View from Benacia/Issue 61: Negotiations Over Lorelei to Begin

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/02/issue-61-negotiations-over-lorelei-to.html at 02/22/05.

Kaiser Mors IV recently passed Imperial Decree #155, which will clear the way for negotiations with Transattera over the disputed territory of Lorelei.

A major stumbling block to resolving the Lorelei issue has been the fact that Shireroth had not previously recognized the Kingdom of Transattera, a member of the Atteran Commonwealth ruled by the Atteran Emperor as its King. Although legally independent from Attera, Transattera has little separate online existence from its most prominent neighbor, with no forums of its own.

Because Shireroth did not recognize Transattera, it was deemed that there could be no official negotiations between them. Their application for recognition was followed by a great deal of consideration, and finally by a statement from the Ministry of the Exterior to send the request to the Landsraad.

But the Kaiser, who is believed to be eager to get the land dispute resolved as soon as possible, decided to clear the way for negotiations by granting provisional recognition to Transattera:

"We, Mors IV, hereby grant the Kingdom of Transattera our provisional recognition, so that direct and official talks on the Lorelei matter may commence with all due speed; and this provisional recognition shall expire after thirty days, or after the approval of the Landsraad of a recognition agreement, whichever comes first. And in this manner shall tedious waiting be ended, and so also shall the dull aching we are experiencing in our Imperial Skull out of despair of getting the issue solved."

In this way, official negotiations can begin soon, without depending on permanent recognition by the Landsraad. Although the move is slightly unorthodox, it will hopefully see a satisfactory settlement over Lorelei in the coming weeks.