Lucid Accords

[Doc]

Mr Jeffrey Hewlett, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister

*taking a sip from his coffee*

Minister Merridan, it is a pleasure to make your Acquaintance. Your reputation for diligence and hard work precedes you, sir. To carry out the niceties, let me bring fraternal greetings to the Government of His Majesty, King George Alvaraz from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto.

I'll begin by saying that the proposed halt in deepening sanctions and such that were announced in the paper are going forth. We have had no incidents at the border, that that pleases Her Imperial Majesty very much. We thank your nation for their diligence in preventing transit overland into Kalistan.

We have long appreciated the cautious reform in Baltusia since the days of the Syndicate. Due to its location at the center of Northern Seleya, as well the historical significance that this land has for Kalistan and Her Imperial Majesty's family in particular, I can say we are very appreciative of the progress and development of Baltusia toward this region and Kalistan would like to resume a partnership in that effort.

The problem Her Imperial Majesty has, of course is that Kundrati represents an immense ideological and security threat for Her Imperial Majesty. She does not feel that troops along the border are appropriate to prevent that nation's entry into Kalistan, given their long and very public hostility toward Kalistan. The Empress is not entirely sure why they approached Baltusia or why Baltusia accepted, knowing Kalistan's history with that nation. Surely both they and Baltusia understood that Kundrati presence in Baltusia would not pass unnoticed, and when it was noticed, it would create an immense security dilemma for Kalistan.

Kalistan would like to step back from the precipice. We are doing damage to our economy with the Empress' response, and surely Baltusia also feels a pinch which undermines whatever trade benefit they could possibly be getting. But we also respect Baltusia's sovereignty, as well as their desire to expand trade to fuel their own economy. Stipulating that, we can take the matter of sovereignty off the table. Kalistan agrees that Baltusia is and should be a fully independent nation and controls its own trade.

What Kalistan would ask for is some consideration for our own sovereignty in this matter. A quid pro quo you may say. To wit, Her Imperial Majesty has proposed a three point plan for ending this spat between our nations, restoring normal relations and respecting Baltusian sovereignty in the process.

As The Empress is most concerned about Kundrati Nationals finding their way into Suldanor via the southern border, perhaps we propose that Baltusia take efforts to keep Kundrati nationals out of your state of Santiago, with whom we share a border. For a sovereign nation who is for some inexplicable reason importing Kundrati workers, this should be easy to do: Simply restrict their work activities to places that are well away from Kalistan. This does not put restrictions on Baltusian nationals in any way. But the Kundratis, they are, shall we say, fairly easy to distinguish from Baltusians, and preventing their entry into Santiago will make it far easier to identify the ones who slip through.

In addition: The Empress would request that all Kundrati goods and so forth come in or go out of the country via either Lodamun or Valruzia, which should be much easier and less expensive than attempting to sail Kundrati flagged vessels through the North Anantonese Ocean.

I believe Her Majesty believes that these two provisions should be fairly easy for Baltusia to accomplish, honors your commitments to your trading partners, only apply to Kundrati goods and people themselves, take into account Baltusia's sovereignty, and satisfy The Empress' concerns.

Thank you for allowing me to speak at some length. I will await a counter proposal, and would like to hear what His Majesty's government requests in concession from Kalistan. We are willing to consider anything up to, but not including, surrendering the title of the Duchy of Athosia or destroying it. That Her Imperial Majesty cannot or will not do. All else can be considered. I yield.