A New Era (Closed, IC)

[Smolenski]

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From: Minister of External Relations Dmitry Degtyarev

To: All Nations of Greater AltHistoria

[HARD COPY, FINAL DRAFT]

CLEARANCE: Non-classified, Sensitive

Signed for release by: Military Intelligence Officer Kondrat Rader

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Greetings.

We, the Soviet Socialist Republics of Smolenski would like to invite its neighbors and all nations from the region of AltHistoria to a summit regarding all matters, be they political, social, economical, or militarial in nature. The main points that will be reviewed are:

-Discussion of any and all existing or non-existing treatise between nations, and the negotiation, proposal, accepting, declining, renewing, or cancel thereof.

-Discussion of any other aspects of diplomatic relations between nations.

-Discussion of all major or minor current events affecting any or all nations of AltHistoria.

-Discussion of Smolenski's new economic situation, and how it will affect national, regional, and foreign markets.

-Discussion of the planned peaceful and orderly reduction of Weapons of Mass Destruction by Smolenski, Mesogiria, and others.

-Discussion of any other valid matters brought up by attending delegates

We would be honored to have you visit our country. We hope this summit of nations will usher in a new era of peace, prosperity, and understanding between the nations of AltHistoria.

We await your arrival.

- Dmitry Degtyarev
Minister of External Relations
Soviet Socialist Republics of Smolenski

[Ossory]

From the desk of Ian McNally, Marshal of Ossory, LoH, CoW, etc.

Reduction of WMD stockpiles? Hah! This sort of liberal nonsense is why our glorious Emperor, in his vast wisdom, refuses to let the corrupting influence of foreign culture taint the great nation of Ossory!

[Lorethia]

"We will attend this summit."
This sentence is the only thing Dygtarev could see,and it is marked by the seal of the Lorethian Confederation,signed by Lhorenz Phrinz,the Foreign Minister of Lorethia.

[Smolenski]

From the desk of Ian McNally, Marshal of Ossory, LoH, CoW, etc.

Reduction of WMD stockpiles? Hah! This sort of liberal nonsense is why our glorious Emperor, in his vast wisdom, refuses to let the corrupting influence of foreign culture taint the great nation of Ossory!

We believe that a stockpile that costs billions per year to maintain and that could kill the entire human race several times over is not necessary to maintain, in its entirety. It is a weight on the shoulders of our taxpayers that is now unneeded. Of course, we will still keep enough weapons to defend ourselves and to engage other nations if need be, but so many of our WMDs are just waste.

We hope you will still attend.

"We will attend this summit."
This sentence is the only thing Dygtarev could see,and it is marked by the seal of the Lorethian Confederation,signed by Lhorenz Phrinz,the Foreign Minister of Lorethia.

Thank you, we will see you soon.

[Ossory]

The Office of Ian MacNally, Marshal of Ossory, LoH, CoW, etc.

Fortunately for you, I have clearance from HIM's Bodyguard Police to travel abroad. As such, Ossory shall deign to grace you with its presence.

[Smolenski]

The Office of Ian MacNally, Marshal of Ossory, LoH, CoW, etc.

Fortunately for you, I have clearance from HIM's Bodyguard Police to travel abroad. As such, Ossory shall deign to grace you with its presence.

Thank you. We will see you there.

[Lorethia]

"However,we had question.Does your nation possessed a land where a lander could land? We will explain later,on what the Confederation of Lorethia actually-is."
-Lhorenz Phrinz,Foreign Affairs Minister of Lorethia

[Smolenski]

"However,we had question.Does your nation possessed a land where a lander could land? We will explain later,on what the Confederation of Lorethia actually-is."
-Lhorenz Phrinz,Foreign Affairs Minister of Lorethia

We have a vast amount of empty wilderness where a lander could touch down.

[Kmoe]

The Komissary Kaliphate was a nation known for its secreted isolation and the country's aristocratic, and indeed near-feudal, nature. With this in mind, there was little in the way of historical close relations (and at certain times a lack of normalized relations at all) between them and the 'old' Soviet Smolenski. Among the Kaliphate's leaders however, Smolenski's recent reforms and the proposed summit offered an opportunity for tourism and business in the formerly closed nation, garnering a reaction summed up roughly as: "Neat". As such members of the aristocracy were soon attempting to gain the favor of the Kaliph to head the diplomatic mission.

