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Mediterranean Diplomacy


Californian

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Relations between the Northlands and Yugoslavia had been somewhat silent, with the Northlands having concentrated its diplomatic efforts elsewhere as it found its place in the world. But with its increased interest in the well-being of its Mediterranean regions and discovery of a military base being constructed in Spain, the Northlands was eager to reach out to Yugoslavia, a nation whom held strong relations with several of the Northlands' allies.

 

A note would be sent from the Northlands inviting Yugoslavia to a diplomatic meeting to be held in Mahon, Menorca to discuss relations and possible areas of collaboration. With the successful negotiation of a treaty with Greece, it was hoped such good will could be sustained and propagated elsewhere in the Sea.

Edited by Californian
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I appreciate the timely and positive response, and have scheduled a meeting to be held in three days in Mahon. Your flight path and arrival will be cleared by the Royal Office for Foreign Affairs when such information has been received, and accommodations will be made for your diplomatic staff for the duration of your stay. I look forward to meeting and conversing with you. 

 

Sincerely,

King William V

 

 

Edited by Californian
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Private

 

"The Kingdom is pleased to hear it and will be preparing its diplomatic team to depart soon."

 

Respectfully,

Kralj Dragojev Belojevic

 

[hr]

 

Private

 

Two days later

 

"I don't think I have to repeat it, Dražen, but all that is righteous and holy, do not $%&@ this one up," ordered Dragojev as he glared at the man in question, who quickly adopted a hurt look.

 

"You mean moi? Why, I'm hurt that you think so low of me, boss," he lamented rather lamely before snorting, "Give me some credit, boss, I know what's at stake considering the current issues that are flaring up in Europe. First the Nordic Hammer's aggressive posturing from the Nordisk Rike, that Scandinavian country, the Nordic Hammer effectively attempting to move into the Mediterranean by proxy of the Northlands doing their best to annex Andalusia and the whole broohaha with the Hellenes accusing us without proof over Bulgaria," he answered before letting out a sigh.

 

"You have my word that I'll be working on ensuring that relations are positive with the Northlands and their reasons for annexing Andalusia. In the meantime, I've prepared documents for the hopeful meeting with Malta after this particular shindig is done and over with, boss," he added while grinning like a loon.

 

"Somehow, that grin fills me with dread," deadpanned Dragojev as he stared at his Councilor, a few seconds passing in silence before he nodded at Dražen, "I'll leave you to your work," he said as he turned to leave, "Be safe, Dražen."

 

[hr]

 

The diplomatic entourage consisting of the Kingdom's Councilor of Foreign Affairs, the designated diplomat to the Northlands and aides would be enroute to Mahon, Menorca by plane, shortly touching down into the island itself after two and a half hours of flight.

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Mahon had become the administrative and military center for the island, and such status was reflected in the rise of new buildings and structures that had appeared in the past decade on the island. Tall buildings in the middle of the city were the heart of the city's economic activity with small edifices forming a disheveled surrounding torus. The port was a buzzing hub of activity, with both civilian cargo as well as military traffic in the large cordoned-off section of the port, one of the very deepest and sheltered in the Mediterranean. Connected was a military airport which was barely matched in size by the civilian equivalent on the other side of town. It was at this airport the Yugoslavian Councilor of Foreign Affairs would be received by the waiting Northlandic hosts. As they stepped off the plane the Yugoslavians would be escorted to a waiting convoy to take them to a government compound in the city which was to serve as the meeting location.

 

The visiting delegation would notice an interesting dichotomy of the sights they saw as the vehicles moved through the city. The city was a picturesque paradise in the Mediterranean, with civilians wearing tropical clothes and on their way to local beaches. Others were busy going to and from their work, many keeping the arteries of activity at the port and airport flowing as the city served as an intermediary between the Northlands state and its Mediterranean interests.

 

Interspersed in this scene, however, were the unmistakable hallmarks of weaponry and self-defense. After years and several modernization directives, Mahon and Menorca was the site of a sophisticated network of defenses to slow and repel any sort of aggression. Warships were parked in the harbor, several of the many anti-aircraft emplacements could be spotted on the periphery of the town, and air shelter signs were scattered throughout the city pointing people to safety. 

Those that cared to look could just make out some of the infantry drills being performed at the local base or the hangars where fighter jets were undergoing routine inspection.

 

It was this nature of life and death, relaxation and belligerence that the inhabitants of Mahon endured and the delegation now witnessed. They would finally arrive at the building, pleasant in its own way but out of place next to the sleek new skyscrapers, its Northlandic flag waving on its roof.

 

Lord Timmermans would be waiting, eager to engage in conversation with a nation whom had had somewhat limited communications with the Northlands previously. He was eager to ascertain the thoughts of his counterparts and determine how the relationship between the two states would be drawn. He was eager to share his own thoughts, and with this enthusiasm would walk to meet the leading figure that approached.

