[War] Romania/Germany-Talking over coffee

[Vampi Digitalwytch]

"Talking over coffee"

President Antanasia Danesti
Chancellor Klaus Menzel

19 August 2014

When Romania decided that it was going to go internal, they had pulled
out all their embassy staff, and he had ordered the German Embassies
closed. Then decided on a whim to fly to Bucharest, just himself and
one BKA bodyguard.  They were tourists, and Luftansa did decide to not
make a big deal out of it so he landed and checked in to a small bed
and breakfast outside of Bucharest and sent a friendly letter to
President Danesti.

Antanasia had to admit being intrigued by the letter.  While Germany
had long been one of their top trading partners, she'd not heard much
from them on the global scene since her now infamous 'expletive
speech'.

Observers had reported it was just Menzel and a guard, so Antanasia
decided to so the same, just her and Iordan.  Even though he wasn't
her guard anymore, he still had the training and any investigation on
him would show him as a civilian now which would hopefully ease any
nervousness with sitting down with the leader of a 'rogue nation'.

She arrived for the meeting in casual clothes and chose to wait at a
quiet table outside that was shaded by a canopy tent.


He walked in to the room and sat across from her, "This is all so
cloak and dagger in some ways Madame President. I almost think I need
to wear a disguise."

"Since we've dropped off from the traditional scope, I see no need to
be formal.", she said as a waiter set down coffee.

"And I've done more then enough of those meet and greets.  They tend
to get boring, people I do not know pretending to be my friend."  He
sipped the coffee, "So....how are things?"

"As expected.", she replied, "There is much work to do on fixing our
own house even without having to deal with the petty bickerings of the
UN, NATO, or the EU."

"Sometimes I think the greatest thing the world ever did for us after
world war 2 was leave us alone. And I know what troubles the East has,
you must still be cleaning up from what the Soviets put your country
through."

She nodded, "In the 80s, we were the same as we were in the 50s.
Between mismanagement and corruption, it is a miracle that we've come
this far."

He nodded, "And we are still fighting that battle."  He paused, "We
have been trading partners for years, not always friends mind you, in
some times decisions my country made were not always the best."

"The sins of your nation when weighed against those of others, are
dampened by time and good intentions after.  We have welcomed your
trade for years and hopefully it will continue for years more.", she
said.

"I see no reason why it would not, it is not the policy of my
government to restrict trade unless there is a reason, and to be
honest, I've wanted to tell the world to fuck off a time or two
myself."

Antanasia looked a bit sheepish, then smiled shyly, "There are no
words for how satisfying it felt, and with once again being buffeted
at the whims of the superpowers, after much discussion, we'd had
enough."

"Well, officially we hope you rejoin the world of nations, and the
love of diplomacy, yada yada yada. But unofficially, if it wouldn't
make the entire world freak out I might join you for a bit. But an
irrational German leader tends to make France nervous."

"I would imagine Poland as well.", she said wryly, "Though if we
really wanted to be antagonistic in our withdrawals, we would have
taxed or destroyed the trans-continental rail or erected a wall.  We
have not yet the others act as if we had."

"True, and you have not expelled all foreigners from your country." He
watched a group of black clad tourists taking one of the walking
Bathory tours that seemed to crop up. "And business continues to flow
as it should."

"Our complaint was never with the governed, but those who govern.",
she replied, "But they are too in shock that one would decide to not
march to tune rather than look at the problems inherent to work on
addressing those.  As it is, if brought up in the appropriate channels
for grievance, this region gets the bureaucratic version of the pat on
the head to the upset child."

He nodded, "The EU is going to get pissy, we will oppose any attempt
at sanctions or tariffs with our full authority.  And if you wish
private aid from German companies, the government will not stand in
the way and would offer any assistance you do ask for."

"That our usual trade and business dealings carry on as normal will be
enough.", she said, not wanting to make him think that they'd need
help of any kind other than just the level playing field, "It is too
mutually beneficial to our nations to have anything jeopardize it."

"Agreed."  He nodded, "Nor would I want to jeopardize a thing.  And
besides when  this ends up working and you are successful, you can
rejoin the nations of the world if you so wish and be a proud equal."

"I truly doubt we will until serious changes are made.", Antanasia
admitted, "But in time, depending on how things go, I do see a
potential with reopening consulates."

"Yes right now There are some very worried Romanian Expatriates
wanting to know how they can get consular assistance."

"As the other governments representatives have taken the slower than
slow approach to leaving, we have pretty much done the same.  The
groundskeepers remaining are still connected along with the few
skeleton crews that are just having the most difficult time clearing
out the computer networks.", she admitted.

"Again, just between us, if a new member of the German consular staff
happened to not be German.... I think we'd look the other way, and you
could have a place for your citizens to go."

Antanasia nodded, accepting the offer for what it was.  While not a
verbal pronouncement of sympathy, the actions were speaking louder
than words which as of late carried little weight and more empty
platitudes.  "I must admit, doing business in the old way of just
sitting over coffee tends to get more accomplished than the most
lavish affair."

"And less chance of our bodyguards having to carry us to bed." He quipped.

Despite herself, Antanasia snortlaughed.  "Oh, thank God the tabloids
have never been to when one wraps up...they'd have fodder for months."

That got a laugh from Klaus, "Oh yes Der Spiegel would be selling
magazines for months on end."

"At least I had only the Weekly World News to deal with.", she smiled,
"I confess to being entertained by the adventures of Batboy."

He nodded, "I miss Batboy, and the gang."

Actions:

1) Germany will oppose any attempts at Tarrifs or sanctions on Romania
2) The German Embassies will be open to Romanian Expats who need
consular assistance.
3) Romania confirms business as usual with Germany as far as the
import/exports go

-- 
--I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there
ought to be at least a few sharks in the water.