Council of Esquarium [IC, Closed]

[Qianrong]

"Thank you," the Aucurian delegate said, before turning to the remainder of the delegates present.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "the Esquarian Community plays an important role in the global fight for democracy and human rights. As Esquarium's largest coalition of democratic nations, the example we set is one that is followed by millions- if not billions- of Esquarians. And the moves we make internationally are watched and responded to by every other government in Esquarium- including governments that are hostile to the values of liberty, democracy, justice, and equality that we espouse."

"Unfortunately, in recent months, the action- or rather lack of action- from the Esquarian Community with regards to human rights has emboldened despots and tyrants who mistreat their people. In addition to the crimes against humanity they perpetrate within their borders, these regimes are also regimes which are hostile to their neighbors and to the values espoused by the Esquarian Community. They imperil peace in Esquarium with violent rhetoric and revanchist policy, they harass and target those who would support democracy within Esquarium, and they are open in their goal to destroy liberty and democracy wherever they exist."

"The proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Common Market Act that I have brought forward today on behalf of Aucuria targets three such regimes: the so-called 'Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics', the Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong, and the State of Razaria. These states are among Esquarium's most infamous dictatorships, and while one of them has been targeted by previous EC sanctions, we have nevertheless failed to adequately oppose the horrific- and I daresay criminal- actions of these states both within their borders and towards their neighbors."

"By levying steep tariffs on goods from these nations and limiting their access to Esquarium's largest common market, we will take a clear stand against the actions of these states," he concluded. " We will send a message to the despots of the world that we will not sit back and allow them to commit crimes as they please. We will make it clear that we will not tolerate these nations violating human rights within their borders, we will not tolerate them harassing and violating their neighbors, and we will not tolerate their attempts to assault our values and destroy our way of lives."

"Thank you."

[Montecara]

“Motion to extend debate for 48 hours to allow for additional comments to be prepared.”

[Ainin]

"Without objection, so ordered."

[Luziyca]

Pashkov had been quiet after having sponsored the Aucurian bill to denounce the agreement between the EC and Namor, as he felt that there was really no need for him to elaborate further on the matter. But after having listened to the statements made by the Aucurian delegation, and a request for extension for further comments, Pashkov felt that he had to provide further comments.

"Mr. President," he began, "in regards to the bill concerning the denunciation of the Namor-Esquarian Community Association Agreement, in light of the rising tensions between the Christian Republic and the People's Republic, combined with the decision by Shohai Antelope to sever the hotline between Namo and Bethlehem over our concerns that the bill presented in the Namorese Central Council would cause an unilateral alteration to the status quo in regards to Nantai, the Christian Republic reluctantly supports this measure presented by the Aucurian delegation."

"It pains me to say it, Mr. President, as for a long time, I have been a champion of advancing Namo-Luziycan detente, and the Christian Republic has, under the administrations of Pivec and Agapov, have ignored the growing revanchism of Shohai Antelope under the naive assumption that they will eventually compromise with us. But after having witnessed his recent bill that would enable him to engage in so-called 'defensive warfare,' we feel that this would be used as pretext to invade Nantai: maybe not by him, but by a future successor."

"There is only so much that we could do, Mr. President: we have offered invitations for a summit in a neutral country to resolve the issues regarding Nantai, with no response from Namo. We have offered multiple concessions to ensure a fair and equal relationship between the two powers. But if Namor is unwilling to co-operate with us on these matters of mutual concern, we cannot keep giving them concessions. At some point, we have to draw the line, and with the increasingly confrontational tone, we have drawn the line."

"As such, Mr. President, with a heavy heart, we express our support for the denunciation of the Namor-EC Association Agreement," Pashkov said.

Pashkov had a sip of coffee. He knew that the next part of his speech would be important, as while he had sponsored the first bill to denounce the agreement, he felt an obligation to explain why the Luziycan government has been hesitant to sponsor the second bill which would increase tariffs with members of the IFDS such as Xiaodong, Razaria, and Ankoren.

"As for why we are not sponsoring the second bill presented by the Aucurian delegation, Mr. President," Pashkov said, "the Christian Republic has expressed concern that in the event that the situation in the Gulf of Gelyevich worsens, it will become unsafe for Luziycan oil companies to extract the oil in the area, as they would likely be prime targets for Namorese attacks. While we sympathize with the intention presented in the bill, and support the provisions as applied to Xiaodong and Razaria, the Christian Republic simply cannot support the bill with the sanctions imposed on the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics."

