Austerain Welcomes the Irish and Welsh President

[Austerain]

AUSTERAIN - NEW IRELAND AND WALES

BILATERAL SUMMIT

SECOND OF DECEMBER, 2016

Grand Chancellor Giorgio Asher and his Secretary of State Dimitri Sinclair are at Austerain International Airport, where President Edwards of the Federal Republic of New Ireland and Wales is due to arrive at any moment. The red carpet has been rolled out in anticipation, lined by Austeren and New Irish and Welsh flags as well as soldiers on both sides. President Edwards will be the first foreign head of state to visit Austerain after Chancellor Asher opened trade and diplomacy with other nations for the first time since the monarchy was abolished over 200 years ago.



The Grand Chancellor, Secretary of State, and the President and his close Cabinet members will travel by motorcade together to the Palace of Auster, where they will hold bilateral talks and draw up a trade agreement.

After the two day meeting in the Palace, the President will speak to a joint session of the National Congress. After his speech, Asher and Edwards will tour the city of Sardinia in the Province of Hyacinth, and the metropolis city of Pinth (the nation's second largest city under the Capital City of Austraton) in the Province of Worcester. The two leaders have a joint town hall with young leaders, business leaders, and farmers at the University of Pinth, then a joint press conference at Pinth Regional Airport before the two depart back to Austraton where Edwards will conclude his trip in Austerain.

[New Ireland and Wales]

After leaving New Ireland and Wales President Edwards and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Brandon Cox arrived in Austerain. This is President Edward's first foreign visit and the first time a New Irish and Welsh leader has met with any foreign dignitary since President Carson in 1985. 


Before leaving President Edwards held a Press Conference and when asked how he felt about the summit he replied with "For decades our nation has been secluded from the rest of the world. We've been behind the curb on social and economic issues and haven't even made strides to gain allies across the world. This is unacceptable. In order for New Ireland and Wales to succeed we must catch up to the world socially and economically, we must also make allies. I believe Austerain is  a good place to start. So I have tremendous confidence in this summit and I'm sure it will go well"



 

[Austerain]

As President Edwards and Secretary Cox walked down the steps from their plane, Chancellor Asher approaches and offers his hand for a shake, "Welcome to Austerain, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary. I hope you had a nice journey here, we're very happy to have you with us."

The motorcade arrives at the other end of the red carpet awaiting the leaders to depart.

[New Ireland and Wales]

Upon meeting the Chancellor, President Edwards smiles and shakes his hand "Thank you for inviting us here. Truly is great to expand our international alliances. We are very happy to be here." After the motorcade arrives President Edwards and Secretary Cox get into the vehicle.

[Austerain]

Chancellor Asher and his Secretary of State get into the limousine as well. As the motorcade leaves the airport onto the highway towards downtown Austraton, crowds are cheering on each side waving little flags of both nations. The motorcade takes a scenic route towards the Palace of Auster, passing by great parks, marble monuments, soaring skyscrapers, and grand neoclassical libraries.

A few minutes later, the motorcade arrives at last at the Palace of Auster, a passing under the entrance of the wide front facade into the inner courtyard. The red carpet is rolled out towards the main entrance where they will enter.



"Welcome to the seat of our government, President Edwards," Asher says in pride.

[New Ireland and Wales]

As the car travels along the route President Edwards stares out the window admiring the parks , massive buildings, and libraries. "This is quite a beautiful nation you have here, Chancellor. Hopefully, one day New Ireland and Wales will be able to obtain this modernity. We haven't had a public library built since the late 1990's." says the President to the Chancellor. 

As the motorcade pulls up to the Palace of Auster President Edwards and Secretary Cox both let out a sigh of relief as they both realize this will be the first time a leader from New Ireland and Wales has talked to anyone outside the country since the Military Government was overthrown in the 1980's. 

[Austerain]

"Thank you Mr. President," Asher says, "Since progressives have taken local and provincial governments, the national government has been investing heavily in infrastructure and public works, creating millions of high wage jobs for our people. Our National Library two blocks away is a national treasure itself with a variety of the finest literature from the works of Shakespeare and Cicero to Miguel De Cervantes and a source of the nation's historical artifacts and documents. Perhaps we can have our Education Departments work together to build a great library for your country, President Edwards. A country is judged by how much it invests into its own people."

