[TWI-Only] [IC] Gael Four Commission

[Ainslie]

Gael Four

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Established on the 19th of July 2017 in Arnton, the Gael Four commission is the sub-region's peak diplomatic body. With powers to deploy emergency response teams, improve trade liberalisation and usher in a new period of prosperity for the people of Gael, the Commission eagerly meets to discuss matters of admissions, local politics as well as collaboration on matters of intelligence and international security. The existence of the Commission and of the organisation itself is the Mandara Accords, signed on the 22nd of June 2017 and the Highland Documents one month later.

Mandara Accord

Part I: Economic and Trade Considerations

• The establishment of a preferred source trade agreement among all signatory nations wherein each nation will abide by appropriately and reciprocally lowered tariffs and taxes on trade goods originating from other signatory nations.
• Signatory nations are to provide a mechanism to advantage and prioritize international G4 workers over non-G4 workers through a method of VISA prioritisation and favoritism.

Part II: Immigration and Travel Considerations

• The relaxation of barriers to movement for all law abiding citizens amongst signatory nations:
• This relaxation shall be to the point in which nations can still monitor foreigners within their borders using a passport ID system, but cannot obstruct movement (for example, the usage of VISAs) unless the said foreigner is a threat to security, whether that be on a local, national or global level.
• This relaxation also addresses criminals under custody, with a mutual extradition policy to be implemented.
• G4 stages can refuse entry to G4 citizens if they have been convicted and sentenced to an imprisonment equating to 40 months or more, have been convicted within the past five months to a 10 month sentence or more, have been denied entry into the nation on previous occasions, a current or former member of a terrorist organization, or an individual deemed by the ministry as a likely threat to public safety if they were allowed to enter.
• The acceptance of G4 residents to have the same rights and freedoms to establishment as citizens of that nation do
• The acceptance of G4 residents to have the same rights and responsibilities as residents once they are established in that nation.
• There is to be a shared database of all criminal and security threats amongst the area to ensure the expansion of knowledge coincides with the relaxing of immigration.

Part III: Intelligence and Security Cooperation

• Intelligence organizations are to coordinate and share operational information. More specifically, coordination will be required to consolidate operations and activities done within and above territories of signatory nations, following specific permission from the nations involved; and information regarding criminal and terrorism threats will be shared in an effort to maintain the safety and security of all citizens of signatory nations. 
• Information and operational details will be handled only by individuals and organizations with sufficient clearance, as requested and authorized by the organization delivering them.

Part IV: Educational and Miscellaneous Cooperation

• Signatory nations are to provide a mechanism to advantage and prioritise international students from the G4 region, whether this be in visa form, government incentives and scholarships, or through a fast-tracked method of enrollment in educational institutions.
• A scholarship, the Gael Cooperation Incentives Scheme (GCIS) is to be implemented and provide G4 students the ability to study within the area.
• An emergency response group, the Gael Emergency Response Team (GERT) is to be formed to respond to unexpected detrimental humanitarian and social events.
  
  This agreement is to become an official document once nations have signed and ratified it. An original copy will be held in the archives of the Ahnslen Government, with copies being sent to the other nations in both English and their native language.

Signed in Mandara within the Unified Electorates of Ainslie on the 22nd of June 2017[/align]

Highland Documents

A Resolution to Amend the Mandara Accord (Gael Four Treaty)
Noting the willingness of nations within Gael to also join this agreement,
Recognising the lack of a framework to allow this to happen,
Seeking to welcome new Gael trading partners into this agreement,
Welcoming the idea of a more prosperous and united Gael,

Seeks to amend the Mandurah Accord, the basis for the operations of the Gael Four, in order to:

• Establish the Gael Four Commission (G4C), an organisation to uphold and maintain the Gael Four Agreement.
  