"If the second bill concerning the Comprehensive Common Market Act passes," Pashkov warned, "I fear that in case that tensions between the Christian Republic and the People's Republic worsen, Mr. President, the IFDS would be able to cripple our ability to extract our own oil without fear of attack, and simultaneously cripple our ability to import our oil."

"In addition, considering the situation in Mazaristan, if this bill does pass, it may give pretext for the Ankorenis to launch an attack against Mazaristan, in violation of their agreement made with the Christian Republic last September to not launch an attack on Mazaristan," Pashkov stated. "While we have made substantial progress in defeating The Caliphate in Mazaristan and other terrorist organizations in northern Mazaristan, it is important that we combat The Caliphate and ensure that it is driven out of Mazaristan while respecting the sovereignty of the Mazaristani nation."

"Therefore, Mr. President, the Christian Republic will not support the second bill tabled by the Aucurian delegation so long as it includes the provisions concerning tariffs on the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics," Pashkov declared.

With his comments all said and done, it was now time to let someone else speak... and hopefully bring life into this lifeless Council.

[Ainin]

"Order, order! The denunciation of the Association Agreement is not currently on the floor of the house."

[Eibenland]

The Eibenlander delegate stood up and began to speak. "My fellow delegates, Eibenland is in favor of the amendment to the Comprehensive Common Market Act. Access to the Esquarian Community's common market is not unconditional. We must not let it look as if oppressive dictatorships have the same access to our markets as friendly democracies. The EC is more than a common market - it stands for certain values we have a responsibility to defend. The Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, the Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong, and the State of Razaria do not believe in the value of international cooperation. They are a hostile threat to their neighbors. Though Eibenland is not directly affected by their dangerous actions, as a new member of the EC, we would like to voice our support for all that the EC stands for."

[Luziyca]

After the call to order, Pashkov listened intently to the speech made by the Eibenlander delegation. Already, he was coming up with a retort, to counter the arguments made by the Eibenlander delegation. Once he was finally done speaking, Pashkov took the floor once again.

"Mr President," Taras Pashkov began, "the Christian Republic sympathizes with the concerns presented by the Eibenlander delegation. While we wholeheartedly agree that the Auspicious State of Xiaodong and the Most Faithful Eparchy of Razaria should not be allowed access to the market in response to their human rights violations, the fact of the matter is that if the honorable community were to tariff the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, we would risk harming relations with the UNIR and thus risk an oil crisis, especially if Namor launches a 'defensive' war to retake Nantai and unilaterally change the status quo, and attempts to destroy our oil production in the Gulf of Gelyevich."

"In addition, the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics is a valuable partner when it comes to combating terrorism and ensuring the protection of our interests in the eastern regions of Nautasia. To sanction the UNIR will jeopardize our ability to maintain Mazaristani sovereignty; it would jeopardize our ability to contain The Caliphate, and it would jeopardize the ability to prevent Irvadistan from sliding back into civil war if we were to restrict trade between the two states."

"While the UNIR does have a lot of problems with human rights, the UNIR is, for the Christian Republic, a critical asset that cannot fall into the hands of rogue states," Pashkov said. "If the EC were to sanction the UNIR, we may as well lose the ability to defeat the Caliphate while maintaining Mazari sovereignty. We may as well let Namo and Estanban strangle our oil operations in Nautasia and the Gulf of Gelyevich. And we may as well let them destroy the ability of the EC to improve ties with Nautasia and educate them to become proud Esquarians."

"Therefore, Mr. President," Pashkov concluded, "while we recognize the need to sanction Xiaodong and Razaria, the Christian Republic believes it would be detrimental to our interests as a community to sanction the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics."

[Aucuria]

"With all due respect to the Luziycan delegation, the Luziycan administration is deluding itself if it believes Ankoren is still 'an asset' to its cause," the Aucurian delegate said, somewhat exasperatedly.

"The Luziycan delegate calls the so-called 'Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics' a partner in defeating terrorism, and perhaps it was, when the Caliphate was still a credible threat to Nautasia, but this is no longer the case. The so-called 'Caliphate' is in ruins. Ankoren makes its desire to annex Mazaristan blatantly known. Irvadistan is not going to slide back into civil war, not while it's firmly under the heel of the Ankoreni regime. Ankoreni propaganda explicitly targets countries like Luziyca and Ainin, and organizations like the EC. Meanwhile, many in the Ankoreni military, clergy, and government- which are one and the same in that country- have clearly expressed their desire to annihilate Luziyca and Ainin as quote-unquote 'punishment' for their supposed crimes in Nautasia."

