Kaminsky tour of Alba Karinya - Phase 1, East Moreland

[Malson]

FEDERATION OF VALOKCHIA

To the Kingdom of East Moreland,

Following the recent attacks against your country, along with the many dead that were citizens of your land, and due to it, I give my greatest condolences to your government and the families that lost their loved ones thanks to the Borlander separatists. Our stances are with East Moreland in this situation at the moment and right now in our re-considering of emerging once again on the international stage is confirmed, and I would like to extend a hand out to the nations of Alba Karinya. And what better way to contact with the main power of the continent that is East Moreland, and I vow to tour the continent in order to speak with delegates on the continent in order to promote peace and goodwill between Valokchia and the Alba Karinyan states, and I shall request an invite to Northfort to summit between your leaders in order to discuss a positive future for the both of our countries...

Best regards,
Dimitry Kaminsky
Prime Minister of Valokchia

[DaveIronside]

Seabrooke sat not far from the border with Vaguzia and wasn't that used to hosting state occasions. It wasn't a place that the Royal Family visited that often either but the news that King David and Prime Minister Kaminsky would be holding talks between their two nations here had sent a wave of excitement, and pride, through the small city. The city itself sat, like most East Moreland cities in two halves, one was a scattering of old medieval homes while the other half sat higher up the hill and was a collection of more modern housing estates and industrial units. At one point in the nations history it had been an important port but for the last 400 years Portworth had taken over as the nations primary port. It was such a small city that in order to get here the Prime Minister would have to first fly to Portworth. It was there that the King and Foreign Minister Edward Tamana waited for the Prime Minister down by the cities military dockyard. The Ekra-Badger had been given a spruce up ready for the occasion, the side facing seats that edged the large cargo hold wouldn't be used, instead a series of large luxury seats had been bolted into the floor and a large viewing screen installed, it was showing a live feed from the outside.

As Prime Minister Kaminsky approached, having been brought over from the military bases small airfield the King spotted him on the screens and came to meet him. "Welcome to East Moreland" the King said with a warm handshake. "I hope you don't mind but you're going to be helping me with some PR, some of the more provincial cities have complained in the past that we never visit them with foreign guests so we're off to a lovely little city called Seabrooke, only around 200,000 people living there but rather pretty." The King explained as they made their way into the Ekra-Badger via the rear ramp. "I thought I'd also take the chance of you visiting to get a ride in this thing." David added as they headed towards the seats. "It'll be rather quiet today, normally its got about 100 Red Legionnaires or a tank or three inside." The space was huge, it was designed to be used as a field hospital and the feint aroma of disinfectant still lingered in the air. "Please take a seat, get settled and we'll be off soon. It's just like being in a very very very low flying plane. Put it this way, you're more likely to get hit by a leaping Dolphin than birds" The King realised his words may not have been that reassuring. Before long the aircraft was secured and the pilot throttled the massive engines forward, the aircraft bounced a few times, then ran neatly on top of the water before lifting two meters clear, it accelerated up to top speed and the view from the outside cameras showed them just above the sea. The coastline of East Moreland's southern coast whipped past about 5km away from the wing. The city of Portworth, it mass of cranes at the docks and then pretty 18th century buildings were soon left behind, first the towering cliffs of the coast Portworth sat on that faded behind them to make way for the rolling beaches that lead to Seabrooke. The flight took 45 minutes and then the aircraft slowed and sank, it became like a powerful boat pushing its way through the sea at high speed before arcing and slowing before finally sinking to its natural state alongside the quayside. The side door was opened this time and the King lead the way out down a gangplank normally associated with pleasure craft.

The dockside was a wash with colour as locals waved both nations flags welcoming their monarch and his guest. David spent a few moments shaking hands and having photos with the crowd while Edward Tamana spoke with Kaminsky. "The King is slightly fascinated with the Ekra-Badger, we all were. I keep expecting him to demand a Royal version" by now Tamana had escorted him towards one of the streets nearby where six ceremonially dressed Red Legionnaire veterans stood with swords drawn and began escorting him through the twisting streets on Seabrooke. "Hows the tour going so far?" Edward asked as they walked with well wishers either side, "I know the King usually likes to allow guests to come up with an agenda for talks, perhaps you could give me some insight into what you wish to talk about?"

