My name is Leonie Karadeniz, and I serve as interim foreign minister for the Rheinland United Republic, the democratic state aiming to represent the will of the people of Rheinland.
While we are embroiled in a civil war, it's of the greatest urgency to reach out to our neighbors to secure legitimacy in opposition to the illegitimate monarchist usurpers currently occupying much of our formerly-great house. It is particularly crucial for us to reach out to our northern neighbors, as our young republic's greatest influence lies in that region.
The Rheinland United Republic is formed upon the principles of equality, democratic opportunity, and the rejection of imperialism and expansionist ambition. The Monarchist movement is joined by many veterans of the regrettable Sigmas war, and represent the same nationalist, militarist forces which pushed for it in the first place.
As much as we battle the assault of tyranny on the inside, so too do we hope to express friendship to the outside, and in particular to Kusari. Furthermore, we intend to put an end to the historically awful relations between Rheinland and the Gas Miners Guild, and begin a new era of cooperation between our house and the independent Sigmas.
We wish to establish economic ties, and to renegotiate a tripartite Sigma treaty between our houses and the Gas Miners Guild to replace the defunct Treaty of Nevers.
While we naturally respect the treaty's first article establishing peace between the houses, the status of the now monarchist-backing corporations in the dysfunctional Saigon Autonomous Council, Daumann and Kruger, is no longer acceptable. It is the wish of the Republic to discuss their expulsion from the Sigmas, and the establishment of a long-lasting friendship between the houses again.
Leonie Karadeniz, Foreign Minister Rheinland Federal Interim Government, Rheinland United Republic
First of all, we would like to thank you for sparing us the effort of trying to establish contact with the Federal - well - Government-in-exile?
You must understand that the circumstances surrounding your internal military conflict are not as clear as they seem to be. Any information regarding the true backgrounds, the things left unattended by the news services, would be most welcome.
We wish to thank you for showing us what the current democratic Government of Rheinland stands for. Allow me a remark that there are similarities to be found with your Imperial counterparts, whom I had the pleasure to talk to already. Particularly regarding stability on Rheinland's northern border.
As of now, the Treaty of Nevers remains in effect until re-negotiations took place. According to the own lawsuit of the Imperial parts of your nation, they will uphold the Treaty to its fullest. The Saigon Autonomous Council's functionality never reached a true height and according to our sources, the entire Rheinland sphere of influence left behind empty seats a longer while before the outbreak of violence in Rheinland. With other words, it is "only" the peace which is currently ensured by the Treaty.
Clearly the status of Sigma-21 will need to be clarified once again.
We would like to wait for the Gas Miner Guild representatives, seeing you invited them to a negotiation table they have left before, perhaps with the growth of Imperialism in Rheinland, they wish to re-consider their stance.
As a side note, you may have noticed that the crucial link between Honshu and Sigma-21 in form of a Jump Gate, saw its construction finished recently.
With cordial regards, Toshinori Kojirou
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Gas Miners Guild has not, at any point, had any desire for conflict with the people or any government of Rheinland this stance remains unchanged. The Guild is of the view that diplomacy may still prevail in putting an end to what is a pointless conflict that benefits none.
In reference to any agreement we may reach, the strife House Rheinland is currently experiencing is public knowledge and it is understood that any arrangement the Rheinland United Republic enters into will not be honoured by the Empire of Rheinland, which is problematic as this effectively means having to conduct separate discussions with two forms of House Rheinland which may or may not yield different results. Nevertheless, The Guild appreciates the difficulties faced by all and still seeks a peaceful and constructive relationship with your government. To this end, in a show of good faith and to facilitate further productive discussion, an immediate cessation of hostilities in the form of a formal ceasefire is suggested.
In there interests of transparency and cooperation, GMG readily declares that it seeks a full and immediate withdrawal of the Rheinland Military from Sigma-21, as well as the recognition of the system as independent, sovereign Gas Miners Guild space as per the rest of the Sigma Systems.
Any further terms are entirely open to discussion and The Guild is most receptive to the thoughts and opinions of the Rheinland United Republic on how best to proceed from our current juncture. Your comment is awaited with friendly anticipation.
We thank you for your receptive response. Naturally we understand that with the uncertainty over the course of this conflict, it will be difficult for outside parties to reach specific agreements with the belligerents. For our part, we can at least offer acknowledgement of the following:
The Rheinland United Republic recognizes the sovereignty of the Gas Miners Guild over the following claimed systems: Okinawa, Sigma-13, Sigma-17, Sigma-19, Sigma-21 and Sigma-59, and the supremacy of the Gas Miners Guild territorial laws therein.