"Mr. Pashkov, you are concerned about the Ankorenis 'falling into the hands of rogue states', but Ankoren is a rogue state. It is inherently opposed to the international order and to international cooperation. It is openly committed to the destruction and annexation of every single one of its neighbors. It is by far the most powerful of the rogue states targeted by this bill, and it is the effective leader of the alliance of rogue states known as the IFDS. You cannot prevent Ankoren falling into the hands of rogue states because they are the effective leader of the rogue states, and perhaps the greatest threat to liberal democracy in Esquarium today."

"If there is a single state deserving of being targeted by these sanctions, it is the so-called 'Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics'. The Xiaodongese and Razarian regimes are despicable, undoubtedly, but neither of them have committed crimes against humanity on the scale that the Ankoreni regime has. We looked the other way when they used cluster bombs and white phosphorous on civilian neighborhoods during their campaign against the so-called 'Caliphate'. We ignored the mass-executions of political prisoners- men, women, and children- by Ankoreni troops. We said nothing when they began fencing off sections of the Irvadi desert to hide prison camps and mass graves. We looked the other way as they destroyed any hope of Irvadistan becoming a democracy. We ignored the effects of the Hurricane, which annihilated all hope that the Ankoreni regime would peacefully reform. We said nothing as they funded terrorist groups in Siphria and Mazaristan, terrorist groups that targeted civilians and our own peacekeeping forces. After each and every crime, we failed to act in response. And our failure to act emboldened the Ankoreni regime to continue its crimes, and to expand them across Nautasia."

"We cannot sit back and do nothing any longer. We cannot continue to leave the Nautasian people to their fate, leave them to suffer under the Ankoreni heel, leave them weak and vulnerable before an all-powerful regime seeking to control every facet of their lives, willing to murder them should they deviate even slightly from the state's command. We must act, in some fashion, to respond to the sins perpetrated by the Ankoreni regime."

"The fact that the Ankoreni regime was not included in the nations sanctioned by the Comprehensive Common Market Act is a disgrace upon us, one that emboldened the Ankoreni regime in its campaign of conquest, of despotism, and of persecution. And any nation which would vote to leave the Ankoreni regime unpunished for its litany of sins- for whatever reason- is abandoning the ideals of the Esquarian Community, abandoning the innocent victims of the Ankoreni regime, and prostrating itself before Esquarium's most horrific dictatorship."

"Thank you."

[Luziyca]

Pashkov was, in a way, satisfied with how the discussion on the amendments to the Common Market Act: sure, he is probably a minority in supporting an exemption for the UNIR, but he knew that the National Luziycan Party had inflicted a deep wound in relations with the UNIR. To allow this bill to pass with the clause sanctioning the UNIR would greatly harm the ability of Luziyca to obtain their oil if tensions with Namor reach a point where there is a new Namo-Luziycan War.

After pondering what the Aucurian delegate had said, it was time for Pashkov to return to the floor and suggest a compromise.

"Mr. President," Taras Pashkov began, "the Christian Republic acknowledges the concerns that have been posed by the Aucurian delegation concerning the violations of human rights in the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics."

"To address the first point raised by the Aucurian delegation," Pashkov said, "while The Caliphate may be in ruins now, if we are to allow this bill to pass, the Ankorenis, if they decide to not take an overt attack on our installations in Mazaristan, could fund The Caliphate to help it rebuild to get rid of our forces in Mazaristan and the Mazaristani government, thereby risking a stronger Caliphate and reversing all the gains that we have achieved over the past two years."

"In regards to the second point, regarding government officials in the UNIR expressing their desires to annihilate Luziyca and Ainin, do you really think that this bill will stop them?" he asked. "Of course not. All that these clauses would do would be to embolden Ankoreni aggression against the Esquarian Community, and thereby jeopardizing the good relationships that member states, such as Luziyca and Sjealand have, with the UNIR."

The third point though... that the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics is a bona-fide rogue state was difficult to get around. The evidence seemed indisputable that it is determined to engage in violations of basic human rights. Clearly, there must be some punishment for these actions. He decided to compromise on one area: let the military tariffs stand.

After having another sip of coffee, he continued his speech.

