Meeting of Federations

[loannes]

[quote]To: Nikita Akhatov, President, Athenian Federation
From: James Drake II, Emperor, Slavic Federation
Subject: Invitation
Body:
[start]
Dear Ms. Akhatov,

For a long time, the Slavic and Athenian Federations have bordered one another; we constitute your entire northern border. Yet, we have both failed to establish a relationship, a failure I wish to remedy. I'd like to invite you to the city of Tbilisi, so we can discuss further relations between our two nations. I hope to receive a response, and visit, from you or a representative of yours shortly.

Sincerely,
James II
[end][/quote]

[Centurius]

As soon as she had received the letter she took pen and paper to write a reply.

[quote]Emperor Drake II,

I would be honored to visit your country in person and to talk with you about matters of mutual interest. I will be leaving for Tbilisi tomorrow escorted by my personal assistant, 2 Presidential Guards and airplane personnel. I look forward to meeting you soon.

Yours faithfully,
Nikita Akhatova, President of the Athenian Federation[/quote]

The next day Hellenic Air One, a modified Boeing 767, would depart from Athens AFB to Tbilisi.

[loannes]

Hellenic Air One would be received at Tbilisi International Airport by Emperor James II, six Liberty Guardsmen, and James's personal aircraft ground crew. Upon landing, the plane would be directed by the crew and refueled while James took the president and her guards to the Imperial Palace.
"Welcome, Ms. Akhatov, to our humble nation," James said, spreading his arms graciously as the Athenian president exited the plane. "I trust your flight was a good one?"

[Centurius]

Nikita embraced the Emperor. "Yes your highness, I have had a great flight and a nice view over your country"she said.

[loannes]

"Ah, good. I've always enjoyed that, myself. The mountains are simply beautiful from the sky." James turned to one of his guardsmen. "Lieutenant, send a radio transmission to the drivers, telling them to have the cars ready."
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant said, turning aside and raising his radio to his mouth. James motioned for Nikita to follow him.
"You'll notice," he said as he walked, "that there's extra security on the convoy. This is simply because about...I believe 15 years ago?...my father, King James I of Caucasia, was nearly assassinated. Twice. The Liberty Guardsmen decided that, from that point on, all Caucasian kings, and, by extension, all Slavic emperors, should be better-protected." He stopped as they reached the front of the airport. "Ah..."
A limousine sat by the curb, with a Liberty Guardsman in dress blacks standing with the back door open. Two Humvees were in front of the limo, and two more behind. At the very back was an IFV.
James frowned and looked at the lieutenant. "Lieutenant, might I ask why there's an IFV in my convoy?"
The lieutenant shrugged. "Sir, Colonel Hovhannes thought it would be a good idea, considering that both the Athenian president and Slavic emperor would be together, sir."
"Ah...Khajag. I should remind him that downtown Tbilisi is not a warzone." James saluted the guardsman holding the door open and entered, motioning for Nikita to do likewise.

[Centurius]

At the motion Nikita entered the car a bit reluctantly. The protection had left an impression on her that wouldn't easily fade.

"You sure are making certain everything is going as planned"she said with a smile.

[loannes]

"It wasn't my idea," James said as the guardsman closed the door and moved to the front of the limo. "It was Colonel Khajag Hovhannes, the deputy commanding officer of the Liberty Guard. Good man, but he's a bit...paranoid sometimes." He rolled the window down slightly and lit a long, black cigar, offering her one. "Worry not. The Federation hasn't been physically terrorized for fifteen years. We're not Buryatia." He puffed on the cigar, blowing the smoke out the window.

The car traveled for ten minutes, reaching the large, spacious Imperial Palace. The convoy passed through the wrought iron gates and pulled up at the front of the palace. A stone roof extended out over a cobblestone walkway, covered in the center by a royal blue carpet. Liberty Guardsmen in dress blacks were positioned at the front of the walkway and at the door. As the airport escort exited their vehicles and walked with the Emperor and Athenian president towards the palace, the men at the end of the walkway turned in a crisp, formal manner and joined the escort, stopping at the door and exchanging salutes with the door's guards. When the procession entered the palace, the end's guards turned and headed back to their positions.