--------
To the External Relations ministry of the Smolenski Republics, it is my honor to inform you that a delegation representing the state of Kmoe will be attending the proposed summit for the greater development of regional ties.

However we would like to inquire as to the security of the summit, considering the history of hostility that has previously been shown to our nation by various socialist and communist movements.

-Alaric Steinson
From Provence of Kiristan
Foreign Relations Minister of Kmoe

[Ossory]

From the Office of [REDACTED], HIM's Bodyguard Police

An excellent point. We expect that HIM's BP will be allowed to augment the security already in place. Marshals of Ossory are valuable individuals, and we would be dreadfully upset if we lost one.

~Long Live the Emperor

[Smolenski]

OOC: Sorry for the lack of response, I've been busy. I will definitely post something tomorrow.

[Smolenski]

The Komissary Kaliphate was a nation known for its secreted isolation and the country's aristocratic, and indeed near-feudal, nature. With this in mind, there was little in the way of historical close relations (and at certain times a lack of normalized relations at all) between them and the 'old' Soviet Smolenski. Among the Kaliphate's leaders however, Smolenski's recent reforms and the proposed summit offered an opportunity for tourism and business in the formerly closed nation, garnering a reaction summed up roughly as: "Neat". As such members of the aristocracy were soon attempting to gain the favor of the Kaliph to head the diplomatic mission.

--------
To the External Relations ministry of the Smolenski Republics, it is my honor to inform you that a delegation representing the state of Kmoe will be attending the proposed summit for the greater development of regional ties.

However we would like to inquire as to the security of the summit, considering the history of hostility that has previously been shown to our nation by various socialist and communist movements.

-Alaric Steinson
From Provence of Kiristan
Foreign Relations Minister of Kmoe

Of course, you bring up a valid point. There are a minority of Communist hardliners who are defiantly opposed to our reforms. However their opposition seems to be limited to harsh words, protests, and aging rhetoric. They pose little to no threat to the summit, and with the security we have in place we are sure that any threats will be eliminated long before they are in any position to harm any of your delegates.

From the Office of [REDACTED], HIM's Bodyguard Police

An excellent point. We expect that HIM's BP will be allowed to augment the security already in place. Marshals of Ossory are valuable individuals, and we would be dreadfully upset if we lost one.

~Long Live the Emperor

When you arrive, your head of security will be able to converse to our head of security, Kondrat Rader. He will give you the details needed for your bodyguards, and answer any questions, concerns, or inquiries you may have about security.

[Ossory]

From the Office of [REDACTED], HIM's Bodyguard Police

Excellent. The BP will be glad to protect the Marshal alongside your security staff. How long until the meeting itself?

[Innucinsar]

OOC: Sorry for the late arrival - I keep forgetting about NationStates for weeks at a time. I've bookmarked this thread, so I'll hopefully remember it in future. Anyway, onto the RP! I apologise in advance for my wordiness and occasionally odd formatting.

---

"This just in from Smolenski."

A stiff, creamy white piece of paper, folded in thirds, exchanged hands - from the pale fingers of the Administrative Assistant to the bronze brown hand of Innucinsar's youngest Consul. There was a polite smiling and nodding of heads, and the Consulate of Innucinsar were left alone. The silence was broken by the young one - the lilt of his accent lending the text of the letter a melodic tone as he read it aloud.

"Sounds like a general international conference," he concluded.
"Hmm, sounds like an opportunity," mused the woman to his left around the curved, wooden desk. The man to his right smiled - in the past he'd tried countless times to get his deputies to think about diplomacy like he did; to absorb the knowledge and tricks that had taken him three decades to accumulate, now the moment he's out of the Directorate of Foreign Affairs he finds a woman who picks up more by accident than most had on purpose. He chuckled to himself and held out his hand, his colleague passing the letter across seconds later.
"Your kind of job, Morgan?" asked the young man. Morgan Lavoisier was certainly the most experienced diplomat of the three, but his oratory skills had been legendary for decades now, and the meme showed no sign of dying off.
"Perhaps. I'm just as silver-tongued as I used to be, though I think I'm going silver elsewhere now," he said running his hand over his thinning hair. His colleagues laughed - her with the schoolgirl titter contrasting with her advanced age and maturity, him with the clucking guffaws typical of his infectious jollity.
"You know some ladies prefer silver foxes!" said Dopkoyekikwak, turning his wide, smiling face to the left and making a playful look at his fellow Consul.
"Mmm, some men too," she replied, and they laughed all the more. Dopkoyekikwak's sexuality was no secret in this day and age - forty years ago it would've been subversive, thirty and it would've been decadence, but here? Now? He was simply another human being; somehow both beautifully unique and blandly normal.
"What can I say?" he said in between chuckles, "I am a man cursed with impeccable taste!"