"Mr. President," Pashkov continued, "While the evidence concerning the atrocities that the Union has committed may be overwhelming, we must not deny that the fact that imposing harsh tariffs will not affect Volkan and his cronies at all. The harshest impacts of tariffs on all Ankoreni goods will be felt on the oppressed, the downtrodden, the small business owner, and the Sunni."

"That being said, Mr. President," Pashkov remarked, "the Christian Republic feels that we can reach a compromise in regards to the amendments. While we remain opposed to sanctioning all other items produced in the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, we will support the 300% tariff on all military equipment produced in the UNIR."

"By sanctioning military equipment, it will hurt the Ankoreni government as it reduces their potential market for military equipment in the EC, while enabling other goods to continue to be exported to the Esquarian Community," Pashkov stated. "Thus, it ensures that the effects of the sanctions will fall on the officials who commit such atrocities, while enabling the average ordinary Ankoreni, Pasdani, and Irvadi to not suffer as a result of the tariffs."

"Hopefully, such a compromise will punish the Union for engaging in incursions to undermine Siphrian and Mazaristani sovereignty, while ensuring that the ordinary citizen does not suffer as a result of these tariffs," Pashkov concluded. "If we can agree to lift the tariffs on all other goods, Luziyca will sponsor the Amendments to the Comprehensive Common Market Act."

"Thank you."

Now, it was time for him to once again sit down, and see if this compromise sits well with the Aucurian delegation. But considering the fact that they are perceived to value freedom over the lives of ordinary citizens... he had some doubts that it would work out.

[Aucuria]

Once again, the Aucurian delegate turned on his microphone and began to speak.

"Mr. President, with regards to the first point raised by the Luziycan delegation, the fact that we are even considering the notion of the Ankoreni regime providing arms and funding to a militant terrorist group is proof enough firstly that the Ankorenis are our enemy, and secondly that they are more than willing to resort to unethical or criminal means in order to destroy us. That we consider it feasible that the Ankorenis might undertake such an action is yet another sign that we must take a stand against their crimes against humanity now."

"With regards to the second point, the Luziycan delegate is right that this bill will not stop those whose endgoal is the total destruction of democracy and the Esquarian Community. The proposed amendment was never supposed to stop these people entirely. The point of the proposed amendment was always about making it clear to the Ankoreni regime- and to the Xiaodongese and Razarian regimes- that we are no longer going to sit back and do nothing as they torture their people and assault their neighbors," he continued, a tone of frustration entering his voice. "Our previous inaction on this issue has emboldened them, and made them brazen in their crimes. They take it as a sign of our weakness. It is this perceived weakness that emboldens them, and the point of this bill is to smash their belief that we are weak by showing them that we can and will take action to punish them for their crimes against humanity."

"The Luziycan delegate also talks about the impacts of these tariffs. He claims that those who will bear the brunt of the tariffs are the victims of Ankoreni crimes against humanity. This, too, is simply wrong. Who seriously thinks that the money that Luziyca gives to Ankoren in exchange for a barrel of refined petroleum actually trickles down to the political prisoners in Ankoreni death camps, to the people who have been left out of a system of patronage, to the non-existent 'Ankoreni small-business owner', to the people regarded as second-class citizens because of their religion or ethnicity? The money will never reach them. The profit will be skimmed by corrupt party politicians, given out as bribes by bureaucrats, used to reward the cronies of ruling clerics, or to purchase promotion for ambitious military officers. Even without these tariffs, the profit Ankoren makes off of us will never reach the people the Luziycan delegate expresses concern for. For that reason, I have to reject the proposed 'compromise' offered by the Luziycan delegation."

"I would also like to respond, however, to the Luziycan delegate's claim that his nation has a good relationship with Ankoren. This is wrong, and anyone who thinks that Luziyca has a good relationship with Ankoren is, frankly, deluded. Luziyca does not have a good relationship with Ankoren. At most, Ankoren is keeping up just enough of a facade to exploit the naivety of those in the Luziycan government who believe the two countries have a good relationship. Ankoren is a leader of the alliance of rogue states committed to the destruction of the Esquarian Community and all its members, including Luziyca. It takes advantage of our inaction and the delusions of certain nations to conduct trade with the same nations that it indoctrinates its citizens to hate and despise. An exploitative relationship is not a good one, and it is most certainly a relationship that needs to be terminated for the sake of the victimized party," he said, glaring at Pashkov.

"And this is a convenient segue into my next point. Talk of compromise is well and good in normal situations. It forms the basis of liberal democracy. But this is not a normal situation, and we are not interacting with a liberal democracy when we interact with Xiaodong, or Razaria, or Ankoren."

