these instructions and the shipping manifest of the sample cargo are transmitted to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, to the attention of Deputy Minister Yick Wo. Please also send a copy to the French delegation at the UN, as I believe they just took over presiding at the Security Council at the beginning of this month."
Having received the go ahead from the MDIS, Loic drafts a set of regulations for military immigrant visas.
Loic sets up a regular mechanism to transfer half of the Ð600,000 difference between what Tilapia is paying for each the Gorgon II tank (Ð3.4 million each) and what ENDTech is being paid (Ð2,8 million) to be transfered to the Cayman Islands account mentioned in the cryptic letter from Haiti, out of the MTIA account processing the payments. He marks the expenditure as 'embassy renovation expenses'. Loic muses to himself,
"Over the next 20 months that will will provide ninety million ducats, let's see how he does with that. Rio knows there is more available is needed. We just need to make sure he provides the evidence to give us the causus belli to support his coup."
Loic adds a message to appear in the reference field of the payment orders.
(OOC: With vS on sabatical, we will find out later whether the payments stopped or not after three months.)
"Over the next 20 months that will will provide ninety million ducats, let's see how he does with that. Rio knows there is more available is needed. We just need to make sure he provides the evidence to give us the causus belli to support his coup."
Loic adds a message to appear in the reference field of the payment orders.
He then puts a hold on any transfers after after the first the months.
(OOC: With vS on sabatical, we will find out later whether the payments stopped or not after three months.)
Hello sir as you know I have recently aquired a shipping coampany and I am thinking of setting up a ferry between the three nations and I am wondering wether I need any special permits to dock and sail in Tiplian and Espirtan waters and seeing as you are the MITA I was wobder if their are any special permits to get and if their are any permits how can I get them.
Bring in all the freight or passengers you want in from St. Esprit or Tilapia. CAFTA permits the first and and the recognition act the second. I don't imagine you would have any trouble in the neighoring countries, but by all means let me know if you do. The ferries would have be licensed by MIDA, which is in charge of navigation. Business-wise, most of the traffic is road or air, so it could be difficult to make money, except where there is a big time savings, like across a bay with St. Esprit, or where there is no land connection, like to New Bengal Island.
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