Gereland | International Information and Diplomacy Thread

[Gereland]

Welkom!

Damen en Heren - ladies and gentlemen - welkom! This is the newly-opened application and information centre for the Ministry of Diplomacy and Trade, a department of Overheid de Geerland. The Government of Gereland has elected to move toward a more open stance outside our local neighbours, and thus this information centre has come into being. We look forward to welcoming your applications and enquiries.

The Ministerie exists to help protect and extend the influence of Gereland abroad, in nations of all types, and with all manner of relations to Gereland. As a nation, we seek to espouse peace, diplomacy, and the sharing of wealth and safety for all people, and through embassy missions we would seek to build better relations with nations across the world in order that these values may be shared.

The Minister with responsibility for the department is Madeleine Hoeven, and the Minister voor Buitenlandse Zaaken (Minister for Foreign Affairs) is Thomas Gelding. I, as the Senior Enquiries Clerk, will be chiefly answering enquiries and applications on behalf of the Ministers.

In short time we will be releasing appropriate procedures for enquiries regarding the establishing of ambassades in Gereland, as well as the rules and regulations this will entail for ambassadors and their staff and families. We trust that if you have any questions you will contact us at your earliest convenience.

Hr Jan-Bart van Schreeven, BvdB
Hoofdvragenklerk, MvDH
Senior Enquiries Clerk, MoDT

OOC: Standard Embassy thread go
Also, you can use this thread to ask any general questions about Gereland, which will be answered by Jan-Bart.

[Gereland]

Section II: Embassy Applications

Welkom! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Madeleine Hoeven, Minister for Diplomacy and Trade. As part of my role, I have responsibility, along with the International Affairs Committee, for approving all applications for embassies, trade agreements, or otherwise. Based at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, I work closely with colleagues and fellow ministers to ensure that agreements between Gereland and other nations are beneficial to both parties.

I have taken the liberty of writing this letter as an introduction to and guidance for potential applicants, to ensure the process is as smooth and efficient as possible.

Section I - Regulations

There are, naturally, many regulations regarding the establishment of diplomatic missions, both to ensure compliance with local law in Gereland, and to ensure the safety of the public, staff, and ambassadors to Gereland. We also wish to ensure that foreign staff and ambassadors are as comfortable in Gereland as possible, and so we encourage applicants to ensure that they meet all regulations before dispatching their application to the Ministry.

1. Diplomats and their staff and families are expected to be of good character. Consequently, we will require any ambassadors and staff to be free of any convictions for crimes which would carry a custodial sentence in Gereland, unless there is an extraordinary reason that the ambassador in question should be dispatched as part of a mission.
   Any minor criminal conviction will not cause an ambassador's application to be rejected; however we, along with the Ministerie voor Justitie en Publickorde (MvJP, Ministry for Justice and Public Order) reserve the right to enforce conditions as part of acceptance to begin a diplomatic mission in Gereland. This can include driving restrictions, or restrictions on items brought into the country. Gereland will, however, abide by universally-agreed standards for diplomatic protection and immunity.
2. Embassies and the land they are on remain the property of Overheid de Gereland; they are leased to the nation or nations holding an embassy on that land, free of charge, until such a time as the embassy is closed, whether by Gereland or by the nation maintaining the embassy. Barring extreme circumstances, national embassies will not generally be required to relocate; however, Overheid de Gereland reserves the right to make a reasonable request for an embassy to relocate, and will provide all required assistance at no cost to the administrator of the embassy.
   Any adaptations to embassies must be in accordance with Gereland and Pietrsdam planning law, and must be sensitive to either Pietrsdam's or the embassy holder's local architectural standards.
3. Gereland maintains strict weapon control laws; coincidentally only three members of embassy security staff may hold a weapon capable of lethal action. These must be small-calibre pistols, of the type normally used by law enforcement or as military sidearms. These must be declared as part of an application, and the names of the staff who are licensed to use these weapons. They must be of good character.
   Non-lethal weapons may be stored on premises, but must only be worn and used by dedicated security staff.
   Ceremonial weapons, such as swords, pikes, or similar, are permitted and do not need to be declared. Except in special circumstances - such as Royal Opening of Parliament on Overheiddag, where nations may be invited to be part of processions through Pietrsdam - these should not leave the embassy.
4. Embassies are permitted no more than 6 ground vehicles. These should be no larger than a 4x4 SUV or small bus for larger transport requirements, and should be listed as part of your application. They may be armoured; however weapons of any variety on vehicles are not permitted. They should be legally permitted on the Snelwegen Geerland; vehicles which have not been appraised by the Nationaalcentrum voor Voertuig Taxatie (NvVT, National Centre for Vehicle Appraisal) previously will need to be submitted whilst this takes place. The NvVT will undertake this as a matter of priority, which will lead to around a week's wait. Vehicles will be issued with diplomatic plates which need to be displayed at all times. Failure to display diplomatic plates can result in the vehicle being legally stopped by Gereland traffic police services.
   1 aircraft is allowed, however due to the proximity of embassies to the central capital we cannot allow these to be landed or stored on embassy property. There are a number of public and private airports who will be able to store any aircraft, and Overheid de Gereland will arrange this service at no cost to the embassy.
5. Overheid de Gereland, the MvJP, Pietrsdam Municipal Police, and the Koninklijke Marechaussee (KMar) are all permitted bodies for the serving of police warrants to an embassy. In the event of a minor breach of the law, for example speeding or breaching other traffic laws these will normally be served by post. In the event of a major breach of the law, these may be served in person by any member of the above agencies. Gereland requires that at least one member of embassy staff authorised to receive a warrant is available at an embassy at all times. Crimes of a serious enough nature will result in an ambassador, or potentially an entire embassy, being asked to vacate their premises and return immediately to their home nation.
6. Any recreational drugs brought into the country must be legal in Gereland. We allow any pharmaceutical drug that can be accessed in Gereland. Any other pharmaceutical drug must be declared as part of normal procedures.
7. Flora and fauna must be declared as part of your application. Further fauna and flora imported must be reported to customs on an ad hoc basis.
8. Embassies will be permitted up to:
   10 security staff
   25 service staff
   25 adminstration/embassy staff