Morgan smiled wide. That it could always be like this; that our greatest anxiety be over how hard to laugh, he thought. He'd seen harrowing and chaotic ages in his time, not even including the revolution that toppled that corrupt aristocracy so long ago. But things change - we must adapt, and what's more, we must prepare.
"No, no I don't think I'll be going, D," he handed the letter over to the woman opposite whose playful smile had shifted to a more thoughtful frown. I know it's always been this way, but this too shall pass; I won't always be here to make tough decisions, but let's start off with the easy ones.
"What're you talking about, M?" said the man in the middle, his smile shrunken yet still present.
"I've had a lot of experience in my time, and it's a good thing to use one's experience, but at some point you have to consider that old diplomats are rapidly becoming dead diplomats and new diplomats will need experience if they're to take their place. So, I think V should take it."

Eva Klinge looked over the letter, and tried not to look excited, failing as a wide smile spread across her face.
"You won't be alone, of course - one head of state and one foreign affairs minister; as are the rules," said Morgan, reclining with a happy smirk on his face as he watched Eva soak up the details of the letter.
"It'll be me and Parminder, then?" she said; a statement of fact more than a question.
"Indeed - you both need to stretch your diplomatic muscles. For a Director of Foreign Affairs I don't think Ms Kunhali has left the country all year!"
"It's peaceful," shrugged Dopkoyekikwak, "Diplomats aren't needed when there's no conflict."
"Diplomats aren't needed when there is conflict; they're just a preferable alternative to bombing everyone who disagrees," murmured Eva, "In any case, peace is a time to make plans for more peace; otherwise we're just waiting for war." The corners of Morgan's mouth twitched into an honest smile. I think we're onto a winner here.


From the Directorate of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Innucinsar:

Greetings!

It is our greatest pleasure to accept your invitation and join you in hopes of a new age of co-operation, peace, and happiness.

Due to constitutional requirements, our delegates will be a member of our ultimate executive committee - the Consulate for Innucinsar - and a member of our Foreign Affairs department. Consul Eva Klinge and Director Parminder Kunhali (myself) will therefore be attending the summit jointly. We hope this does not create too much in the way of extra expenses or security concerns, and we both look forward to your accommodation and hospitality.

-Parminder Kunhali
Director of Foreign Affairs

[Smolenski]

[quote="Innucinsar";p="22533236"

From the Directorate of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Innucinsar:

Greetings!

It is our greatest pleasure to accept your invitation and join you in hopes of a new age of co-operation, peace, and happiness.

Due to constitutional requirements, our delegates will be a member of our ultimate executive committee - the Consulate for Innucinsar - and a member of our Foreign Affairs department. Consul Eva Klinge and Director Parminder Kunhali (myself) will therefore be attending the summit jointly. We hope this does not create too much in the way of extra expenses or security concerns, and we both look forward to your accommodation and hospitality.

-Parminder Kunhali
Director of Foreign Affairs[/quote]

Great! We are glad two of your representatives will be able to attend, it will be no problem as far as money or security goes. We will see you soon.

[Kmoe]

Of course, you bring up a valid point. There are a minority of Communist hardliners who are defiantly opposed to our reforms. However their opposition seems to be limited to harsh words, protests, and aging rhetoric. They pose little to no threat to the summit, and with the security we have in place we are sure that any threats will be eliminated long before they are in any position to harm any of your delegates.

Our diplomats place our full faith in your security then. And it is also good to hear that Smolenski is transitioning well under it's new leadership. This summit as well is significantly different than Greater Althistoria's traditional period of self-contained and warring states.