"Allow me to speak bluntly. Every single attempt by Luziyca, or Ainin, or the EC, or the international community to compromise with the Ankoreni regime has been an utter, unmitigated failure, because the Ankorenis are fundamentally not interested in compromise. Whenever we give an inch, they take a mile. Our attempt to compromise with them over Irvadistan resulted in Irvadistan's wholesale annexation into Ankoren. The attempts of the Siphrian regime to reach a compromise with Ankoren and peacefully end the Heskif hostage crisis were answered by Ankoren sending troops into Siphria. The attempts by the Mazari regime to compromise with Ankoren to defeat the Caliphate have resulted in Ankoren establishing military bases on Mazari soil, while aiding militant separatist groups committed to deposing the- admittedly unsavory- Mazari government."

"There is an even better example, however. Twice now, at two separate Esquarian Summits- one hosted in Kalnaspilis, in Aucuria- Ankoren has vowed to respect the territorial integrity of its neighbors and to condemn state-sponsored terrorism. They lied. At the same time that they swore to respect the territorial integrity of their neighbors, they were actively violating territorial integrity in multiple nations across Nautasia. At the same time they swore to condemn state-sponsored terrorism, they were funding groups such as the Black Hand that were and are actively conducting massive terrorism campaigns in which hundreds of innocents have perished. What does that say about our ability to trust the compromises and promises made by the Ankoreni regime? What does the fact that the Luziycan delegate began his most recent speech by speculating that the Ankorenis might violate Mazari territorial sovereignty and provide funds and weapons to a terrorist group say about our ability to trust what the Ankorenis say at the negotiating table?"

"Every single attempt to compromise with the Ankorenis has failed, because they have no interest in compromise. They may feign a willingness to make concessions at the negotiating table, but those concessions will never materialize in reality, even if ours do- especially if ours do. Every single attempt to appease them has failed, because they cannot be appeased by anything less than our total destruction, and until they have accomplished that, they will continue to demand more, and more, and more from us, until we have nothing left. Every single attempt to negotiate with them has ended- and will continue to end- with them having taken advantage of our trust, our doubt, and our willingness to compromise. They do not act in good faith towards us. They will never act in good faith towards us. All of our attempts to compromise with the Ankoreni regime will fail for that reason."

"To put it more briefly, you cannot compromise with someone who has no interest in making a mutual concession. You cannot appease someone who will not be appeased by anything less than your annihilation," he declared. "And Mr. Pashkov, you cannot negotiate with a fanatic!"

"Mr. President, we cannot attempt to compromise with the Ankorenis any longer, lest we compromise the values we believe in. It is time to put an end to our attempts to negotiate with regimes that fundamentally cannot be negotiated with. It is time for us to stop conceding ground to them, and to finally tell them that we will no longer tolerate their crimes against the people of Esquarium. And it is time for us to stand up to them and those who would enable them, while we still have something to stand up for."

"Thank you."

[Luziyca]

Taras Pashkov once again listened intently to the Aucurian delegate. As he took in every word of what the Aucurian was saying, he was not surprised by their reticence to accept any sort of compromise on the grounds that the Ankorenis were liars. After having finished his coffee, and getting a refill, the floor was open again.

Sensing an opportunity to speak, he turned on the microphone once again.

"Mr. President," Pashkov said once again, "with regards of the first counter-argument presented by the Aucurian delegation, while it may be crucial to take immediate action against the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics for their so-called 'crimes against humanity,' we believe that tariffs and sanctions against the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics will only increase the likelihood that they will conduct such actions, as they would no longer be constrained by the pretense of co-operation with the international community outside of the International Forum for Developing States."

"In regards to the second point raised by the Aucurian delegation, while our inaction may have emboldened the Union in engaging their crimes against humanity and not fearing any repercussions, we believe that these measures go too far," Pashkov explained. "While it is important that we take action against radical officials within the government structure to reduce their influence, the Christian Republic believes that wide-ranging tariffs against imports from Ankoren is the wrong thing to do."

"The reason why, Mr. President, leads to the third point raised by the Aucurian delegation," Pashkov said, with a hint of annoyance present. "While the Ankorenis do have an appalling human rights record, the claim that there is no such thing as a small-business owner in the Union of Nautasian Republic seems suspicious. I am almost certain that there are many, many many many small businesses in Ankoren. Maybe not as many as in Luziyca or Ainin, but I am almost certain that they do, in fact, exist."