The group enters the building to the warm grand foyer.



They go to the second floor and enter the Cabinet Room, where the Vice Chancellor and the Cabinet Secretaries with their aides are waiting to begin.



Asher sits at his seat and gestures Edwards to sit next to him and Cox to sit between Edwards and the Austerain Secretary of State, "Let's start business, gentlemen."

An aide comes in and passes out coffee cake and marshmallow hot chocolate.

[New Ireland and Wales]

"Thank you, Mr. Chancellor. Education and the Arts have been a top priority of mine since taking office. As has employment and the economy but what good is a rich nation if it does not have education and art? By the way, please call me Ted."

As the motorcade pulls up to the Palace and the group enters and makes it's way towards the Cabinet Room President Edwards talks and shakes hands with palace employees. When the group enters the Cabinet Room President Edwards takes a seat. He smiles at everyone and then says "Thank you for having me here honorable Secretaries. Our Government is confident that our two nations can form a special bond with each other. Mr. Chancellor, what is the first item on the agenda?"

[Austerain]

Each of the 13 Cabinet Secretaries shakes the President and Secretary's hands and welcomes them.

Asher starts once everyone is finally seated and listening, "The first item on the agenda is to discuss the type of trade agreement we want to have and what restrictions we would have to have with it. I want to have a trade agreement in which our two nations may allow businesses and citizens to ship, buy, and sell goods and services oversees, as well as invest in construction of commercial shops in each nation."

Secretary of Labor and Commerce Andrew Price speaks up as he swallows a piece of the coffee cake, "But we have strict restrictions on how far we can go. Austerain's Omnibus Trade Initiative Act restricts people from hiding profits overseas from tax collection and vice versa, requires sustainable wages for conpanies that have shops here, and prevents (but doesn't make illegal) Austerain's companies from moving production and manufactoring jobs overseas. We can't maintain a 4.5% unemployment rate that is still decreasing without protecting our jobs and workers, Mr. President, you understand that." He takes another large bite.

"Exactly," Asher says, "We are open to opening a free trade agreement, but our laws restrict them a little to protect our own workers and jobs here. Secretary Price here already has an agreement drafted. Do you have any concerns as well Mr. Presi- Ted?"

Reference for Cabinet Secretaries: www.nationstates.net/nation=austerain/detail=factbook/id=737064

[New Ireland and Wales]

Secretary Cox sips his hot chocolate and then speaks in his normal deep voice "Secretary Price I fully understand the need to protect your workers and your economy. We do much the same. We are fully open to free trade between our two nation. We believe it would benefit the economies of our two nations. But I do have one concern. New Ireland and Wales has an unemployment rate of 12% and a GDP per capita of about $11,000. Your nation is far better off than ours and commonly the richer nation, maybe not its government, tends to what's the word? Rip off the poorer country. What protections or methods could we put in place to prevent this from happening?"

President Edwards coughs briefly and says "Secretary Cox is right. You can protect your workers. But our workers will need protections too."

[Austerain]

Asher nods, "I understand this concern, but please don't think that our goal is to reap benefit from your country like an imperial parasite. It's my belief that when Austerain's companies are able to open shops in New Ireland and Wales, they will employ your citizens to run those shops and give those workers good wages mandated by Austerain's laws. This higher income is taxable in your country, and this revenue can be used by your government to reinvest back into your people by creating infrastructure or federal level jobs which is more taxable revenue. Companies from New Ireland and Wales may be able to set up shop in Austerain too, who can be subject to your taxable income laws as well. The Austerain government may also contract companies in your country for certain products like airplane parts, fuel, arms, and others. These large contracts will create incentives for companies originating in your country to create more jobs for production and manufactoring within New Ireland and Wales, which is even more taxable income to reinvest in the cycle of the basic bargain. If there is a largely disproportionate amount of economic growth that comes along with this, certain restrictions can be put in place to better benefit your country."

