רעפובליק פון אשקענאצא - Republic of Ashkenatza

Wasza Ekscelencjo Panie Abramowicz,

It is with deep regret that the Republican Foreign Ministry notes that as of yet our two Republics have not yet established any formal diplomatic relations. Given our Mala'eretz territory on Keltia, it is the opinion of the Knesset that further steps need to demonstrate the Republic's commitment to harmony and mutual prosperity for all in the region. A spectre haunts Micras in our troubled times- the spectre of militarism and autocracy- and it is our firm belief that those small remaining beacons of light, Micran democracies, must take further steps to support eachother, their way of life, and the democratic principles they hold sacred.

By order of the 15th Nohsi, His Excellency Herr Eli Naveh, I have the honour to serve once more as Foreign Minister of the Republic, and as an accredited representative of the Ashkenatzi Government would have great pleasure in establishing full, bilateral relations between Ashkenatza and Interland.

I remain,

Goltz, M.
Foreign Minister of the Republic

Welcome to Interland, Herr Goltz. I hope you will find the Republic hospitable; please, feel yourself at home.

Interland has undergone tough times recently, with both activity crisis and no spare time from remaining citizens, despite the vacations season. In September, however, we will be trying hard to reestablish our diplomatic relations with the world and gain even more contact with our neighbours. That includes Ashkenatza and her Mala'eretz territory, which have been object of Foreign Affairs Department's interest of late.

We will be very glad to establish diplomatic relations with the Maroon Republic; I hope the relationship will benefit both countries!

Yours sincerely,

Szanowny Panie Abramowicz,

Many thanks for your prompt reply- I understand completely Interland's issues surrounding activity. Practically every Micran nation has had similar problems, and it's my opinion that they've been getting worse over the last couple of years. If like-minded nations join forces, activity issues can also be overcome- one feature of Treaties which I always make a priority is a provision that the citizens of both nations will make efforts to visit the other on unofficial visits. A link between nations should be more than simply words on a paper- the communities should feel a sense of friendship to eachother and in that way activity can be maintained and perhaps improved.

Whilst we are very keen to establish not only bilateral relations with Interland, but also political and economic co-operation on the intermicronational arena, I note that Interland appears to have a territorial dispute with her neighbours of Los Bay Petros- I would be grateful if you could briefly explain the history behind the dispute. As a partner and friend, the Republic would wish to support Interland in such cases, although we would want to know the full nature of the dispute before finalising a Treaty. If a mediator is required, Ashkenatza would be happy to act as one.

Apologies for our current forum situation- you have my assurances that it is being remedied and we intend to have the new Ashkenatzi forum operational within the next two weeks.

Regards,

Goltz

Lyb Herr Goltz,

It is of my highest admiration that Ashkenatza cares so much about her friends. Therefore I am looking forward to the re-opening of registration on Ashkenatzi fora. I have also heard that Ashkenatza has citizens who originated on Pollin, or Polish Microworld. That might make things easier for foreign visitors from Polish sector to become accustomed with Ashkenatzi culture and politics.

The territory you have mentioned is not of disputed status, but is home to Nomads who belong to neither of two countries, nor to Tiana, colour of which is also present there on MCS map. The status of the area is regulated by the Treaty of Virtua, which states that the Nomadic Territory is and shall be jointly administered by three neighbouring countries to allow the existence of indigenous social structure of the peoples of the region. The only issue which keeps Internal Affairs Department on alert is the presence of separatist forces in western parts of al-Edirna, a federal state with a troublesome history. That should not be an issue for Ashkenatzi Government, however, at least not in foreseeable future. The separatist claim rule over three oases as of yesterday report and are not a threat to the citizens of the Republic. Their activity in the area is under permanent monitoring by internal security forces.

If a Treaty is signed, however, Interland should ensure that the situation will be solved as soon as possible, to allow Keltian Express trains to safely go through Edirnian Territory to Mala'eretz. Interlandian State Railways and Keltian Express Interland d.a. surely will lobby in favour of addressing the matter.