"As for the bribes and corruption that the Aucurian delegation has mentioned, Mr. President," Pashkov added, "if we are to apply sanctions and tariffs on nations just because the profits will get skimmed by government officials and used for corrupt purposes, then clearly, we need to expand the list quite a lot, since I am sure that this is an issue in Mazaristan; in Nautarya and Alouatan, even in Tuthina. Does that mean that we should sanction them just because the money doesn't reach the oppressed, even though they may have terrible human rights records?"

While he allowed the question to sink in, Pashkov had yet another sip of coffee. He was on a roll with this, and he felt pretty confident that even if this bill does pass the Council, he would at least have managed to put up one hell of a fight.

"Of course we shouldn't, Mr. President," Taras Pashkov continued. "And with regards to the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, while the Esquarian Community should tariff all military equipment produced in the UNIR, the Christian Republic stands firm by not imposing tariffs on other goods produced in the UNIR for the reasons that we have outlined earlier."

"And this leads us to the next point that the Aucurians have presented here, Mr. President," Pashkov added. "While relations between Luziyca and the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics have been sabotaged by the National Luziycan Party attempting to impose the Katsarou-Vasiliev Act in Luziyca, and by ultra-nationalists in the UNIR, the fact of the matter is that if we are to impose these sanctions on the UNIR, we will suffer because the UNIR and Namor could jointly team up to prevent us from safely exploiting our oil in the Gulf of Gelyevich, while simultaneously prohibiting imports of oil from the UNIR."

"Should such a scenario happen, Mr. President, while it is clear that there are multiple other sources of petroleum in the Esquarian Community, namely in Katranjiev's shoreline of the Gulf of Gelyevich, we sincerely believe that such an outcome would prove to be catastrophic for not only the Luziycan economy, but the economy of the Esquarian Community as a whole," Pashkov warned. "Some may call it naive for us to continue to co-operate with the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics in light of its aggressive nature in Nautasia, but for the Christian Republic, co-operation with the UNIR is more important than ever, especially when it comes to destroying The Caliphate and ensuring that the International Forum for Developing States does not make it impossible for the Christian Republic of Luziyca to safely produce or import petroleum."

"This segues into the next point presented by the Aucurians: namely that we cannot compromise with the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, Mr. President," said Pashkov, attempting to maintain his composure and hide his annoyance with the Aucurian delegate. "While we wholeheartedly agree that it is futile to compromise with the Most Faithful Eparchy and the Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong, and while there are some elements in the Luziycan leadership who sympathize with the Aucurian position, the fact of the matter is that it is important for the Christian Republic to try and keep the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, if not friendly with us, at least docile enough to keep it from committing economic suicide by launching an overt offensive on the State of Mazaristan."

"Some of us may claim that the Union of Natuasian Islamic Republics is the same as Xiaodong and Razaria," Pashkov said. "But the main difference between Xiaodong, Razaria, and the UNIR is that Xiaodong and Razaria are insignificant enough that any sanctions that the Esquarian Community throws at them will not cause a huge impact on the global economy. In contrast, the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republic is the tenth largest economy via purchasing power parity, and the 14th largest via nominal gross domestic product. Any tariffs on civilian goods will likely harm the Nautasian economy, and hinder international trade between the Esquarian Community and the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, thereby harming both economies."

Pashkov took yet another sip of coffee. While he had that sip of coffee, he contemplated how to make the last part of his speech "pop out" so to speak.

While he knew that nobody outside the Council of Esquarium will ever really hear about the process, let alone his propensity for long speeches, he knew that he had to convince the other delegates to pressure the Aucurians to drop the clause regarding the 45% tariff on civilian goods.

"As for the claims that the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics has lied at the negotiating table during the past few Esquarian summits," Pashkov continued, "while it is certain that they may have been somewhat economical with the truth in regards to their true aims in Nautasia, the fact of the matter remains that if we impose tariffs on their civilian exports and impose hefty sanctions on the Union, we will, not could, but will end up causing the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics to end any pretense of co-operating with the rest of the international community."

"While this chamber can discuss the values that the Esquarian Community stands for all day, Mr. President," Pashkov continued, "while we can say that the EC is based off the values of 'democracy, liberty, equality, justice, human rights, and the rule of law,' and should operate under these principles internally, the truth is that there are times when the Esquarian Community needs to engage in realpolitik. And in regards to the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics, this is one of those times."