Secretary Price drinks his hot chocolate carefully and says, "Correct. This agreement will help reduce your unemployment rate as more jobs are created in New Ireland and Wales, and as more workers earn higher wages from these new jobs. There are also restrictions in place that will keep some of these wealthy millionaires and billionaires from screwing off consumers in the financial business if New Ireland and Wales wants their companies to enter the Austerain Exchange and financial services market."

Price spills a drop of his drink on his shirt and winces, he dabs a napkin on the stain.

[New Ireland and Wales]

President Edwards nods and looks around "This sounds like a good plan. I hope you don't think that I actually think this is the goal of this summit was for your country to reap benefits from my country. But my main concern before anything is my people. I would also like to touch on investments in each others stock markets. Like most, if not all, countries people have the ability to invest in the stock market in our country. Now would this be the case between our two countries and would there be a tax on that transaction?"

[Austerain]

"I completely understand and I would be wary of the same thing if I was in your shoes, Ted. The foundation of any agreement should be trust." Asher looks at the Secretary of the Treasury John Denver, who understands the signal and begins talking,

"Mr. President, as with normal stocks, there would be taxes on the dividends earned (around 16%-40% in Austerain's markets) and a capital gains tax on profits made from share trading."
Secretary Denver drinks his hot chocolate with a pinky up, "Any speculation is taxed as well. Potential investors from Austerain would expect similar taxes levied in New Ireland and Wales, and your country would be able to earn revenue from trading made here in Austerain in the form of income tax in addition to Austerain's corporate tax (on the books as double taxation when corporate and income taxes are levied on share transactions). The taxes here, of course, would be no different for your citizens than they would be with ours, though if companies from New Ireland and Wales file for an IPO, they might expect a larger fee as a foreign legal entity, but this is negotiable. We could merge our two stock exchanges to avoid these fees altogether and promote investment, and allow room for other countries to join the exchange."

[New Ireland and Wales]

Secretary Cox looks at President Edwards with a questioning look "Mr. President, what are your thoughts?"


The President sighs and then says "I wouldn't see a major problem with merging our two markets. Other than opposition from the fascists, excuse me, traditionalists in our Congress. But they don't even have enough seats to be heard if they yelled. I think that is something that should be seriously be looked into. If we encouraged investments I'm more than sure it would greatly benefit our two economies."

[Austerain]

"I'm glad you would agree to it," Asher grins amused at the 'fascist' remark the President uses to refer to the traditionalists. He wonders how extreme they are compared to Austerain's Conservative Royalists, an extreme far right party.
"We can draw up two versions of the agreement with one that excludes the single market in case your national legislature fails to pass the version with the merge."

The Chancellor drinks some of his hot chocolate for the first time since the meeting started, which by then had already become lukewarm. He walks over to a small table nearby and pours himself and the President a glass of iced lemon water. He sits back down and offers a glass to Ted, drinking a sip of his own.

Asher continues, "Ahh that's much better. Yes, shall we move on to diplomatic ties, immigration, and travel? Any other concerns or suggestions regarding the markets and our economies, Ted... Secretary Cox?"

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards slightly embarrassed by the 'fascist' comment speaks "You must forgive me. The Traditional Union, as they are called is an extreme right-wing party who somehow manages to oppose everything. But yes two versions would be sufficient I believe."

The President accepts the lemon water and takes a sip. "Yes those sound like good topics to discuss. Particularly immigration first because our Domestic Affairs Secretary Christiana Polacco did voice concerns, very vocally might I add, before we came here. So while we should allow for easier immigration between our two countries in some form she wants to know how much control would we be able to have over our borders?" Secretary Cox chuckles obviously displeased with Secretary Polacco.

[Austerain]

"Think nothing of it, Ted, everyone here thinks the same way about a far right wing party here called the Conservative Royalists, though not as vocally." Asher chuckles to himself.

When the President mentions Christiana Polacco, there is a quiet but audible gasp from several Cabinet Secretaries. Vice Chancellor Sarah Versace sits at the edge of her seat and gives a penetrating glare at Edwards.

