Freya Meets President Seiko

[DaveIronside]

"No, where using Princess Freya's Lodge" Rebecca Jarrett, Princess Freya's Head of Household spoke into the radio she was carrying attatched to her clipboard. She was putting the finishing touches to the preparations for the visit of President Seiko.

"Why the hell are you not in the Palace" the voice of Robbie Peacock, the Red Legionnaire in charge of security that day came back over the network. "No one told us." Rebecca could imagine the rather uncivilised language that the Captain would be spouting at the gatehouse.

"Freya didn't want to use the Kings office so she's setting up outside on the lawn, nice sunny day and all." Rebecca explained. The lodge was set just to one side of the Palaces rear waterway. It sat within its own little clearing in the woods and in times gone by would have been used by guests of the Royals come to hunt in the vast Palace woodlands that filled the Royal parkland. Five years ago David had however converted it into a residence for his sister Freya and although she now often lived off the Palace site with her husband Alex and adopted daughter Evie she did maintain it for special occasions. About five minutes later four members of Red Legion appeared and disappeared off into the woods to establish security, being within the confines of the Palaces fence though meant security was already high but the Red's would just hang out in the woods during the meeting ensuring an immediate response should something happen. Rebecca stood chatting with Peacock for a while, she'd served with him in Academica while serving with Freya in the 2nd Light Scouts.

Freya was busy having a stroll in the woodland instead of worrying about the details of what was going on. Evie had some homework, they had to collect a variety of leaves, grasses and other items from nature for a project they would do in class. Evie held her adoptive mother's hand as she picked up a black feather that she'd found. "Can I take this?" Evie asked. She'd lived in East Moreland three years now and her Morelandish was almost spotless, except for an accent, Freya sensed the 7 year old was even losing that now.

"Of course......just so long as its not attached to the bird" Freya held open the bag they'd brought with them and Evie deposited the feather inside.

"Your Highness" Rebecca appeared out of the trees,"Evie" Rebecca smiled at the young girl. "The gatehouse say the President is on her way up the drive. She'll be here in five minutes." They'd be the usual issuing of credentials at the gatehouse by the Red's, then they'd escort the Josai President up the 1km long gravel drive, the crystal clear blue lake at its side complete with its group of swans gliding effortlessly around. Occasionally one of the peacocoks would wander around the gravel road but today it was nowhere to be seen.  They drove under one of the archways that lead to the rear of the Palace and up to the circular fountain. It was there that vehicles stopped and Rebecca meet the President, "President Seiko" she gave a small bow of respect as she extended a hand in greeting. "I'm Rebecca, Princess Freya's Head of Household, if you'd like to follow me." She fell into step with the President as their feet crunched on the white gravel path. "If you or any of your party need anything while your here please do not hesitate to ask me and I'll see what I can do." They entered the wood still on the path for a few meters before the lodge's opening appeared. Freya had packed Evie off to school and was waiting for the President.

"Good Morning President Seiko" Freya extended a hand, "I'd like to formally welcome you to East Moreland. I know my brother would have liked to have meet you in person but he's currently off sunbathing in Lodja I think. Honeymoon and all that." she explained. " I am however charged with being able to speak on his behalf so I hope that we can have a good meeting, something for him to read about while getting sunburnt." Freya gestured to one of the wooden chairs sat on the lawn around a walnut coloured table. "So, what can I do for you today?" Freya asked as Rebecca poured iced tea, a perfect drink for the early morning warm weather of a Northfort summer.

[Baal]

President Seiko respectfully replied “Yes of course Your Highness.  I wish to discuss opening relations with the world’s largest economy. Josai by its nature has no choice but to Trade outside its borders, given todays world and interconnectivity. Josai has no natural resources and is so far at the whims of the politics of the Ardia continent. Our major trading partners are Rokkenjima and the SANE bloc and Heyra, the latter being our only major trading partner outside of Ardia. My country therefore needs more outside trading partners, as we are a city state and has no natural resources, we have become specialists in importing raw materials and exporting high valued manufactured goods as well as a highly developed service sector. What I cam here for today is to establish trade relations with the largest economy in Mundus as a means of not only diversifying markets of Josain products, but to ensure our economic sovereignty Your Highness something which I believe East Moreland to provide.”

[DaveIronside]

"Well my brother has long held the belief that our trade should be as streamlined as possible. With that in mind we're coonected to every major cross continental trading block, the CSU, the CNN and TUNA. We're very much about lowering tariffs, in some cases removing them completely and allowing eased movements of goods and services. Naturally though we expect reciprocation. So for example if we are to lower tariffs on high valued manufactured goods you could expect to see companies such as Better Auto trying to sell their cars in your nation. Now if that's something you would find acceptable then it seems we are well on the way otherwise the direction of travel will depend on exactly what you can offer. For example would the Josain market be able to support a new competitor in the automobile market like Better Auto, would companies like OsmanTech be able to sell their medical gadgets on par with those produced by your own people? If you find a completely open flow of trade something undesirable then naturally we can look at tariffs or quotas as a way forward. We have laid out the East Moreland position on the matter in principle, it now is over to you to determine the extent of the agreement you would like."

[Baal]

President Seiko smiled slightly "Well what you speak of falls in the line of basic supply and demand. My government beleives in the principles of free trade. Josai being as small as it is has no choice but to uphold these principles. It's how our nation survives economically.East Morelandish producers and FDI can flow in so long as the treatment of Josain products is reciprocal. We'll let the market of each respective nations decide whether or not they will be able to compte on the same level on the basis of standard product sales. As for Visas I was going to defer to you for that. Would you offer the same renewal rate time frame for tourist, study and work visa's or would we have verying degrees. For example 30 days for tourist, 90 days for study and 180 days-maybe a year for work visas?"

[DaveIronside]

Freya had to think for a moment or two before responding. "With respect visas are a tricky subject in East Moreland. We have streamlined visa processes for those in organisations and bodies that allow us to access shared intelligence only. As your probably aware East Moreland has often been the target for terrorism and while I am in no way saying we see your countryman as a threat in that regard we must put in place certain protocols. What I can offer at the moment would be a fast track process but it comes with a condition. The process would see travel being visa free so long as booked at least 7 days in advance, the trip lasting 30 days or less and the individual having a valid return ticket and the condition would be that we can access a travellers criminal records. Naturally we will offer the same to yourself. Once in the nation naturally the individual could apply to extend their visa. It would only be with either a longer standing relationship or deeper intelligence sharing that we would consider deeper visa easing at this point." Freya explained.

[Baal]

President Kumoiya replied "Fair enough. Josai is a peaceful country and one that isn't targeted for terrorists overseas, we are lucky to be blassed in that regard. I comend your nation for keeping the rest of us safe, aware it comes with a hefty price. For that you have my nations gratitude. I see no reason why we shouldn't comply to the protocols you outlined. I can't really think that on what we outlined in our agenda's so far that we really disagree on anything. With this I am glad that I have come you your fine country here today. Before we finalise this agreement is there anything you wish from us on our end?"