"The reality is that if we restrict the ability of the tenth largest economy by purchasing power parity to trade civilian exports with the Esquarian Community solely based on ideological and moral concerns," Pashkov added, "we may as well cut off our noses to spite the face. Such an action is pointless, counterproductive, and will only do more harm than good to the economy of the Esquarian Community, and will only embolden the Union of Nautasian Islamic Republics to launch a catastrophic campaign against us."

"And that simply will not do," Pashkov concluded. "Thank you."

He turned his microphone off, and now awaited for a response by someone in the Council of Esquarium... whether it be from the Aucurian delegation, or by a different delegation.

[Aucuria]

The Aucurian delegate turned on his microphone one more time.

"Mr. President, I will ignore the Luziycan delegate's whataboutism on Tuthina and their semantic nonsense about 'small-business owners in Ankoren', both of which are cheap distractions from the central points I have made: the hostile nature of the Ankoreni regime, the Ankoreni regime's refusal to compromise with us in any way, the way in which our fecklessness emboldens them to commit crimes against humanity, and the necessity of immediate concrete action.

He sighed before beginning the main content of his speech. "All I can say is this: the Luziycan delegate continues to talk about Ankoreni cooperation with the EC, about Ankoreni negotiation with the EC, about Ankoreni compromise with the EC. I have gone over the crimes of the Ankoreni regime, both domestic and foreign, many times. I have gone over the ways in which it has repeatedly and systematically betrayed our trust many times. I have already talked about the fact that the Ankoreni regime is committed to nothing short of our destruction and will not satisfied until it has obtained that. I will not bore you by repeating the long list of Ankoreni transgressions again."

"The point is this: it has been made abundantly clear, through the actions of the Ankoreni regime, that compromise with Ankoren is impossible. They do not negotiate with us in good faith, they refuse to make the mutual concessions necessary for compromise, and they have no interest to act in good faith towards us. And any chance of this changing ended as soon as Evren Volkan began his Hurricane. Continuing to believe that we can negotiate or compromise with these tyrants, for whatever reason, is naive and it is foolish and it leaves us vulnerable."

"The Luziycan delegate says we should be worried about Ankoren ending any pretense of cooperation with the rest of the world. But why? The Ankoreni regime makes barely any pretense of cooperating with the rest of the world anyways. What functional difference is there between a world in which Ankoren invades Mazaristan, and a world in which Ankoren invades Mazaristan after promising the Luziycans that they wouldn't? What functional difference is there between a world in which Ankoren pays the Black Hand to murder Siphrian civilians, and a world in which Ankoren pays the Black Hand to murder Siphrian civilians while also signing a treaty condemning state-sponsored terrorism? Innocent people will die at Ankoren's hands regardless of whether not this pretense of cooperation is kept alive."

"The Ankoren described by the Luziycan delegate is the Ankoren we are dealing with, except slightly more honest about its actions. Ankoren's supposed cooperation with the global community is a lie. It is already hostile towards us. It already labels Luziycan and Aininian presence in Mazaristan an 'occupation'. Its leading generals have repeatedly threatened to attack Luziycan and Aininian soldiers. Its militant rhetoric has incited Ankoreni citizens to attack Aininian and Luziycan diplomatic facilities within its borders. Ankoren is already hostile towards us. Any attempt to keep Ankoreni cooperation with the EC alive is effort spent on a lost cause built on a lie. Nobody benefits from keeping this illusion alive- other than the Ankoreni regime, which continues to benefit from our refusal to take concrete action."

"Anyone in this room who is actually concerned about the Ankoreni regime being emboldened should be far more worried about the damage that our apathy and so-called 'pragmatism' have done. Under the pretense of 'compromise' and 'realpolitik' we have consistently, repeatedly failed to defend the values we believe in, to defend to people of Nautasia, and to hold the Ankoreni regime accountable for its actions. What emboldens the Ankorenis to commit crimes against humanity is that we fail to take action against them. It is this- this spinelessness, what the Luziycan delegate terms 'realpolitik', that has emboldened the Ankoreni regime, because it has convinced them that we will do nothing to stop them. Every time that we have sat back and done nothing has convinced them that they can do whatever they want and get away with it, because they certainly don't have to worry about anyone actually responding."

