Al-Mumtaz wrote:
The Caliphate of Al-Mumtaz is far and aback from holding nearly any similarity to the Merchant Republics, being a theocratic socialist state.
Right from the start, several of our board members were uneasy with the Caliphate, realizing that in many Islamic Theocracies iconoclasm has stifled art and culture to a near standstill, an in-depth examination revealed little saving graces for the Al-Mumtaz. We found almost no common-ground politically, where the Caliphate routinely answered opposite to what the Republic would, with particular dislike for the emphasis on a collectivist society as opposed to individualistic. The Republics further have traditionally been strongly against Theocratic governments, indeed even our principal church, the Venetian Orthodox, preaches secularism in government and tolerance of all faiths.
This negative trend found no end as we moved on to the Economic and Social principles, your socialist/centrally planned economy dismayed almost all of our members, and bodes very poorly for future relations as there can be little in the way of trade between our nations. Socially it only became worse, a complete lack of concern for political freedoms and the outright prohibition not just of drugs but of alcohol must surely be a feat and must occupy the Caliphates police forces greatly.
Culturally, we found literally nothing appealing. Where other nations have been beacons of civilized light, the Most Serene Confederation considers Al-Mumtaz to be the opposite, a black-hole of culture which not only does not produce light but seems to starve light from all around it. With few exceptions there is literally nothing that impressed us and even more dismayed us.
In conclusion, and with all due respect, the Most Serene Confederation considers Al-Mumtaz to be a backwards and terrible nation and doubts exist that any positive relations could exist between our nations. The only possible benefit for which we might derive is to be your nations chief supplier of black market goods, our smugglers are eager to start.
On the bright side however, it was mentioned that Al-Mumtaz has a black market for goods, an opportunity ripe for Mercantoran smugglers.
