[War] Russia/Japan: "History"

[Ian Martell]

"History"
President Leonid Nemerenko, Russia
Prime Minister Hiroshi Sakai, Japan
January 23rd 2013

<Japan, 1992>

Leonid stood out quite a bit on campus. His caucasian features and
tall stature were rather out of place on a campus who's student were
primarily Japanese. But he was also set apart from the others in the
way that he walked; the Russian carried himself with an air of purpose
and strength that these future salary men, in his eyes, lacked.

"Teacher," Leonid said in fair Japanese as he found the man he was
looking for. The sun was setting in the horizon and he raised one hand
to block out the glare. "I have the final draft you requested."


Doctor Hiroshi Sakai didn't need to block out the sun, Leonid did that quite
nicely. The Professor smiled and pulled his glasses out of his pocket and
put them on before replying. "Thank you, Leonid," he said and took the
paper. "Please sit," he instructed as he read over the completed paper. It
was excellent. He skipped to the conclusions to save Leonid the time.

"Interesting conclusion," he said at last. "That dictatorial powers are
sometimes necessary."

A very Russian conclusion, Hiroshi thought. But still valid academically
speaking. "Would you conclude as well though, that it is also dangerous, no
matter how necessary?" he asked wondering what his forceful student would
say.

"Of course it is dangerous," replied Leonid. "Absolute power corrupts
absolutely, which I suppose can be a problem if your are powerless. Russia
would have been overrun by the Germans if not for Stalin's sheer
ruthlessness. So too would the United States failed to reconquer the
Confederacy if not for the dictatorial powers given to Lincoln." He paused
for a moment, thinking. "Of course Lincoln was still, in the end, answerable
to Congress. Stalin was answerable to no one but himself, which is plainly
evident in the murderous excesses he engaged in. There is a difference, as I
noted in the report, between an authoritarian leader and an absolute
dictator."

Hiroshi nodded. Discussions like this marked Hiroshi as different from his
collegues as Leonid was from his classmates, most Japanese professors asked
their students to cling slavishly to the works of others and not offer their
own opinion. It bred conformist thinking. The foriegn students at Kansai
Gaidan were different, Leonid most of all. Hiroshi enjoyed probing him for
his opinions.

"Well then, report aside, I have two questions I'd like to hear your answers
to. Firstly, what do you think is the most important trait in a leader and
what sort of leader will it take to guide Russia out it's current woes?"

Or for that matter Japan. The Recruit scandal was all over the news, and it
looked like after 37 years the LDP was on the verge of falling. The New
Frontier Party, had asked him to consider running. He wondered if he would.
He had always joked when people asked if he would move from researching
politics to participating in it that people studied cancer but it didn't
mean they wanted to be sick. Still, perhaps some learned leadership was what
Japan needed. He returned his focus back to Leonid and waited for his
answer.

"A strong one," replied Leonid without hesitation. "A man capable of
building the Motherland out of the ashes of the Soviet Union. But the
ineffective wheels of the old system were greased by corruption, and I fear
that it has carried over into the new system. Yeltsin is a strong leader,
but cannot bridge the gap between the Soviet way of doing things and the
democratic way of doing things."

Sakai nodded. "What then is your or any Russian's responsibility when faced
with a government not able to properly govern?" he asked. Again it was as
much about Japan as Russia.

Clever, Old Man, thought Leonid. The answer to such a question could be both
benign and severe. "It depends upon the nature of that government. The most
desirable outcome would be for that government to simply be voted out of
office. If that government refuses to allow itself to be voted out and
remains by force, then the power entrusted into the state simply reverts
back to the populace, who can then remove their government by other means."


He nodded. "You are a very interesting student Leonid, I hope this won't be
the last of our little discussions."

(Move on?)

<Russia 2010>

The post-summit gala was bright and cheery. A stark contrast to both the
weather outside and Hiroshi's mood. He was no longer Professor Sakai, but
Foreign Minister Sakai, a survivor of two changes of cabinet and numerous
battles for Osaka's 3rd district. Unfortunately, he didn't win this battle.
The Kuril islands would remain Russian still.

He shrugged inwardly. There would be other summits he knew, and other
opportunities to finally put an end to this dispute. Still it irked him. He
had become accustomed to victory lately, with the successful negotiations
with North Korea and China.