The Rheinland United Republic is open to traffic of the Gas Miners Guild under the same stipulations as are applied to any other neutral outside party.
The Rheinland United Republic endeavors to halt all traffic of the monarchist corporations, Daumann Heavy Construction, Kruger Minerals, and Imperial Shipping, into the Sigmas.
The Rheinland United Republic offers military assistance to combat monarchist forces in all territories claimed by the Gas Miners Guild.
To clarify a few points: Any further cooperation will likely depend on the destruction or withdrawal of the Kolleda battlegroup currently in Sigma-21. This is a military objective that can be discussed with the Republic's military command separately.
The de jure claim of the Gas Miners Guild over Sigma-15 cannot realistically be recognized, as it had always been under effectively full control of the Federal Republic and has a population in the hundreds of millions of Rheinland citizens.
We hope this can serve as a first step to a Rheinland-GMG relationship that is productive and forward-looking.
To Mr Kojirou;
With the signing of your new treaty with the usurper government, I'm afraid there is little more to talk about.
The Rheinland United Republic will naturally permit passage to Kusari traffic, but beyond that, with your written acknowledgement of the traitor government as legitimate and agreement not to provide aid to their enemies "both domestic and external", we no longer have any basis for conversation.
Leonie Karadeniz, Foreign Minister Rheinland Federal Interim Government, Rheinland United Republic
You are correct to assume what you did, following the sign of the Second Treaty of Nevers.
Unfortunately, you are mistaken.
The Empire of Kusari pursues a path of minimal damage to our own interests. This interest lies in the stabilization of the Sigma Cluster and the continued flow of goods in and out of the nation of Rheinland into Kusari sovereign space, as well as the establishment of Sigma-21 as a secured economic stronghold, controlled primarily by Kishiro Technologies and the Gas Miner Guild.
Signing this treaty ensures the peaceful option towards the citizen of Rheinland, as the original Treaty was about to be nullified due to the Kolleda's presence. We had voices eager to nullify it. Rheinland overall is weakened and we decided against the path of violence.
The new Treaty ensures the 'Empire of Rheinland' to keep their nose out of the Sigma Cluster. We are more than ready to send a very direct signal to the Kolleda if their withdrawal gets delayed even further. They are quite aware that its continuous presence can easily derail matters into another conflict.
The clause regarding domestic enemies exists. The question is, who and how do they plan to control its enforcement?
The Imperials do not possess the means to restrict your access to our market. An access we do not see the need to withdraw at all.
Instead, we wish for the Rheinland United Republic to stay open to discussions.
We are unaware of your current circumstances, though we assume a relatively large numbers of refugees exist. Planet Saigon's colonization comes to mind here.
The Gas Miner Guild, to my awareness, was already approached regarding our interest of investing into Sigma-21 in a joint, mutual beneficial fashion. Replies from their side are pending.
If talks with the Gas Miner Guild regarding a build-up of infrastructure, spearheaded and financed by Kishiro Technologies and the Empire of Kusari, are fruitful, we have no objections against offering the civil population of the Rheinland United Republic a place on Saigon's surface. Naturally, we will respect the Gas Miner Guild's opinion on this topic. For now, we wish to focus on finding mutual ground with the Gas Miner Guild regarding Sigma-21.
We walk two paths here and have to be careful not to give reason to let the situation escalate once again. The people of Rheinland face enough troubles already. The Empire of Kusari has no desire to combat either side of your internal conflict. Assisting the Government in-exile in some ways, is not off the table, the idea regarding your civil population is just one example. Humanitarian aid and the access to our market would be what we had in mind. Did you know that the Keiretsu's foreign business is not monitored 24/7? Well, now you know it.
Do not expect military support of any kind unless they breach the Treaty.
Stabilization of the Sigma Cluster and the flow of goods was on top of the list. The Second Treaty of Nevers was one of many steps. It was our utmost priority to avoid a derailment of the situation into yet another war in the Sigmas, thus we urged the Imperial Forces to sign a peace treaty with the Gas Miner Guild too. Me and my advisors are quite certain that the Gas Miner Guild, following a successful peace negotiation with the Imperial Forces, will act in similar fashions of indirectly aiding you.
With cordial regards, Toshinori Kojirou
Minister of Foreign Affairs