Kind regards,

Pavel' Abramovic:
the President of the Republic of Interland

OOC: The terrorist presence is a relic of an internal Recwar that didn't catch on. From that time, we have an interesting Western Saharesque territory bordering a socialist state of Tiana Also, the Keltian Express goes by the shore, not in the area the Separatists claim.

Our micronationalists from Pollin were a great surprise. All of a sudden about six of them joined Ashkenatza but disappeared after a couple of weeks, which was a shame. Ashkenatza in some respects has aspects of Polish culture- the Rogatywka as the most distinctive feature of the military's uniform, for example. My colleague Herr Astopov has also been writing on the fictional history of Ashkenatza which I believe references winged Hussars, so perhaps some Poles could feel right at home with us!

In any case, my thanks for explaining the situation regarding the Nomads. Ashkenatza does indeed care for her friends, and the recent polarisation of the Micran Sector as of late into the Raspur Pact and everybody else is we feel a cause for concern. We would be happy to count Interland not just as a friend, but as a trusted ally. The exact nature of our relationship is completely a matter for Interland's consideration as Ashkenatza is committed to forging the strongest relations possible with like-minded nations across Micras, particularly in Keltia which we feel we have neglected. A strong relationship with Interland would really help us to correct that past mistake.

We would of course provide Interland with an Embassy in our new forum (which I do hope you are able to visit at some point!) to improve communication, and I have already added Interland to our list of friendly nations on the forum which will make these forums just one click away from us.

I would be interested in drafting a Treaty allowing not only for non-aggression and mutual recognition, but also for free trade, cultural exchanges, a joint defence pact, the exchange of technology and intelligence, and for wider support for eachother in the intermicronational arena. Interland's location is of great importance to Keltia and given Ashkenatza's Mala'eretz Territory we feel that a friend in Eastern Keltia is a top priority.

I do hope this proposal is acceptable and I look forward to being in further correspondence,

Regards,

Goltz

Excuse me for long time I have needed to answer. Real world matters stop me from being active as usual in micronations.

Of course, our nations have a lot in common. Even the names are similar, as the language of the real-world Ashkenazi was influenced by the territory they lived in... However, returning to the matter:

Interland also considers Raspur Pact to be somewhat upsetting. The first concerns rose when the Bastion Union was formed; and now - the Babkhi spread their tentacles beyond the 'fortress'. What worries me most is that even Ocia, which we tried to maintain positive relations with despite the character of their government, seeks friendship with Babkha, most possibly exerting the rule of 'my foe's enemy is my friend'. The micronations that we enjoyed good relations with but which joined Raspur Pact include Elwynn and Natopia.

On the other hand, Interlandian Constitution states that "the Republic of Interland is a neutral state" (article 12). The exceptions include "a threat to other people freedom and rights", when the Republic "regards itself as obliged to intervene" (article 13). In that case, "despite Republic's neutrality, the Government may choose to bind an alliance with any recognised state" (article 14). Consequently, the matter of being Ashkenatzi ally is up to the Government's and people's consideration.

Waiting for the decision, we might sign a treaty of mutual recognition and establish free trade between our nations. I'm sure that it will allow the cultural and technology exchange to exist even before we form an alliance, if we do. Not to mention that we can form it only with a recognised nation, so to make everything legal, we must sign the mentioned treaties first.

I hope that our stance is understandable and we will find a compromise to each nation's views on the matter.

Sincerely,

Herr Abramowicz,

Your nation's commitment to the democratic ideal is laudable, and iindeed the basis on which Ashkenatza negotiates her foreign policy and her intermicronational commitments. There are few nations left which actively put the interests of the Public back into Republic (or the Pospolita back into Rczeszpospolita, if one can say that!), and it seems to us common sense to form closer partnerships with those who do. A Constitution is a sacred document of state and we would wish to negotiate a Treaty in full compliance of it.