"Excuse me, Mr. Chancellor, Mr. President. Speaking of far right wing fascists," Versace says carefully, "Are you aware that Secretary Polacco is a former Austeren Congresswoman who had to resign in disgrace after claiming that Z-day was a hoax created by the Maxtopians and who called our Chancellor a 'libtard'? You come here promising shared progressive values, yet you appoint a right wing thin-skinned bully as your Domestic Affairs Secretary?" A couple Cabinet Secretaries murmur and nod their heads slightly in agreement.

An awkward silence occurs until Asher clears his throat and narrows his eyes at Versace, "Sarah, it's not our place to criticize a sovereign leader on who he chooses to appoint to his Cabinet to govern his sovereign nation. If anything, I wear the 'libtard' label with pride." He gives a wry laugh and looks at Edwards apologetically.

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards looks around the room in a bit of shame and surprise. "Mr. Chancellor please Ms. Versace is correct. It wasn't pleasant appointing her. But my predecessors have had a policy to where every party in Congress gets one or two seats in the Council of State, which is our Cabinet. For whatever reason the Traditional Union chose her. Probably to annoy me which she's good at doing. But, however, I still stand with progressive values. Domestic Affairs isn't that much of an important office they oversee the National Parks, Culture, etc. So, umm, Mr. Chancellor shall we move on?" Edwards then takes a sip of his lemon water and sets it back on the table.

[Austerain]

"I see," Versace says as she places her notes in her briefcase, "If you'll excuse me, I have to speak to the Minority Opposition Leader of the Grand Senate to prepare them for the joint address and upcoming agreements that will be passed. A pleasure to meet you, President Edwards, Secretary Cox."

She leaves the room and shuts the door a little harder than she should.

Asher is rubbing his temples with his thumb and looks up at Edwards visibly frustrated, "I deeply apologize that you were treated by my Vice Chancellor that way. She can be very.. passionate to her convictions. I understand why you were obligated to appoint Secretary Polacco and I have no ill will about it. I can relate to being forced to hire intolerable people as staff or Cabinet members." At that last part, Asher glances at Versace's empty seat.

He drinks another sip of lemon water and continues, "To answer your question, you will still have control over your borders and you can vet and check Austerens that come to your country and contact our State Department if it's needed. I was thinking about allowing tourists to travel between our countries without the need for a visa but they will still have to go through necessary security checks at airports and seaports. Work and student visas will be more easily available, and we will recognize full faith and credit on legal things such as marriage licenses, inheritance, patents, and copyrights for visitors and immigrants."

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards sighs as the Vice Chancellor leaves the room with Secretary Cox still chuckling.

"Thank you Mr. Chancellor. But I understand her reaction. Mine was about the same when the traditionalists presented her as their pick." President Edwards coughs and continues "But onto more pressing matters. I believe a no visa travel policy would be both good and efficient as long as we are sure they won't do bad in our country if they did bad in your country and vice-versa. But I have full faith that this would be handled in an efficient manner. As with work and student visas I will have to discuss that with our colleges and companies to see how they want that handled but public colleges and companies could be assured of easier access to these. I suspect we would keep a record of the marriage licenses, etc. between each other or would that be accessible by contacting each others governments?"

[Austerain]

"No harm done, Mr. President, I'm glad we have an understanding," Asher says, "I'll talk to her later about it." He looks curiously at Secretary Cox, who looks entertained by the whole situation.

Secretary of Law and Justice Stephen O'Brennen answers Edwards' question, "Yes sir, let me be clear by informing you that we maintain all legal documents like marriage licenses on a secure database on dolj.gov.aus, which will be made accessible to your government upon agreement of full faith and credit in recognition of them. I hope we can expect the same, Mr. President."

[New Ireland and Wales]

Secretary Cox continues to chuckle and then straightens up "You must forgive me. This is about how our cabinet meetings go. Polacco gets riled up and then eventually storms out."

Edwards places a hand on Cox's shoulder telling him to calm down then looks as the Law and Justice Secretary "Thank you, Mr. Secretary. That sounds fantastic and of course you can expect the same cooperation from us."