He took an a sip of his drink and went looking for an old student. He found
him, talking to one of the other members of the Japanese delegation.

The man spotted his superior and led him over.

"Minister I believe you know Mr. Nemerenko?"

Hiroshi nodded. "Yes, I think I taught him entirely too well, his side won."

"We certainly did," said Deputy Foreign Minister Nemerenko. "Funny how
things work out. Tokyo might have thought President Severov would have been
more willing to acquiesce to foreign pressure than Putin was. But,
well....." The Russian official shrugged. "It is agreeable to see you again,
Professor."

"It is," Hiroshi said. "And it seems you found your leader. My compliments
to President Severov, he's made a great nation out of what Putin has left
him."

"The President has done many great things for Russia, yes," replied
Nemerenko. There also quite a few things he hadn't, though he kept
that thought to himself. "And how is the Diet treating you?"

"Probably not so well after today," he smiled. "But in seriousness. Fairly
well. Now if we can just get the civil service in line there might be some
progress. But that's not what I want to tallk to you about. I would like to
see Russia and Japan finally sign a peace treaty, regaurdless of who claims
what territory. Prime Minister Yakano disagrees and has his heart set on the
Kurils before Peace, but if your government were to offer peace. He would
have to accept it."

"I am sure I can convince Foreign Minister Blazanov to speak with the
President on that issue," said Nemerenko. This was an added bonus.
Really, a formal peace treaty between Russia and Japan would be just a
technicality; neither the USSR nor the Empire of Japan even existed
anymore. But still, it would have symbolic meaning and be good PR for
the Federation.

"Excellent," Sakai smiled. The treaty was a triple victory for him, firstly,
the treaty just made sense, the nations who had declared war so long ago
functionally ceased to exist, why let that stand in the way of future good
relations? Secondly, he could seperate himself from Yakano on this issue,
and show the left-leaning members of the cabinet, they had some common
ground. Third, if this helped Leonid's career, then it only helped his
contacts in Russia. He would not pretend he and his former student were
close, but it was better to work with the Russian you knew, than the one you
didn't. "Please let the Minister know he has the full support of the
Japanese foreign ministry."

But did the Japanese Foreign Ministry have the support of Yakano? It
didn't really matter. The advantages of being Deputy Foreign Minitry
and not Foreign Minister was that there was considerably less risk for
Nemerenko. Blazanov would be the one to present the idea to the
President, and would be the one primarily responsible for negotiating
with the Japanese. If things fell through, it would not be Nemerenko's
head the roled.

"I will do so."

"Thank you very much," Sakai said.
---

<The Kremlin, Present Day>

Word from Foreign Minister Denemetov over the successful talks in
China was music to Nemerenko's ear. The continuation and strengthening
of their military and economic relationship boded very well for
Russia, and that it happened so early into his first term would
enhance Nemerenko's image before the Federal Assembly.

What was to come next would be his very first handling of foreign
affairs as President. Given who he was speaking to, Nemerenko did not
know if he should be confident or nervous.

"Mr. Prime Mnister," he said in Japanese as the Foreign Ministry
staffers indicated the line to Tokyo had been connected. "Allow me to
congradulate you on your win."

"Thank you Mr. President, and you on yours," Hiroshi said honestly. "I hope
this will mean the beginning for a brighter future for Russia and Japan
both."

"I can see many benefits from continued cooperation between our two
nations in areas of trade and commerece," agreed Nemerenko. Japan was
an excellent market for Russian oil, as well as an excellent source of
high-tech consumer goods.

"I am pleased to see we're on the same page," Hiroshi said. "We should meet
in person and set things in motion. I'm happy to come to Moscow or host you
and your delegation here in Tokyo."

"I would be happy to host a Japanese delegation in Moscow," replied
Nemerenko.

"Excellent," Hiroshi said. "Then I shall see that my Foreign Ministry
contacts yours to set a for us to meet."

Trade would be the top priority, of course, but it was likely the
issue of the Kuril Islands would be dragged up. China's recognition of
Russia's ownership had likely not gone over well in Tokyo.

"Then I await your arrival."

Actions:

1> Establish that in 2011, Russia and Japan finally signed a peace 
agreement, without a decision on the Kuril Islands.
2> Set up summit.

_________________________________________________________________
Your Space. Your Friends. Your Stories. Share your world with Windows Live 
Spaces. http://spaces.live.com/?mkt=en-ca