Regarding the issue of recognition, the Republic of Ashkenatza, like several other states on Micras, confers diplomatic recognition on all states holding MCS territory unless it has explicitly stated otherwise. This has always seemed to us a simple enough compromise and certainly saves a great deal of work for the clerks at the Foreign Ministry. We could sign a separate Treaty simply establishing bilateral relations, or we could affirm mutual recognition of sovereignty and non-aggression in the first article of the greater Treaty. This would serve as a recognition in Interlandian law that bilateral relations exist, whereas for Ashkenatza it would simply be reaffirming their existence.

Your Excellency need have no fears of violating neutrality. The political bloc which is currently in formation led by Alexandria and Ashkenatza is more a response to the Babkhan principle that the entire continent of Eura is its own. We harbour no territorial claims on Babkha, nor would we wish to. We simply ask for recognition of our territorial integrity, as do the Alexandrians. Yet what we have witnessed in response to our just and fair demands is instead the Babkhan enlisting of rogue states such as Ocia and even nations bordering our Republic such as Elwynn (with whom we still, fortunately, have good relations) into a defensive alliance. My Republic has faith in many members of the Raspur Pact that they remain politically independent and would not misuse their new found allies for territorial gain, but given increasingly belligerent Babkhan rhetoric and the inclusion of Ocia into the ranks of their allies, we can no longer be so sure.

It is this uncertainty- this uncertainty that the Raspur Pact really does reflect mutual defence interests and not something more sinister, this uncertainty (though now a truism) that Bastion Union nations do share similar political sympathies, this uncertainty that perhaps Babkhan garrisons in Naudia'Diva, within striking distance of Kolmenitzkiy, are not merely 'defensive', which necessitates that we seek like-minded nations, for the defence of the democratic principle and our right to territorial integrity. One of those tentacles you mention has spread to Keltia in the form of the kleptocratic Dr.Kovac and his subjugation of the once proud Ocian people. Southbatavia and Jingdao, with her needless provocations against our good friends in Alexandria and Stormark, have lands just to our south. The Mala'eretz needs Interland, and we hope that Interland takes the hand of brotherhood we and our brothers in Bet Mala have extended.

I would be interested to hear any concrete proposals Your Excellency may have for the proposed treaty besides those already mentioned, as well as a possible original name for the document we draft.

I remain,

GOLTZ
Foreign Minister of the Republic

S:anovny Pan'e Goltz,

It is always a pleasure to hear appreciation of republican virtues, as well as to see another nation which remains devoted to the same values.

I suppose the matter of recognition treaty is just a typical Polish, very macronational and bureaucratic, way of thinking but it is also a standard which emerged in Polish microworld. In the MCS sector, it is easy to state that all nations which managed to get through the acute Council's judging are recognised, as only micronations which show a will to survive are allowed to claim land on Micras. On Pollin, it is not the case. We do not have a standard mapping organisation there, despite my own efforts and independent enterprise of the OPM (Organisation of Polish Micronations, which serves as United [Micro]nations of Pollin). With tens of statelets appearing and ceasing to exist every year, recognition treaties are a common way (the other being admission to OPM) to show micronation's achievements and significance. And an important thing to add - a common Treaty of Recognition on Pollin allows the signed parties to appoint an ambassador and open an embassy; this might not have been clear.
Naturally, we could include these in the first sections of the treaty to be signed.

I know the basis on which the Babkhi seem to intend to claim the land of Alexandrian and Ashkenatzi governance. But to protect other people freedom and rights, to do which the Constitution of our country obliges my nation, I should note that even though Kamalshahr lost its capital status, the people of New Berlin might have avoided capital punishment. Recently, three Babkhan (only one of them was ethnically Babkhi) clerks have been hung. The execution, which has been poorly justified, has worried Interlandian human rights organisations. We do not know whether such incidents will or will not occur in the future.