 

"Greetings my name is Martin Timmermans, and I am the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Northlands. I appreciate your willingness to meet with me here on only three days notice and I hope this meeting will prove to be fruitful for all here today." 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Private
 
Dražen was a pragmatic man, cynical at times and had been rightfully accused of holding hope for the ideals of his Sovereign. Thus, if the experienced man didn't know any better he would have called the scenery beautiful but alas, he did know better. From rumors and whispers, the Northlands seemingly thought of itself as a Mediterranean nation instead of a North Sea nation like its other fellows. How deluded the government was to think of itself as a Mediterranean nation when a good majority of its mainland was not in the Mediterranean but in Northern Europe? He himself did not know as to the specific reasons why the Northlands; ironic in name that they now were, would call themselves a Mediterranean nation when they only possessed Mediterranean holdings far from their mainland.
 
It also perplexed him as to why a Dutch nation would try to annex land in the Iberian, the cultures and languages were two entirely different things last he checked. Not unless the people living within the Iberian had suddenly developed a $%&@ed up flipper baby of a hybrid language and culture between the two before the Northlands had annexed that portion of land. The Councilor did know that it was a possible threat, good public relations the Northlands may have had, they were still in the Nordic Hammer and tensions were still there between Nordisk Rike and his ally in Alvonia. 
 
Regardless, the Councilor would smile widely at the Minister,  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Minister Timmermans," he said in return before fully introducing himself, "I am Councilor Dražen, the Councilor in charge of the Kingdom's Foreign Affairs. I also wish to state that we appreciate the offer and branch that the Northlands has extended in kind."

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"It's good to meet you Councilor Drazen, I trust you had a pleasant flight here. The Northlands is grateful for your willingness to meet with us today." Timmermans would not waste time on skirting around the issues he hoped to discuss, judging the man to be more focused on business than ceremony. 

 

"This meeting was called in part due to our lack of previous communication and formal relations with Yugoslavia and in part to our desire for friendly, if not cordial relations, with key actors in Europe and the Mediterranean. We have strong partnerships with Malta and Greece already, as well as many of the nations to your north. Naturally we are interested in establishing a line of communication between our states and the desire to exist peacefully together.

 

We are aware of your alliance with Alvonia, whom we currently are on good terms with, although our relationship has been quite... tumultuous in the past. We have been able to revitalize what was previously a poor relationship with Alvonia and we are eager to dispel any suspicions your nation may have, if any. The Northlands would be eager to look for areas of potential cooperation between our two nations to better serve the peace in Europe."

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"Understandable," lied the Councilor, a bit reassured that this Timmermans wanted to get to business. "While it's a reassuring situation that relations between the Northlands and Alvonia are on good terms, I however must feel the need as to why the Northlands; a primarily Dutch country, is annexing land on the Iberian Peninsula. Land that has language and culture vastly different from the Northlands mainland," Dražen asked outright the Minister.

 

"Considering the tensions between Alvonia and the Northlands ally in Nordisk Rike, as well as being part of the so called Nordic Hammer, it raises concerns and alarms that the Nordic Hammer is effectively encroaching and holding strategic points to potentially enforce their will on Europe through force should token 'diplomatic efforts' fail," the Councilor added, "One can start to see why these concerns and issues might raise, given the present situation, Minister."

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"I think you'll find that our people from Noordenwind to Brussels to Granada are more similar than you might think. Athens once controlled most of Europe, contributing to an increase in cultural and political unity among these regions. Additionally, the Northlandic autonomous communities on the Iberian coast are given more freedoms than provinces up north, in tacit acknowledgement that differences can and do exist.

 

However, one nation serves as a prime example of the amalgamation of separate cultures. The Northlands is in fact inspired by your very own nation of Yugoslavia, Councilor. Your nation includes multiple ethnicities and cultures from Macedonia to Slovenia. Would you say you govern a stable nation that functions well? We take no issue that your nation is not ethnically homogeneous and respect the strength that pluralism has no doubt brought Yugoslavia, which we have no doubt will also be the case in the Northlands."

 

He would respond to the man again. "Certainly, I have experience with nations questioning the policies or goals of the Northlands and the Nordic Hammer. We have only taken defensive measures to ensure the security of our alliance. Where possible, we have supported strong multilateral action and oversight, such as the jointly led base near Gibraltar operated by several nations. If we intended to 'enforce our will' on Europe, why have we not already done so? The timing would not be better. There is only a bogeyman if you choose to believe in one, Councilor. I don't think I would be here talking with your nation if that were the case. 

 

The diplomatic outreach will only be 'token' if you choose to make it so. We are eager to pursue cooperation with European nations, as noted by our recent closeness to several other Mediterranean states. If you have real concerns I am all ears, but I'm afraid that generalized what-ifs that don't reflect reality are not something I can act on.

 

As an aside, are you planning to let the relations between Alvonia and Nordisk Rike impact the relations between the Northlands and Yugoslavia. Both of those nations are our allies and I feel that I should be the one concerned about the tension there, not you," he would say with a chuckle. He would still be quite friendly in demeanor.

Edited by Californian
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