"Continuing to ignore the crimes of the Ankoreni regime, as the Luziycan delegate proposes, will reassure the Ankorenis that they can continue to slaughter and torture thousands without the slightest fear of any reprisal whatsoever. It doesn't matter what we use to justify our inaction- whether we claim that it's out of 'pragmatism', or it's to secure access to petroleum, or it's to fight against the Caliphate- that inaction will enable the Ankoreni regime to continue abusing and torturing and killing thousands of people across Nautasia. So long as we do not act, we are telling Ankoren that it is okay to wage war on its neighbors and enslave its own people."

"The 'pragmatism' that the Luziycan delegate speaks of is not pragmatism; it is cowardice. It is fecklessness. It is moral bankruptcy. It is weakness. And the Ankoreni regime will continue to exploit that weakness so long as we allow it to continue existing."

"And what alternatives have the Luziycans offered? Nothing aside from backing away and giving up. Perhaps they would be okay with the EC sending Evren Volkan a letter telling him we're not mad, just disappointed? But it should be clear at this point that a stern letter or a declaration of a 'line in the sand' is meaningless. We have written many stern letters and drawn many lines in the sand, and not one of them has stopped or even slowed the Ankoreni regime, because words are meaningless without action. We have to do something concrete, something tangible. A 45% tariff on all Ankoreni goods is concrete, it is tangible, and it will force the Ankorenis to listen in a way that no disappointed letter in the world ever will."

The Aucurian delegate sighed again, then inhaled deeply.

"We face a choice today, ladies and gentlemen. The choice offered by the Luziycan delegation is to live in a lie; to continue believing that a regime dead-set on our destruction can be negotiated with and appeased; to look the other way while the Ankoreni regime kills innocents by the thousands; to shrug and sigh and nothing more when the Ankoreni regime funds yet another terror attack, or invades yet another neighbor, or opens a new set of labor camps; to give money and trust to the same people who tell their citizens to despise us, to hate us, to want us dead; to tell ourselves, when we can't fall asleep at night, that we shook the bloody hands of tyrants out of some callous 'pragmatism' for which we abandoned our moral scrupules."

"Or, we can say no more. We can abandon the false notion that Ankoren is a friend or a partner or a nation that can be reasoned with; we can make it clear that we back our words with actions; we can take a tangible, concrete stand against the most despicable, militaristic, chauvinistic, extremist, totalitarian regimes in Esquarium; we can stop enabling a regime that wants us dead at any cost; we can make it clear to this regime and to its closest allies that we are not cowards, that we are not feckless, that we are not weak; we can make it clear to these regimes and to all the people of Esquarium that we are going to defend democracy, liberty, and justice, and that we will not tolerate regimes whose stated goal is to plunge millions into suffering."

"I hope you will stand with me when you have to make that choice."

"Thank you."

[Luziyca]

"Mr. President," Taras Pashkov said, "considering the forty-eight hour extension requested by the Montecaran delegation has long since elapsed, the Christian Republic believes it is high time for a vote on the presently-tabled bill to commence."

[Qianrong]

"Mr. President," Taras Pashkov said, "considering the forty-eight hour extension requested by the Montecaran delegation has long since elapsed, the Christian Republic believes it is high time for a vote on the presently-tabled bill to commence."

"The Aucurian delegation would like to second the statement made by the Luziycan delegate, and strongly suggests that we move to a vote on the bill in question."

[Eibenland]

"Mr. President," Taras Pashkov said, "considering the forty-eight hour extension requested by the Montecaran delegation has long since elapsed, the Christian Republic believes it is high time for a vote on the presently-tabled bill to commence."

"The Aucurian delegation would like to second the statement made by the Luziycan delegate, and strongly suggests that we move to a vote on the bill in question."

"The Eibenlander delegation would like to second this. We have no other business before us."

[Ainin]

"Order, the time for debate has elapsed. The question is to pass the Comprehensive Common Market Act Amendment Act as enumerated on the order paper. During the next 48 hours, no debate on any topic shall be entertained. Delegations are reminded that they may vote yea or nay, or register an abstention."

[Ainin]

Yea

[Aucuria]

"Yea."

[Sjealand]

Nay

[Ceresnia]

Yea

[Eibenland]

Yea

[Luziyca]

Nay.

[Karazawa]

Yea.

[Montecara]

Yea.

[Luziyca]

"Mr. President," Taras Pashkov said in a slightly annoyed voice, "considering the time period for the vote has long since expired, the Christian Republic would like to motion an end to the vote on the matter, and to allow discussion on the second bill tabled by the Aucurian delegation."