Section II - Embassy Locations

Gereland is a small nation, of only some 32 million people. Consequently consulates are generally not required, as Gereland's extensive transport network allows easy access to the capital and to embassies in general. Consulates can be granted, but must specifically be asked for with an explanation of why it is required. Regulations for consulates will be dispatched if an application is accepted; they are generally the same as for embassies, but with no lethal weapons permitted, and a smaller number of vehicles.

Embassies will be located in Pietrsdam; aside from its central location, excellent transport links and access to central government, it is also a wonderfully picturesque city that you will no doubt admire and enjoy. Embassies will be granted depending on size and relations of nation to Gereland. Embassies can range from town houses to gated complexes. The KMar, our national police force and military police, will undertake all security regarding your embassy.

Section III - Application Form

Full Name of Nation:
Prevailing Political Ideology:
Current Ruling Party:
Current Head of State:

Name of Ambassador:
Details of any criminal convictions as per regulations:
Details of Family:
Military Attaché:
Cultural Attaché:
Security/Health Issues for any of the above:

Number of Embassy Staff:
Number of Service Staff
Number of Embassy Guards:

Embassy Guard Weaponry:
Weapons with lethal effect, and name of holders:
Number and Details of Vehicles:
Vehicles requiring appraisal:
Details of Flora/Fauna Imports:
Details of Recreational Drug Imports
Details of extraordinary pharmaceutical drug imports:

Diplomatic requests pertaining to:

Trade Agreement, notably
[ ] Reduction/Removal of Tarriffs on Specific Commodities (please detail):
[ ] Reduction/Removal of Tarriffs on All Goods
[ ] Other (please detail):

Defence Agreement, notably
[ ] Mutual Defence Pact
[ ] Non-Aggression Pact
[ ] Full Military Alliance
[ ] Other (please detail):

Proposal for International Event, notably
[ ] Diplomatic Meeting
[ ] Military Games

Further Information and Details (required):

With all this in mind, I trust that you will feel welcome in Gereland, and enjoy all our nation has to offer. I look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you.

[Gereland]

Section III: List of Embassies

Green - Defence Agreement Partner
Silver - Trade or Diplomatic Agreement Partner
Orange - Nation Considered Hostile/Strained Relations
Red - Relations Non-Existant/At War, Embassy Staff Numbers Limited


Symbolism
* - Embassy Vacant
^ - Ambassador and Staff to be Evicted for Breaching Regulations

Current Embassies

Current Defence and Trade Agreements

Defence Agreements

Trade Agreements