[Austerain]

Asher gives a half-smile, "Mr. Secretary, after the way my Vice Chancellor behaved, it's us who need your forgiveness. But that does sound about right, she did the same thing during debates in Congress. Incompetent and unable to handle adult talk." Asher laughs to himself.

O'Brennen laughs, "Almost every week." He composes himself, "It's a done deal. I'll have my assistant add it to the agreement draft, Mr. President, thank you. Next on the agenda, Giorgio?"

"Yes," Asher responds, "Any questions before we move on to travel and the embassies?"

[New Ireland and Wales]

"No questions Mr. Chancellor" Edwards says and smiles

[Austerain]

"Great," he continues, "Mr. President, we can begin construction of your embassy complex immediately. We've set aside a section of the city called the Jameson District just north of the historic city center of Austermere, named after our first Grand Chancellor, for embassies, consulates, and diplomatic residences. The residences and the one for your ambassador is already constructed and move-in ready. Sinclair, show him the pictures."

Secretary of State Sinclair takes a folder out of his laptop bag and gives Edwards and Cox the picture of the ambassador's housing.



"Of course sir," Secretary Sinclair says, "We have diplomatic districts set aside in other cities around Austerain too if you want to have consulates constructed in those, like our southern city Sundester. All ambassadors and officers have the usual diplomatic benefits, and diplomatic security includes elite guards, 24 hour perimeter security, and a 2-3 car motorcade for the ambassador. We don't want to risk foreign ambassadors being threatened or attacked. Chancellor Asher will appoint our own ambassador to your country once an agreement is signed."

[New Ireland and Wales]

Edwards looks at the pictures "This is very nice and we appreciate the protections you will give to our ambassador. Yours can expect much the same"

Secretary Cox leans forward "I think opening consulates will be a good idea but perhaps a bit in the future when our relations are a bit more set in stone."

Secretary Cox shows the Chancellor two pictures

"This will be your nation's embassy in Ireland and Wales"

"This will be your Ambassador's residence in New Ireland and Wales. The embassy is located in Phoenix Park in Dublin which is also where the Presidential Palace is. We have other areas in our major cities for consulates."

[Austerain]

The Chancellor smiles and says, "Thank you, the buildings look very nice, I look forward to staying at the residence when I visit."

Secretary Sinclair nods in agreement, "I agree. Here is an artist's rendering of Ireland and Wales' embassy building in the Jameson District. It will be larger than you might think."



O'Brennen asks as Secretary Cox looks at the rendering, "Can we expect an extradition agreement as well? We wouldn't want a case where a criminal is being harbored inside embassy grounds, which would technically be sovereign Irish and Wales soil according to diplomatic protocol and vice versa."

[New Ireland and Wales]

"We are more than willing to have an extradition agreement as long as we know that the criminal wouldn't be put to death or given some unnecessary punishment. We of course are willing to accept the same from Austerain." says Secretary Cox "Though the process of extradition is a long one thanks to former Government's unwillingness to cooperate with other nations in a fast manner. We are seeking to simplify this though."

[Austerain]

"Death penalty is outlawed here, Mr. Secretary," O'Brennen says, "And we have a fair justice system that hands down sentences equivalent to the crime committed, though some of the punishments might be considered atypical of the usual. Such as repairing damages from vandalism, deprivation of Wi-fi and television in our prisons, and chemical castration for violent and abusive statutory rapists. All such punishments are heavily regulated by an oversight agency. You can be assured to expect the same standards from us for an extradition agreement, though the process of extradition includes approval from the House of Governors or a writ of aut dedere aut judicare from a High Court Justice and the Chancellor."

[New Ireland and Wales]

"Well that's good to hear, Mr. Secretary" nods Cox "Now technically the death penalty is still legal in Ireland and Wales. But that's due to change soon. The President has commuted everyone's sentence on death row to a lesser sentence and has told the courts he'll do the same with anyone else that gets the death penalty. We are dedicated to ensuring justice is carried out but that does not mean we should be inhumane."