Do we have an estimate on when all attending delegates will be able to begin the conference?

OOC: Also, good stuff there Innucinsar.

[Innucinsar]

OOC: Also, good stuff there Innucinsar.

OoC: Ah, thank you!

I think we're waiting for some indication that the summit has begun now, though it might be a good idea to work out a mutually agreed upon agenda/structure for the summit, so we know who wants to talk about which subjects in what order, at least roughly.

[Smolenski]

(OOC:

Im really sorry that I haven't posted anything. I had this huge, 10 paragraph write-up, descirbing the convetion center, some background of our representative, and a whole bunch of other stuff ready. However, it got deleted/lost I was so pissed that I just ignored posting anything for a few days. Anyways, if there is anyone still interested, you can post your diplomats arriving in Smolenski if you wish.)

[Innucinsar]

OoC: I'm still here and still interested, but I'll need some details about the location - I assume we'd be arriving in the Smolenski capital of Union City, but I've no idea what the place looks like I'm afraid.

[Smolenski]

Ever since the conference center had been built a half of a year earlier, Dmitry Degtyarev had come up on the roof to think. From time to time, infuriating foreign diplomats, annoying bureaucracy, and an overbearing workload was just too much. But instead of going back to his stateroom or a local bar, he settled on a drink or two with an overview of Union City at night. The view is fantastic. Dmitry could see almost all of the city laid out around and even above him. Skyscrapers, both brand new and under construction, spiked into the skyline. Newly paved highways and roads looked like rivers of yellow and white light, flowing in, out, and around the city. So different from the city of my youth. All I could see was concrete, smokestacks, and railyards for miles.

Dmitry was still worried about tomorrow. The conference would be one of the first official diplomatic meetings held in Smolenski since their reforms. This would be the first impression to Smolenski's neighbors. Sure, there would be minor delegates from a few countries, but one inparticular he was interested in. The Mesogirians usually gave Smolenski the cold shoulder, except when they could benefit economically. But "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" did bring the two countries together. For a while at least. They seemed to not be coming to this one. Oh well, they're probably neck deep in some third-world hell hole. Its that time of year again, isn't it?

No, Dmitry was most worried about the Innucinsarian (Was that it?) representatives. They did seem like wonderful people, at least by the message they'd sent. And the vacation destination of the region no less. I wonder what they'll make of us, we seem so different, even though we are both 'socialist'. Dmitry wondered what that word even meant anymore. You have countries like Innucinsar, where they have seemed to work out a controlled economy, yet on the outside they do not proclaim Socialism to the world. And then you have us, Smolenskians, the polar opposites. We plaster every blank wall with propaganda, and tell our workers to struggle for the common man! And yet we control and monitor our economy just as the "bourgeoisie" do! At this thought, he laughed. Like every other Smolenskian that had a brain, he stopped believing that shit years ago. Communism is a lie, Capitalism is untrustworthy, and Socialism is both. These were times that Dmitry was glad that he was not in charge. Most of us like, and even envy President Steele, but who would really want to be him?

He downed a stiff shot of vodka, and then turned back towards the stairwell. He still had to prepare for tomorrow. There were impossible-sounding names to say and read, strange customs to adhere to, and foreign foods that might not agree with his stomach.

[Smolenski]

Outside

Lobby

[Innucinsar]

The view from the airport was hardly panoramic, but through the glass walls of the second floor you could see far along the rooftops, until a line of rapidly growing office towers blocked the view of the city beyond. Consul Klinge watched the cars and pedestrians thronging the streets below as her aides and officials disembarked behind her.

