Selucian-Pontesi minority negotiations

[Leonardo222]

Since two weeks the Selucian government prepared carefully the visit of the Pontesi delegates with over 10.000 policeman and 5.000 soldiers in the city the negotiations are completely seperated from the daily business of the Selucian capital.
High hopes are connected with the this negotiation and as the minister for internal affairs said: "We want to end the sensless divison betwteen our two nations and people. Our joint fight against the dark powers of the dictatorships have bounded us together and has led us to this conference.
On both sides, I am sure, there is an will to come to compromises and to finally bring our nations together, as this would push away the last remaining hurdle for the Selucian entry into the great community of Majatran Nations.
Today, we will leave aside the past and decide ourselves for a new and brighter future.

God save our two nations.

Paul Biber, KLP

After this enthusiatsic speech the Selucian side presented its positions:

The Selucian government already outlined its positions:

1.) Autonomity of region where there is a great Selucian population

2.) Protection of the Selucian culture, languange, lifestyle and various opt out options for the autonomic regions
2.1 Establisihing of Selucian schools with own standards but with regional overseight
2.2 In regions/municipials where there is a huge selucian minority both languanges are allowed and used in the public service
2.3 In these regions every town, city, village every landmark and river has to have two names (Selucian and Pontesi)
2.4 In these regions/municipials also the etsbalishing of a parliament in order to express the intrest of Selucians is necessary
2.5 Those regions and municpials must have the right to spend 80% of their budget alone without interfrence
2.6 Laws which are intorduced have not to hurt any minority group
2.7 The central government of Pontesi does not have the right to force any Selucians to military or civil works

3.) Recognition of the Selucian Empire as the protection power for all Selucians

4.) Protection of Seucians from persecutions and racism+ religious freedom
5.1 Selucians have the right to obtain informations in their languange


6.) Allow Selucians to have deep connections with the Empire (military service)+ double citizenship


7.)Free movement of members of the minority in the two states, as well as the right of Island Selucians to visit their family members in Pontesi

8.) Selucian-Pontesi freindship treaty in order to bring together both peoples and nations.

[conlib]

Harry Delamere
Internal Affairs Secretary
Pontesian Dynastic Commonwealth

I thank Paul Biber for the enthusiasm he has invested into the organisation of this conference between our two neighbouring nations. I know that I and the rest of my government are fully supportive of a closer relationship between Pontesi and Seleucia and it is our hope that some progress may be made here.

I have been authorised to negotiate a re-defined relationship between our two nations in political, economic and military terms. I have the support of my government to discuss equality for the Seleucian minority which, after the emigration following the downfall of the last Crusader-led government stands at between 4 and 5% of the overall population. I should make it clear however, that I have not been authorised to alter the constitution of the Commonwealth nor to give suzerainty of Pontesian lands to a foreign government.

That being said, I shall deal with each proposal presented.

1. Signficant autonomy has already been provided to all Pentarchal Satrapies in an effort to provide greater local government. As no region has a substantial Seleucian minority - the maximum national population is between 4 and 5% - it would be impractical and undemocratic to grant autonomy to a small minority of people and to establish a Seleucian Parliament with legal jurisdiction over Pnteks and minority groups.

2. WE are fully supportive of Pontesian-Seleucians maintaining and preserving their unique culture and language. While we cannot accept autonomous regions, we are willing to provide supportive measures to Seleucians living in Pontesi. We suggest the establishment of a state-funded Seleucian Cultural Council which would have an organisational function in promoting the culture and language. The Council could be given powers to establish local bye-laws within designated 'Seleucia Town' areas within cities.

2.1 Agreed.
2.2 There is scope for some Seleucian language to be used in local governments but this must not reduce efficiency or substantially increase costs.
2.3 We believe providing two names for every landmark would cause undue confusion.
2.4 The Seleucian Cultural Council could be given some powers to create bye-laws in designation 'Seleucia Town' areas.
2.5 Local governments already have significant powers to spend their budgets as they see fit.
2.6 Our laws are already designed to accommodate for the many different minorities that exist within Pontesi and we are certainly keen to ensure that continues.
2.7 The Pontesian government would never force someone of another nationality to join our armed forces.

3. I'm unable to discuss issues which would alter the Pontesian constitution.
4. We certainly support this principle.
5.1 We would be willing for Police, local government and hospitals to provide Seleucians with information in the Seleucian language.

6. We would be willing to once again to allow duel citizenship and admit Seleucia into our standard immigration quota system.
7. Seleucia is currently removed from our immigration quota system but we would be willing to re-admit Seleucia and provide your country with an appropriate quota.
8. We would very much like to sign a friendship agreement.

We have simple demands in response.

1. Seleucia cedes any previous or future claims to existing or future Pontesian territory.
2. Seleucia denounces the Crimson Crusaders' false claim to Pontesian territory.

[Leonardo222]

Well, we want first fo all thank the Pontesi side for their sign of goodwill in appointing a Selucian as minister. This shows us, that our relation becomes deeper and will continue to become deeper.