Inside an officer flanked by two senior noncoms saluted the Emperor as they entered; James returned it crisply. "Major, is the conference room prepped?"
The officer nodded. "Yes, sir. I even had the liquor cabinets and refrigerator restocked."
"Good man. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir," the major said. He and the noncoms saluted and marched towards the eastern portion of the palace.
A butler appeared, hands behind his back. Without a word he began walking up the staircase to the left. James waved his hand to dismiss the escort, then motioned for Nikita to come with him and the butler.

[Centurius]

Nikita followed the Emperor and butler upstairs, when she noticed the escort would go away it pleased her as she always hated too many company at diplomatic meetings.

[loannes]

The stairs led upwards to the second floor, where the conference rooms were. Higher up were offices, housing, and departments. The butler led the way to the last room on the hall, with the Slavic Federal Seal on the door, signifying the emperors' conference room. The butler held the door open, waiting for the emperor and president to enter, then approaching the bar, assembling a tray of drinks, and setting it on the table. That done, he exited, closing the doors.

James poured himself a glass of palinka, and proffered some to Nikita. "While you're visiting, you may as well have something from our heartland," he said, indicating the palinka. "It's strong, but good." James sat in a high-backed chair at the edge of the table. "Down to business. Emperor Alec sends his regrets for not being able to join us, but his district is undergoing a wide-scale improvement, so he's busy with the organization." He paused to sip at his palinka. "As I said in my message to you, I'm quite disturbed at the lack of cooperation between our nations, despite the many bonds we hold; location, culture, allies, and policies, for a few. While one cannot call the Greeks a Slavic culture, they also cannot deny the close Greco-Slavic bonds. Cooperation between our nations seems to be an idea to strive for."

[Centurius]

Nikita drank a bit from the Palinka and looked up. "Nice drink, bit strong but has a good taste"

"Not to forget our large Bulgarian and Macedonian Slavic population or the Russian and Croatian minorities which makes around 33% of the Federation Slavic" she said. "We want more stronger and lasting relations to be developed and if that can be done in this room today it would very much please me"

[loannes]

James drained his palinka and put the glass down. As he spoke, he pulled a case of Don Alfredo cigars from his jacket. "All things considered, I think that's a good idea. We've got mutual allies, similar cultures, and we're geographically close." He paused to light a cigar and puff on it thoughtfully. "What sort of treaty are you looking for? MDP? MDoAP?" James opened the case of cigars towards Nikita.

[Centurius]

Nikita declined the cigar "I fear I do not smoke but thank you for the offer".

"In regards to a treaty, considering we are quite close and it is obvious we agree on international issues. Therefore I would support the signing of a Mutual Defense and Optional Aggression Pact"

[loannes]

James tapped the end of the cigar on the edge of an ashtray, dislodging the ashes. He took a puff and exhaled with a thoughtful humming sound. "Indeed," he said, almost to himself. He abruptly reached forward and removed a pen from a stand on the table. "Give me a short moment, please.," James said, pulling a sheet of paper towards himself. He put the pen to the paper and began to write.

Preamble
The undersigned nations, the Slavic Federation and Athenian Federation, in the interest of cultural unity and the stability of the Balkans and the surrounding region, do hereby enter into this agreement of alliance.

Article I. Nonaggression
The Slavic Federation and Athenian Federation, henceforth referred to as the SF and AF, respectively, hereby agree to nonaggression. Neither shall engage in activities that are to the detriment to the other. This includes, but is not limited to, war, espionage, and financial aid to an enemy of the other.

Article II. Trade
The SF and AF agree to lower or remove all tariffs on imports from the other signatory. While complete abolition of tariffs is optional, it is strongly encouraged. The SF and AF also agree to allow government-owned companies of both signatories free access to their nations.

Article III. Defense
In the event of a hostile declaration of war on one signatory, the other is required to declare war on the attacker in defense of their ally, unless otherwise requested by the defender.

Article IV. Aggression
Should either signatory see the need to declare an offensive war, the other has the option, but not obligation, to declare war alongside the attacker.

Article V. Cancellation
Should either nation see the need to cancel this agreement, they must give the other signatory 72 hours advance notice, during which time the treaty remains in full effect.

[Centurius]

"The agreement looks solid and I see no areas to be adapted."she said as she took the paper and got a pen from her pocket.

[quote]Signed for the Athenian Federation,
[img]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7435/e9634eeeb3bfe7bc40dc1c4.png[/img]
Nikita Akhatova,
President of the Athenian Federation.[/quote]

[loannes]

Signed for the Slavic Federation,
James II, Emperor
Alec Pradeux, Emperor