When Ashkenatzi security is considered, I shall remind you about a mysterious Natopian exclave just north of your Motherland. In my opinion Ashkenatzi forces should investigate the military uses of it, as Natopia has recently ratified Raspur Pact. If they haven't already, of course. The Jingdaoese might have been straining their muscles lately and might look for a Recwar just to entertain its ruler, who boasts with the title of Heavenly Light. Even though, I don't think they might send their army to Benacia. The most possible target is of course Alexandria... But when it comes to Ocia... I really see no potential threat from Kovac's small dictatorship. The Ocians probably still think of the way to reestablish their former territories west of Directus. I'm sure someone will bomb Ocian army's facilities as soon as Kovac says "nukes".

Of course our protection will extend over the Mala'eretz territory. To balance it, I would ask for nothing big, but worth consideration. I don't want to spoil our relations with our former neighbours, Valencians, who want to make a return, by claiming former A1 lands in Valencian archipelago. On the other hand, we still feel a threat from the West, and want to institute a proper early warning system west of Kupców; that is why we ask Ashkenatza to allow Interland to build an independent radar and reconnaisance aircraft base on sixty hectares (or 0.6 square kilometre) of Greater Jerba. I understand that it will have to be debated over in Knesset, but I insist on this, as it will improve the overall security in the region.

I hope that my proposal is acceptable and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,

OOC: Pospolity is an adjective meaning "public" or "common" with Rzeczpospolita meaning "the public/common thing", a res publica; the nearest of the nouns you could use is "pospólstwo", but it got a negative meaning, as it was used by the szlachta (nobility) to describe lower classes; the most correct term is społeczeństwo, I suppose, which still has the core of "spol"

Also, the opening phrase was Interlandian, not Polish, just to mention.

EDIT: removed the Ashkenatzi Skerries option, as a mod on passing them to Flanders was posted on MCS.

Mayn Herr Abramowicz,

Our mutual security as brother-Republics will be a key feature of any treaty my Republic will negotiate. If Ashkenatza can help Interland in this regard, your Republic's armed forces will be able to install radar technology on the Djerbah Isles at their convenience. Whether that will be taken further will depend on the nature of the Treaty we are here to debate- if our agreement is to be one of non-aggression and mutual recognition, then Interlandian military facilities will be specified by name in the Treaty and their expansion will have to be mutually agreed upon. If our Treaty is to become one of political and military partnership in the widest possible sense, then the scope of what Ashkenatza can offer Interland regarding strategic military co-operation will be much, much wider. In the case of the former the territory would probably remain Ashkenatzi, with an Interlandian presence. In the case of the latter, we could transfer to Interland a pixel or two of Greater Djerbah with the understanding that it is a lease dependent on Interland remaining party to the Treaty. This seems to me an appropriate compromise. As our transfer of the Skerries shows, we are willing to accommodate our closest friends!

It's sad to hear that the Polish micronational sector still hasn't been able to organise a centralised mapping organisation- I know that the Portuguese, French and German sectors have their own mapping organisations in various stages of decay but Micras seems to me to be the most active. I'm quite surprised how smooth its transition in leadership has gone since Spangle's departure.

The mysterious Natopian enclave has been discussed. The Elwynnese assured me that it was in response to Natopia exchanging land it owned in Leng, and they recieved a small part of Northern Amokolia as a result. Ashkenatza and Natopia have never had any official diplomatic relations but since we border eachother now I suppose it's high time to start some, even if they are in the Raspur Pact. My government's Foreign Policy regarding Raspur is that whilst we do believe that in essence it represents a threat to our interests and those of our allies, we are happy to do business as far as is practically possible with Raspur Nations who we believe to be reasonable- a good example being Elwynn, whose leadership is to be commended for skilful diplomacy. Jingdao, as you rightly mention, is more worrying. Babkha has just started to use Jingdao as a possible conduit for supplies to Ocian Monovia, and the consistent belligerent rhetoric from the Jingdaoese (bordering on the personal) towards Alexandria and Alexandrians has made Ashkenatza wary of having anything to do with them, despite having had no official contact with their government yet. The situation in Cibola is a delicate one, but we have the utmost faith in the leadership of our Stormarker, Alexandrian, and Hammish friends that a solution which benefits all can be found.