• The G4C would be initially made up of the four founding nations; that being Agadar, Ainslie, Ostehaar and Verdon.
• By a unanimous vote of the G4C , another nation can be given the option to forward a representative to said commission.
• The G4C would review and discuss the applications of Gael nations to enter the G4 Agreement and entry is to be voted on with a margin of unanimous support, or a simple majority within the time limit prescribed unless a nation actively is against a nation's application
• The G4C would be bounded by a 72 hour time frame to vote on nations entering the G4, and a 48 hour time frame for nations to be elevated to the G4C
• This Commission will be located in Arnton, the capital of the Unified Electorates of Ainslie
  
  
• A full membership would be an option available to nations, where the new member-state would have to follow all the provisions of the agreement, and member-states would have to respect and follow the agreement in regards to the new member-state.
• A partial immigration and travel membership, where nations who hold the membership must only abide by the Immigration and Travel Considerations of the Mandurah Accord
• A partial economic membership, where nations who hold the membership must only abide by the Economic and Trade Considerations of the Mandurah Accord
• A partial intelligence and security membership, where nations who hold the membership must only abide by the Intelligence and Security Considerations of the Mandurah Accord
• A partial Education and Miscellaneous membership, where nations who hold the membership must only abide by the Education and Miscellaneous Considerations of the Mandurah Accord
  
  Signed in Highland Ridge within the Unified Electorates of Ainslie on the 15th of July 2017.

Members

• Ainslie (full membership)
• Verdon (full membership)
• Noronica (full membership)
• Dormill and Stiura (full membership)
• Aruia (full membership)
• Roendavar (full membership)
• Thromsa (full membership)
• Biaten (Part IV membership, pending domestic ratification)

Gael button image courtesy of Samudera

[Ostehaar]

Already in Ainslie, Mehnard Pohesjer arrived in Arnton and was assigned an apartment rented by the Oster embassy. He would serve as the Oster delegate to the Commission - his first formal title after several years of service in the Oster Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[Agadar]

[OOC tag]

[Ainslie]

JC Downey, a former member of the CU Admissions Committee walked to her spot and sat down, waiting for the official business to begin.

[Ainslie]

May I obtain the privellege of summoning delegations from Michigonia and Fujiraha in order to assess their ability to join our group. Both nations have expressed interest, and we seek to get things started.

[Ostehaar]

"I see no reason not to," Mehnard said, smiling casually.

[Agadar]

Count Palatine Remington Blackburn, appointed the Agadarian representative to the Gael Four Commission by royal decree, looked up from his tablet.

"You may," the young but favoured diplomat replied with a stone face.

[Fujiraha]

Thith Sopheap looked out the window of the small jet, watching the landscape of Ainslie and then the cityscape of Arnton speed below him as the plane came in for a landing. The flight was rather short as the jet only had to cross the gulf of Tapatka from Fujirah to Arnton. From there the Fujin embassy supplied an SUV to the building where the G4 commission is located.

The doors to the room where the commission was being held opened and in stepped Mr. Sopheap. Shoulders back he marched before them and presented himself to the four, "Hello good sirs I am Thith Sopheap, delegate from Fujiraha. I am here as my nation wishes to enter the Gael Four Agreement." He hoisted a briefcase, "I have numerous documents about my nation here, so feel free to ask what you will. May I sit down?"

[Ainslie]

"Elcoué delegate. Please, sit. The Commission seeks to ask you questions in order to test your nation's suitability for G4 membership. So, let us begin."

[Agadar]

Blackburn adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat, briefly glancing at the notes he had written on his tablet.

"Mister Sopheap," he began, "Could you state for the record what kind of membership the government of Fujiraha officially seeks?"

[Verdon]

Vidal de Rosselli went quietly into the room; Mr. de Aro had kept him in briefing about the council duties far too long and thus he arrived late. He nodded curtly to the other council members and took his seat among them, and across from the delegate from Fujiraha.

[Fujiraha]

Mr. Sopheap nodded politely, "The Fujin government hopes for a full membership as it believes that all parts of this organization could help Fujiraha and that Fujiraha can help towards other Gael nations. At the very least Fujiraha is looking to work in the realms of economics, education, and travel as the economy of My nation is geared more towards the Primary and Secondary Industries, thus exports are the lifeblood of our economy."