"It's so different from Innucinsari cities," she mumbled, "Short buildings. Lots of cars."
"It's a lot different from how it used to look, too," said a soft voice behind her. She turned to see the foreign secretary, a nervous but honest smile on her face.
"You've been here before, Parminder?"
"No, Consul, but I checked the, uh, Union City's developmental history and other records. It used to be, well, a lot like Innucinsar, before the revolution. A grey, industrial landscape; looking more like a slave camp than someone's home." Eva smirked; she remembered what Innucinsar used to be like. 'Slave camp' was certainly the right term. She'd fought against it herself, but had been so happy when it was over. For her, building a new state was so much easier than tearing down the old one - if not in practical terms, then it was certainly easier on her conscious.
"I wonder if it'll start looking like Vandeknudt, in time?" the largest city in Innucinsar was a hard sight to forget. Once it had been a sprawling grey mass, but it had grown denser and taller as environmental protections had prevented its spread. Now half of it was a single building - a wide stump of glass and metal, colourful art painted all down the walls, and huge open-air parks covering the rooftops. Old skyscrapers, half a mile high, looked like sewing needles next to that manmade plateau.
"Doubtful, they have different building regulations here," said the Foreign Director, stepping closer to the glass, "But who knows? All things change, so it's hard to predict such things. Besides, all that matters is that they're happy, right?" she said nodding to the people in the streets, flooding in and out of buildings old and new; workplaces, shops, restaurants, homes. Eva smiled and hummed her agreement. It was hard to tell if they were happy as they rushed about on daily business, but from the sound of it many Smolenskians were suffering from road rage.
"Do you know I'd almost forgotten what a traffic jam looks like?"

-----

Parminder Kunhali smiled wide as they entered the conference centre. Eva didn't seem to understand - she'd seen numerous such buildings in her time, both Innucinsari and foreign, and they all tended to look the same to her. Simple, modern design. White walls and square windows. The trees in the street outside were a nice touch, but nothing she hadn't seen before. None of this interested Parminder either; she was looking at the little details. The almost invisible marks of personality and culture - the small things that came together to make this place unique. She looked at the trees and noted the delicate, white blossoms; she knew the species, and that the number of flowers showed they were well-kept. She looked at the walls and noted the marbled pattern; she knew the stone came from local mines and that they hid a much more utilitarian skeleton - a thin coat of architectural paint over stiff rebar and concrete made to last. When they got inside she looked at the chandeliers; she knew they were distinctly Smolenski in style, yet they were stripped of the details and excessive finery of the Holy Empire's old style. Everywhere she looked she saw evidence of a society trying to be modern, without forgetting its foundations - trying to progress, without losing their hard-won culture. Eva smirked in bemusement, and walked on.

"Come on, Parminder," the Foreign Director had slowed her walking, and seemed to be extremely interested in the ceiling, "We don't want to be late, even for a casual summit like this."
"Sorry, Consul Klinge! It's just all so... different..." the Consul looked about - they could still be in Innucinsar for all she could tell. She rolled her eyes as Parminder caught up, and followed her into the conference centre proper.


OoC: Sorry this took so long - I like to do a lot of scene-setting and bits about personality, it seems, and that takes a while to write.

I'm not sure what your plan for the summit itself it, like what kind of room it's going to take place in, whether it's going to start with a speech or just a casual greeting or what, but feel free to have your representative meet Consul Eva Klinge and Foreign Director Parminder Kunhali as they enter the conference centre/the conference room itself. In case you need any details about the two, Parminder is a South Asian woman with long black hair, wide eyes, and a nigh-permanent look of fascinated enthusiasm. Eva is more reserved, and looks a lot like Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, but without glasses and blonde hair that hasn't started turning white yet. Parminder is very observant and energetic, but tends to be overly formal (calling people by their titles rather than their names). Eva is quiet and relaxed, and is friendly and casual even in formal situations like this.

[Smolenski]

Yuri, one of the leaders of security at the center, ducked his head into Dmitry's office, where a dozen different people had crowded in to get their marching orders for the day.

"Sir? The Innucinsari have arrived at the airport."

"Thank you Yuri, please go and await their arrival. Show them to the main room. Bring them whatever they wish, unless it's anything illegal, and in that case you must also bring the same thing for me."

Yuri and the group of assorted aides, security guards, and diplomats moved off in various directions. Dmitry straightened his tie for what must've been the 100th time, and then made his way to a waiting car. His driver took him a short ways to the conference center. From there, Dmitry went inside, and stood infront of a small ocean of press and reporters, and spoke for less than a minute about how he was excited for the . He waved, greeted other diplomats, and shook hands with pretty much everyone. All the while he was thinking about the main event, and the major players involved. It was like a game of football, but less competitive: You searched the other team, their players, their formation, their strategy, their strengths and weaknesses. Wow, I'm starting to sound like a Cold Warrior, playing the long game. Settle down boy, this is just a little meeting. Nothing to fear, there are no enemies here. For now.