Well, let's tunr to the agenda:

1. Signficant autonomy has already been provided to all Pentarchal Satrapies in an effort to provide greater local government. As no region has a substantial Seleucian minority - the maximum national population is between 4 and 5% - it would be impractical and undemocratic to grant autonomy to a small minority of people and to establish a Seleucian Parliament with legal jurisdiction over Pnteks and minority groups.

2. WE are fully supportive of Pontesian-Seleucians maintaining and preserving their unique culture and language. While we cannot accept autonomous regions, we are willing to provide supportive measures to Seleucians living in Pontesi. We suggest the establishment of a state-funded Seleucian Cultural Council which would have an organisational function in promoting the culture and language. The Council could be given powers to establish local bye-laws within designated 'Seleucia Town' areas within cities.

We argree, however we want a Selucian-Pontesi minority council seated half by Pontesi and half by Selucia which oversees the treaty and which promotes Selucian culture and languange in Pontesi and that there is a quota of seven percent in the public and poltical service for Selucians and that if a Selucian majority in a few towns wants to take more local responsiblity then normally granted this must be accpeted.

2.1 Agreed.
2.2 There is scope for some Seleucian language to be used in local governments but this must not reduce efficiency or substantially increase costs.
2.3 We believe providing two names for every landmark would cause undue confusion.
2.4 The Seleucian Cultural Council could be given some powers to create bye-laws in designation 'Seleucia Town' areas.

We agree, however we want that in Selucian Schools the Selucian languange is the first languange and that if a majority in an area wishes bilingual signs thoses must be granted.

2.6 Our laws are already designed to accommodate for the many different minorities that exist within Pontesi and we are certainly keen to ensure that continues.
2.7 The Pontesian government would never force someone of another nationality to join our armed forces.

This sounds very good. But this would also include Selucians with a dual citizenship of Pontesi and Selucia and we want in the end that in a treaty it is one basic principle that every selucian has the right to be treated equally.

3. I'm unable to discuss issues which would alter the Pontesian constitution.
4. We certainly support this principle.
5.1 We would be willing for Police, local government and hospitals to provide Seleucians with information in the Seleucian language.

We agree, however we want that Pontesi recognizes Selucia as the Protection power fo all Selucians and the basic principle must be that every Selucian can obtain information in his languange.

6. We would be willing to once again to allow duel citizenship and admit Seleucia into our standard immigration quota system.
7. Seleucia is currently removed from our immigration quota system but we would be willing to re-admit Seleucia and provide your country with an appropriate quota.

But we must stress, that we only mean ethical Selucians by that.

1. Seleucia cedes any previous or future claims to existing or future Pontesian territory.
2. Seleucia denounces the Crimson Crusaders' false claim to Pontesian territory.

[conlib]

We argree, however we want a Selucian-Pontesi minority council seated half by Pontesi and half by Selucia which oversees the treaty and which promotes Selucian culture and languange in Pontesi and that there is a quota of seven percent in the public and poltical service for Selucians and that if a Selucian majority in a few towns wants to take more local responsiblity then normally granted this must be accpeted.

The minority council is a decent idea and will be an important point of focus for future efforts to allow further diversification. Pontesi has never had a policy of positive discrimination and we are against the introduction of one - what we can do though is to ensure opportunities for Pontesi-Seleucians are more widely available for election to Parliament and local governments. This could also be supported by central funding to maintain a campaign to get more Seleucians registered to vote and inspire them to stand for election. The appointment of Tiberius Metallus will certainly show Seleucians that it is possible to gain office in the new Commonwealth. Tiiberius, as Education and Culture Secretary, will be instrumental in leading the campaign to change attitudes. Regarding the towns, we are currently in the process of further devolving powers to local governments so we would encourage areas with high Seleucian populations to stand for election and help decide their own local regulations.

We agree, however we want that in Selucian Schools the Selucian languange is the first languange and that if a majority in an area wishes bilingual signs thoses must be granted.

Schools are already given significant freedoms to decide their own curriculums so we don't believe further action would be required. Regarding the bilingual signs, local governments will have that power.

This sounds very good. But this would also include Selucians with a dual citizenship of Pontesi and Selucia and we want in the end that in a treaty it is one basic principle that every selucian has the right to be treated equally.

We would support giving Seleucians with dual nationality a choice whether or not they served but we would like to have a similar agreement that Pontesians living in Seleucia with dual nationalities would not have to serve in the Seleucian armed forces against their wishes.

We agree, however we want that Pontesi recognizes Selucia as the Protection power fo all Selucians and the basic principle must be that every Selucian can obtain information in his languange.

We would find it helpful if you could elaborate on what you mean by Seleucia as the 'Protection Power'. What would that involve?

We are also unsure of your opinions regarding our requirement for the following:
1. Seleucia cedes any previous or future claims to existing or future Pontesian territory.
2. Seleucia denounces the Crimson Crusaders' false claim to Pontesian territory.