[Ostehaar]

Mehnard was still going through the documents describing Fujiraha and its economy, as well as Oster government reports on matters ranging from the potential benefits of increased trade with Fujiraha to the potential risks of allowing its citizens free travel into Ostehaar. All very interesting reports - so he thought - but none of those stated any type of a final conclusion. Once again, it seemed, it was all up to "the man on the ground" to decide.

"Again, Mr. Sopheap, thank you for coming. I am Mehnard Pohesjer and I represent the State of Ostehaar in this commission." He gestured towards the little flag in front of him on the desk. "I don't think we would agree on full membership at this time, due to considerations regarding intelligence and security cooperation." Mehnard paused for a moment before he continued. "The other delegates here might also bring up some economic considerations, since your economy is still a developing one."

"However, Ostehaar is very interested in increasing cooperation with Fujiraha in general. This includes more trade and investments, education, and relaxation of barriers. For example, I can tell you here and now that we see your nation as a partner in the energy market," Mehnard glanced at the other delegates for a moment.

"To sum up my opinion, I would support granting Fujiraha partial economic membership and partial Education and Miscellaneous membership."

[Fujiraha]

Mr. Sopheap bowed politely to the Ostehaar delegate for his assessment.

[Verdon]

"Mr. Sopheap, I'm going to echo my fellow commissioner's opinion on a full membership. Frankly, we don't know much about your nation and I do believe this is the first time we've had formal contact? yes." He paused. He, again, went over the documents Mr. de Aro had lectured him on before the meeting: statistics, demographics, a large packet on the state of Fujiraha agriculture.

"I'm sure you've looked over the G4 agreement and understand it's basic workings. From what I understand of your country, it seems like the economic section is of particular interest to you. Just to run the point home, let me review it for you briefly. The system works on preferred source and reciprocity. This means that if you join the G4 economic agreement, you will become one of the preferential sources of goods for our four countries, and likewise, our four countries will become your preferential sources. While we do afford leeway towards pre-existing trade deals, this will certainly affect your businesses and imports from non-G4 companies. Namely, you may expect to see price changes, up and down, on foreign goods as tariff and tax rates alter to price out non-G4 products.

"However, when a country of less-developed economy joins in a deal with better-developed economies, the effects are mostly positive for the less-developed. First among those effects, a larger, wealthier buyer market. Speaking about your nation specifically, I imagine your energy assets and mining/machining products will adapt well into our collective economic environment. Your agricultural sector may be a more complex story. I'm not sure if you know this, but Verdon is a large exporter of raw and finished agricultural goods - Ostehaar having a robust agro sector, too. So in products that you share production with us, you might not see much advancement. Uh, namely among those..." he glanced at his documents, "things like wheat, apples. However things that you alone produce will experience growth such as rice and walnuts. The system encourages specialization - and therefore quality - while still ensuring diversity. Okay."

"The last thing you should know, as a developing economy, is that the process may be.... invasive. There are companies from our nations that will jump at the chance to control - and develop - the new markets that you'll provide. As it appears you have many independent farms, a company like Garier Foods would love to be involved. In terms of others I'm sure Oster Energy would be interested, as Mr. Pohesjer touched on. I assure it's all for the best, but your native companies might experience some chaffing from stronger competitors.

"Okay, well that's all I've got to say on the economic part. To clarify, Verdon would be in favor of allowing an economic membership. We are, of course, in favor of your membership in Education and Miscellaneous Cooperation. We voice the same concern as Ostehaar, and would not be in favor of Intelligence and Security membership."

"That leaves Immigration and Travel considerations and for that, Mr. Sopheap, I'd really need to know more about the current state of your nation, as well as recent past. We'd really need to know that there's no domestic threat that could spill over into other G4 nations under the relaxed conditions of the Immigration agreement."

