Treaty with Ergonia

[Kaiser Ayreon III]

Honourable members,

The relations between Ergonia and Shireroth have improved during the kaiserships of our dearly departed Isa IV and my own.

Advised by my Ministers, I have signed the treaty proposed by the Ergonian governing council.

I move that this Landsraad ratifies it.

A TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN SHIREROTH AND ERGONIA

AFFIRMING the spirit of friendship and cooperation on which relations between the two nations are based, and wishing to place their relations on a closer and more solid foundation;

AFFIRMING that both nations formally recognize and respect each other as independent and sovereign nations, including the sovereign territories and property of each other: websites, message boards, any monies deposited into the SCUE banking system, and any land claims approved by the Micronational Cartographical Society;

ACKNOWLEDGING the importance to each nation of the relationship and the close connection between them;

RESOLVED to evaluate and pursue opportunities for their governments and their peoples to work closer together in a spirit of understanding on matters of mutual interest;

CONVINCED of the importance of creating, developing and maintaining relations on an equitable and mutually advantageous basis in a long-term perspective;

RECOGNIZING that cooperation between the two nations should have their common interest in the prosperity and welfare of both nations;

RECOGNISING that each Treaty Party shall grant onto the other's sovereign, and any accredited diplomatic officials, full immunity from prosecution for offenses that may be committed within its jurisdiction. The immunity for diplomatic officials other than the sovereign may be waived on an individual case-by-case basis at the agreement of both Treaty Parties for certain crimes.

AFFIRMING that each contracting party has the right to appoint an ambassador to the other contracting party, where each contracting party is allowed to demand immediate removal of the ambassador
at any time since arrival and without notice;

WHICH HAVE RESOLVED to conclude this treaty and for that purpose sign to indicate acceptance as follows:


Ayreon III
THE IMPERIAL REPUBLIC OF SHIREROTH

Mr. Thadeus Z. Lange Jr
THE INDEPENDENT REALM OF ERGONIA

[Orion]

RECOGNISING that each Treaty Party shall grant onto the other's sovereign, and any accredited diplomatic officials, full immunity from prosecution for offenses that may be committed within its jurisdiction. The immunity for diplomatic officials other than the sovereign may be waived on an individual case-by-case basis at the agreement of both Treaty Parties for certain crimes.

Define "certain crimes". I don't really like the gist of this, since it suggests a diplomatically-immune person can get away with murder.

[Kaiser Ayreon III]

That is true. My interpretation of that clause is that Ergonia and Shireroth would have to agree on what crimes to exclude from the diplomatic immunity. Should the Landsraad ratify this treaty, I will make sure such an agreement is made with Ergonia as soon as reasonably possible.

[Sonata Green]

If an ambassador actually tried to get away with murder, they would find themselves on the receiving end of a demand for immediate removal. When they got home, they would not have immunity from the laws of their own nation, who would probably be displeased with them for causing a diplomatic incident. Murder would, at best, be a career-ending move. While this is much less than the usual consequences for murder, I expect that it will tend to be sufficient deterrent in practice.

[Kaiser Ayreon III]

Honourable members,

We shall now vote on the motion to ratify the signed Treaty with Ergonia.

Voting shall last for at least 72 hours. Please vote in favour or against in a clear manner; you may also abstain.

Voting begins now.

[Seoni Milharna]

No

[Janus Eadric]

Aye.

[Sonata Green]

Aye.

[Stellus Yastreb]

Abstain.

[Orion]

Nay. I will not support this treaty until the line on diplomatic immunity is revised.

[Malliki Nur Pinito]

Nay. I will not support any treaty with Vasroe's papel infected egostan.

[Shyriath]

Nay, for the same reason Orion stated.

[Ryker]

Heh, I could see that going hilariously badly.

[Mira Raynora Major]

I shall allow this a couple more days...so if you wish to enter a vote, please do so in a timely fashion.

[Verion]

Aye, but I'd like to see Orion's concerns answered as well.

[Mira Raynora Major]

So no one is taken unawares, I am going to close this vote soon after I arrive in my office tomorrow morning (probably around 9am).

[Mira Raynora Major]

Voting has now closed. With three votes for (Eadric, Green, Jack), four against (Milharna, Orion, Nur Pinito, Shyriath) and one abstention (Yastreb), ratification fails.

*The Designated Hat-Doffing Minion doffs its hat*