Meanwhile the King finished at the Docks and accompanied by his own little Red Legion escort cut through a local temple and caught up with Tamana and Kaminsky just as they reached the market square, a large white stone building dominated, its lower floors mostly gone and replaced with stilts which had a few market stalls underneath. The building above was the old guild hall, a fancy ornate building inside with carved wooden beams and tapestries hung from the walls. The group entered and there was a table set up, the Valokchia flag on one side and the East Moreland one on the other. "I believe you've discussed with Edward here what you wish to discuss so perhaps if you want to get the ball rolling." David said as he sat down and began pouring tea for everyone.

[Malson]

Kaminsky smiles, shaking David's hand, "It is a pleasure visiting your beautiful country." He responds with assurance, "Well, smaller cities usually have the best scenery, better to be surrounded by mountains than skyscrapers!" Kaminsky says, walking beside David as they entered inside of the Ekra-Badger. He chuckled, "A tank and 100 Red Legionnaires? I see you like to keep extremely tight security." He says, glancing around at such a huge and open space, he notices the scent of disinfectant but would see it as a sign of a clean and sterile aircraft. As the Ekra-Badger finished its 45-minute duration, once they exited and walked among the crowd showing pride for both countries, Kaminsky replied to Tamana at her comment about the Ekra-Badger, "Well, to make it royal they just need to not make it into a field hospital." He says, chortling as veterans of the Red Legionnaires now began to escort him, "The tour has just started, and giving how well the trip went I am very confident at the outcomes..."

"Well, despite the current situation right now with the Borlander separatists, as both of our countries are separated by the illumic, and would be an easy sail to the coast of East Moreland, I would especially would like to discuss future trade between our countries, as well with the potential for improving ties to the fullest extent, and to potentially become an observer state of the Alba Karinya Organisation." He responds, walking as the group entered and sat. Kaminsky spoke to David as he sipped the cup of tea, "Yes, my interest in Alba Karinya has been at it's highest and what better way than to travel the continent establishing great ties with the countries within it. What I would like to discuss first are our historic relationships. I feel during the Arstotzkan era relations between both of our states had dwindled because of it..." He says, taking another sip of the cup, "But, the cream of the crop of this summit is probable trade agreements between East Moreland and Valokchia, and now is a perfect opportunity of discussing it at this moment."

[DaveIronside]

"Well in regards to the Alba Karinya Organisation I would be interested to hear what you think the vested interest you have in our continent is?" David asked rather puzzled. "Simple geographic distance isn't sufficient in my view and as you said yourself we don't have the most active of diplomatic relationships. That though doesn't have to be a stumbling block in us looking to establish new initiatives for the 21st century. With that in mind you seem interested in trade agreements and I'd be happy to entertain the ideas you have on that. As for establishing ties I always feel it is important to bind not just the governments but the people of each nation, so I'd be interested in educational opportunities for our people. So with that on the table then perhaps you'd like to outline these ideas for trade you have?" The King began

[Malson]

"Binding both the people of East Moreland and the Valokchian Confederation has been a great priority of mine, a cultural exchange program can give Morelanders a chance at experiencing the diverse cultures within Valokchia, as well with Valokchians experiencing the cultures of East Moreland. With that, trade is also a great recommendation as it is beneficial to the economies of both nations that trade with one another. With trade, our 3 most primary exports are streel, petroleum, and lumber if your country is interested in such in exchange for your exports. But we would also like to hear your recommendations on changing this outline as we shall focus on creating fair treatment in regards to trade between East Moreland and Valokchia."

[DaveIronside]

The King noted how Kaminsky had avoided the question about the AKO and his nations vested interest, he didn't however plan on dwelling on that. "As you know our nation is all for cultural exchange, Tim Carpenter started the More and Mundus programme four years ago now partnering our schools with those in other countries, I'd be delighted to add Valokchia to that list too." The project had worked brilliantly, he'd even had his niece Sophie take part spending time in Dartfordia while they played host to a Dartfordian girl called Lucy. "We also have our CETO commitments so anything that builds upon that I'm fully for." his smile began to fade though.

"As for trade I think you misunderstand, I'm not about to place orders for goods or try selling you anything. Our nations economy, save for a few areas such as health care and public transport, is fully privately operated, to me I don't care whether a company buys its lumber from you or from the Alanders as long as our nations economy is protected and grows. What I can do though is make it easier for your nation to compete with the Alanders, you see if your a nation we don't have an agreement with we charge tariffs on the import of goods of many kinds and of course there are issues of complying with our health and safety rules, but thats something we can't budge with a great deal. Now one issue you have is we have a great deal of ore in our Alps so we tend not to have much of a problem getting steel and with you being a kind of rival I'd not like to see you become tariff free in that regards. But I am sure we can work out a schedule of products and materials we are both happy to remove tariffs on. "