[Fujiraha]

Mr. Sopheap bowed to the Verdon delegate, "Your assessment of the ramifications of this on how it will affect my nation was a large reason for my government to send me here. As to your question..." Mr. Sopheap rubbed the back of his head, "Most of the Fujin populace supports the Federation, although there are some groups that have decided that they would rather see their republic separate to the Federation. These are small groups with little to no outside support and which hide in the mountains and hills of the North. They have so far posed little threat to the regular Fujin populace as so far over the past couple decades all they do is thieve or ambush policemen or soldiers. Still the Fujin army does fight them and it is hard to dislodge them from their holes. There have been a few terrorist attacks by such groups, although most happened over ten years ago."

Mr. Sopheap splayed his hands out, "Recently it seems that the groups have become more passive, and Fujin intelligence believes that they are now being seen more as a form of protest to the government rather than as a seperatist revolutionary movement. As I said some fighting occurs but the Fujin government believes that the Fujin military has them locked into the mountains and that free trade would not affect your nations. Plus there would be little incentive for them to go into your countries as their movements is, in their eyes, their republic against the Federation. If the Fujin government did not believe we had it under control we would not ask for more lax freedoms of movement."

Mr. Sopheap adjusted his glasses, "It is our belief that freedom of movement is a great concept for the nations of Gael. It is a diverse land. Such diversity, allowed to spread and meet, may provide benefits to the nations of Gael as we see the spread of ideas increase. We hope that we are able to be granted this part of membership. If not though we hope that through Fujin cooperation the Gael Four will allow us to come closer to the parts of membership we were not granted."

[Agadar]

When Sopheap mentioned the terrorist attacks, Blackburn's eyes shot towards him.

"As minor as the threat of these terrorists are according to you, mister Sopheap," he began, "a threat they are still. This Gael Four endeavor is already a giant leap out of my nation's comfort zone. We are not ready to open our borders to a nation of which the populace harbors violent sentiments towards its government."

Blackburn briefly glanced at his tablet.

"As for the economic and educational partnerships, I see no reason to disallow Fujiraha the benefits of those partnerships - nor to disallow the Gael Four the benefits that will come with your nation's contributions to those partnerships."

[Ainslie]

I agree with my colleagues - education, economic and miscellaneous is about how far I want to take Fujin membership at this point too.

[Fujiraha]

Mr. Sopheap bowed to both the delegates, "Every nation has its flaws, I can see that mine are incompatible with parts of this agreement. I would readily accept inclusion of my nation into economic and education membership."

[Verdon]

"Not to fret, Mr. Sopheap, I'm sure if you prove stability over time, this commission would gladly receive petition for membership renegotiation."

"Okay, I do believe we are in unanimous agreement. Let's sign something."

[Ainslie]

I second this.

[Agadar]

Blackburn nodded. He had no further questions for the Fujirahan representative: even before he had boarded a flight to Arnton to represent the Agadarian kingdom, he had already read through comprehensive research documents on Fujirahan supplied by the kingdom's agencies, research groups, and advisory councils. To what extent Fujiraha was to be granted membership to the Gael Four had already been hotly debated with the king and the king's court, and so a decision had already long been made. All Blackburn had to do was to firmly convey the will of king and country to the Gael Four, which he had now done.

"Agreed," the noble diplomat replied. "Let us put ink to paper, and welcome Fujiraha to our merry band."

[Ainslie]

Since all four nations have agreed, Fujiraha is hereby granted Education, Economic and Miscellaneous membership and is officially part of the Gael Four Agreement.

[Ainslie]

I would like to bring to discussion the possibility of sending the Gael Emergency Response Team to Xrevaro in order to respond to the aftermath of their flu epidemic and recennt wildfires.

[Agadar]

"Xrevaro is not a member of the Gael Four in any capacity," Blackburn stated. "Xrevaro isn't even located on the continent of Gael. I do not see how we have any obligation to intervene in a sovereign nation that is completely removed from this organization and the kingdom of Agadar."