Ocian Monovia is a geopolitical oddity which by rights should not exist. At the end of the Amokolian War, Kovac explicitly stated that he 'put all Ocian Colonies [i.e. territories outside Keltia] up for grabs'. Ocian Amokolia was surrendered, the colony of Vistoc, on an island below Corum, was surrendered, but Ocian Monovia was not- I maintain this was an oversight by the judge at the time which should have been corrected but I doubt that it ever will. Until then, Monovians will have to suffer the technocratic rule of Kovac's regime.

Regarding Interland's constitutional provisions which render it a neutral state, the last thing a Republic would do would be to ask another to act against its Constitution, the fundamental laws of the apparatus of state. Yet I can assure the people of Interland that an alliance with Ashkenatza would be primarily defensive- Interland would only be obliged to enter into military conflict in the event of an attack against Ashkenatza. Were Ashkenatza to initiate a conflict, we could request Interland's support but Interland would have the right under the Treaty to refuse.

Ashkenatza does not see herself engaged in a 'great power struggle'. The political Blocs which have formed over the past year are the direct result of Ashkenatzi and Alexandrian refusals to surrender territories to Babkha which are rightfully ours. We have no desire to conquer, only to defend our citizens and our territorial integrity. Babkha has pulled every trick in the book and played on its extensive networks of overseas contacts to engineer a political situation which favours Babkhan interests on every continent. Ocia on Keltia, Jingdao on Cibola, Natopia on Tapfer, Antica and the Babkhan enclaves on Apollonia, and, if things take a turn for the worse, Elwynn on Benacia (As one of the first nations to recognise Elwynnese independence from Shireroth, Ashkenatza feels itself duty bound to work for peaceful Trans-Elwynnese relations and to an extent I would say that we have succeeded).

We stand for territorial integrity, nothing more. The hand of peace was extended to Babkha several times (for example, in transferring the entire Norashti Coast- formerly the Mahoz Occidental- to the Shahanshah as a peace offering), but it is clear that they view the continent of Eura as theirs and theirs alone. The peoples of Alkhiva and Luthoria do not agree. They remember well the terror of life under the Emirs, and will not return to it. They want to live in peace and prosperity as Ashkenatzi and Alexandrian citizens, Ashkenatza and Alexandria defend their right to do so. Will Interland join with us for the principle of territorial integrity and democracy?

Your Excellency need only state exactly what provisions Interland desires in a Treaty and I will draft a version. Whether this is to be an alliance, or perhaps just a treaty of recognition and friendship, I am sure that every member of the Knesset will wholeheartedly vote in support of it.

I have the honour to remain,

M. Goltz

Antschuldygun myr, Herr Goltz, for my tardiness. I have been busy with both school and work IRL recently and have not been able to answer your letter, and even now I will only respond it promptly.

I suppose mutual friendship affirmation is a good start for now. Times are unstable, but despite voices about Micraswide War are arising, there's enough time to start negotiating an alliance after something has been agreed upon.

We no longer ask for land in the Archipelago, for we found a deserted island to accomodate on. But still, military cooperation is possible and needed to retain stability in the region.

We support Ashkenatza and Alexandria in defending Mahoz haSephardim and Luthoria's separation from Babkhi regime. And I suppose it's high time to draft a treaty, unless we want the discussions to continue with bombs exploding and guns shooting above our heads.

(And there is a Polish mapping organisation. are actually. We have three different versions of one map, being forks of one another, with only one being developed and other being officially recognised for three years now, I think.)