Somehow, he made his way to the center stage: the main room, informal as far as conference rooms went. It was not the room itself that would be important. It was the people in the chairs, and the words they spoke. Isn't that right- words can fight just as hard as armies can. Dammit, there I go again.

Infront of the room, someone had put up a podium. One of his colleagues in the Ministry of External Relations stepped up to the microphone and spoke in accented (English):

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention. This day, we, the United Republics of Smolenski, have the honor of hosting the first Regional Conference of AltHistoria. A conference dedicated towards peace, prosperity, and understanding between nations. To get things started, we would like to present the delegates from each nation, business, or organization that are attending today. First, our own delegate, Dmitry Degtyarev, our Minister of External Relations."

An abridged version of the Smolenskian national anthem started to play, and the Smolenskian flag was shown on a holographic screen behind the man at the podium. Dmitry strode forward amid loud but polite applause, shook the man's hand, and took a seat in the room. The man at the podium then went on the announce and present several minor government and business leaders from Smolenski and abroad that would hold meetings later in the week. He was tense, waiting for the Innucinsari. They would be a part of the first meeting, happening today. Dmitry took a breath, let it out, and waited calmly for the man to speak their names.

"Foreign Director Parminder Kunhali, and Consul Eva Klinge, of the Commonwealth of Innucinsar."

As the national anthem played, Dmitry rose to greet the two women. Kunhail, the younger one with black hair (wow, she looks happy), and the older blonde woman, Klinge.

"Hello, Director Kunhali, and Consul Klinge- how are you this evening?"

[Innucinsar]

Eva and Parminder were lead into the conference room, and shown to their seats. Rather small and casual as far as these types of events go - Eva glanced over at the young Director, knowing her preoccupation with formality she wondered if she might be disappointed, but her enigmatic smile didn't drop for a moment.

They were hardly the first ones there, yet the room continued to fill up with people and the low murmur of polite conversation as representatives of Smolenskian business and other foreign delegates arrived. After a few minutes, a man stepped up to the podium at one end of the room, welcomed them all, and began announcing the delegates starting with the home team - Smolenksi's own Dmitry Degtyarev. The Consul applauded quietly with a warm smile on her face as the nervous man approached the podium and shook the announcer's hand. The Director's applause was louder - Was she being polite, or is that her enthusiasm? wondered Eva as Dmitry returned to his seat.

The announcer went through a number of different delegates and business leaders before they got 'round to Innucinsar. Parminder noted each one, nodding as she remembered the details she'd compiled on a number of them before her departure. When she and Consul Klinge were announced they stood and made their way to the podium as "Hør oss, Kameradr (Hear us, Comrades)", Parminder making sure that the Consul went first - there was no protocol on whether the Consul or Foreign Minister took precedence in cases like this, but she felt it was more proper to take a secondary role. Eva gave the announcer the relaxed, warm handshake of one at ease in social events. Parminder patted her sweaty palms on her skirt before giving him a more awkward, yet practiced shake, and even giving the room a little nervous bow as they applauded.

As they returned to their seats the Smolenskian Foreign Minister rose to greet them.

"Hello, Director Kunhali, and Consul Klinge- how are you this evening?"

Eva gave him the same, warm handshake she'd given the announcer,
"We're well, though a little jetlagged I'm afraid," she said, stretching a little as she sat down, "Might just me me, though - I'm tired at the best of times, I'm afraid!"
Parminder giggled politely as she sat down beside her, and then turned to Dmitry.
"It's great to be here, and I must commend you on your initiative in calling this conference," she said in a well-practiced tone.

[Corrica]

OOC: hello, and I'm AnachronistRocketeer, local neighborhood unknown AH.commer and Nationstates Member. I disappear every so often, but I came back and found this due to the help of Krall/Innucinsar. I dont have much time tonight, so I'll make a larger post tomorrow.

IC:

From the Emmisary of the Great Tribunal of Corrica, Ministry of Affairs

It is our highest honor to inform you that, as part of the efforts of the Great Tribunal to develop greater regional ties, we will be attending this conference with the hopes of spreading peaceful ideals.