Foreign Policy [Diplomats please read first]

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Andreas the Wise
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Foreign Policy [Diplomats please read first]

Post by Andreas the Wise »

As at January 2011

This outlines the foreign policy of the Gralan Empire - and in particular under what circumstances we will form diplomatic ties with other nations, and what such ties will entail.

Diplomatic Relations
The defining principles of Gralan diplomatic relations are threefold: Meaningful Relations; Mutual Cooperation; and Optional Excitement.
Meaningful Relations: We don't want to sign a relatively meaningless treaty with you and never see you again. We want to agree to actually talk about what our nations can do for eachother, how we can interact, and what meaningful grounds our relationship is made upon. Then we can sign a treaty that we both find useful and meaningful, and not just one or the other person's "Treaty in a Can". If you come to us and say "Hi, I'm from nation X, let's be friends, here's my treaty in a can, will you sign it?" you will be politely but firmly told "No." We want our treaties to mean something.
Mutual Cooperation: We don't just want to chat about meaningful treaty and never see you again. We want ongoing communication and cooperation. Ideally, we'd like you to appoint an Ambassador, who will regularly visit Gralus and engage with it's citizenry; and in turn, we hope to do the same with you. At the least, we'd like to do things together when the opportunity arises, and have semi-regular contact. If we don't hear from you for months, we'll probably consider our relationship at an end. We will try to give our allies at least bi-monthly updates on what's going on in Gralus.
Optional Excitement: Much of the activity on Gralus stems from exciting IC interactions, including plots, wars, magical menaces and threats to the continued existence of Micras or the universe as a whole. We understand that this is not every nation's cup of tea; but if it does interest you, we'd love to have you involved. When organising relations, we'd like to know if you're interested in our Optional Excitement. If you are, we'll include you where appropriate. If you aren't, we won't mention it again. Be aware that Optional Excitement is a good way to stay in continued mutual cooperation with us.

With these in mind, Gralus will not immediately sign treaties until we get to know your nation. If you want, we'll issue a "Letter of Recognition", a relatively meaningless document which uses flowery language and says we admit you exist and will try not to invade you. But an actual treaty needs to be meaningful and negotiated.
Embassies and Ambassadors
Embassies, while available, will not be automatic. You're going to need to actually apply for an embassy if you want one, and provide an Ambassador, who will then be given moderatorship over the embassy subforum; be counted as having diplomatic immunity if our treaty entails that; and will be expected to regularly visit Gralus. If the Ambassador makes no contact with Gralus for a period of three months or more, and the Embassy appears unused, we reserve the right to close down your embassy. In short, we'll only give you an embassy if you actually use it.

Trade Relations
International Trade is important to Gralus; and as a global economic powerhouse and centre of international trade, we're always happy to add more nations to our network of economic partners. Signing a treaty with us is not required to engage in trade; merely that you actually will trade with us. The main restriction we place on trade is that it needs to be free trade.
At present, Gralus can trade with you in three ways:
As a nation: We can negotiate specific trades for specific purposes - perhaps you want to place a large order for weapons off us; or engage our material support when you suffer a natural disaster or the like. Such trades are negotiated on a one off, specific basis between our government and yours.
For resources: Gralus has been a proud participant in the Micras Initiative Trade Organisation (MITO), and has reached the top level of economic development. MITO appears to have gone out of vogue internationally now. We're willing to arrange further trades with you under the MITO auspices; alternatively, if you have a new international trading system, we'll be happy to give it a look and consider getting involved.
As an individual: Gralus is a member of the Small Commonwealth Unified Economy (SCUE), and as such, part of the SC bank. If your nation also participates in the SCUE, any citizen in your nation is welcome to organise any economic deal with citizens in our nation and trade currency for that. You don't need our permission to do that.

Military Relations
Gralus is generally recognised as one of the mighty recwarring nations on Micras. While we certainly enjoy engaging in domestic recwars, we have become far more wary of engaging in international recwars. In those, people tend to be a lot more antagonistic, unethical and generally disputative. We might get involved in a war if we have a good reason to (eg defending valued allies); but we might also ignore it if we feel it's likely to devolve into arguments and disputes, instead of being fun and recreational as recwar should be. We will also reserve judgement based on the charter under which the recwar is fought. QUARREL and Anunia are preferred.

Land
When nations get to a certain age and size, they don't tend to worry about expansion that much anymore. We're into that category. Apart from key historical land currently owned by our allies (which we would only consider claiming in the event of them going defunct, and we would try our utmost to stop them going defunct first) we're not considering claiming any more land. However, we really love the land we've got. So if you have your eye on our land, your best bet is probably to stop coveting and get land elsewhere. If you still really want it, we might be able to give you some; depending on its size, location, and the significance of development there; but you're going to have to properly compensate us. Or, you know, actually be good friends. You'd be surprised how few people asking for land are actually friends with us first; and how much quicker those negotiations go in the rare cases we are friends.

If you decide to ignore this and claim our land unilaterally, we will close diplomatic relations with you, stop the MCS council approving your illegitimate claim, and then proceed to ignore you until you properly apologise. We won't be drawn into a recwar we don't want to be in; and if we are, it'll involve magic.
The character Andreas the Wise is on indefinite leave. But he does deserve a cool war ribbon.
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However, this account still manages:
Vincent Waldgrave - Lord General of Gralus
Manuel - CEO of VBNC. For all you'll ever need.
Q - Director of SAMIN
Duke Mel'Kat - Air Pirate, Melangian, and Duke of the Flying Duchy of Glanurchy
Cla'Udi - Count of Melangia
Vur'Alm Xei'Bôn - Speaker of Nelaga, Minister of Interior Affairs, and a Micron

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