Auroran Reunification Summit

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The Auroran Reunification Summit was an international conference held in Aura, Emberwood Coast. It formed part of the greater International Conference of Demilitarisation and Disarmament hosted by President Nimona Poole of Emberwood Coast following the Auroran-Pacific War. The summit aimed to address the unresolved issues between the Allies and the Axis powers that had led to several formerly Allied states leaving the Auroran Continental Assembly to form the Auroran Union. The summit resulted in the formation of the United Nations of the Auroran Continent through the adoption of the Charter of the UNAC (also known as the Treaty of Aura). In honour of their contributions to world peace and continental reunification, President Nimona Poole and Lara Tarasovna were honoured by Oan News on its list of most powerful people in the world.

Background

The Auroran Reunification Summit took place against the backdrop of the effects of the Auroran-Pacific War and must thus be looked at as the culmination of the hostilities that that war created between the former Bursil Alliance and former Ribenstadt Pact nations.

The war had ended on an Allied victory. The Republic of Ethalria was partitioned into Drakaland and Sarentria. The Matriarchy of Ethalria was partitioned into Vothetria, Kothalria, Thalria and Faethalria. Matriarch Amalda Harimann had been unseated and exiled. These new Ethalrian states had constitutions written by the Bursil Alliance and modelled on the system used by Great Morstaybishlia. They were forced to accept male equality, democratic rule and reduced military capacity. Kostromastan had been reorganised into a Confederation comprising Volgodalov, Nalachikov, Nolov (which eventually became Nolova), Novgoroda, Astrakhova (also known as Astravili), Tulava (also known as Tula) and Golova. Furthermore, Stratarin capitulated and had been severely crippled. Thus, there were promising signs that an Bursil Alliance-led peace was going to ensue.

However, the Bursil Alliance nations were not united on the terms of the victory. The Oan Isles was disgruntled that the Ribenstadt Pact nations had not been forced to pay reparations and that Sarentria had not been given to the Oan Isles. Furthermore, the Oans were irritated by the fact that the configuration of the Auroran Continental Assembly remained unchanged, leaving them without much influence over the new continental order despite expending blood and treasure to become a more influential state. Thus, the Oan Isles went on a campaign to convince the former allies that the ACA was not capable of preventing future conflicts and a new organization had to be established to strengthen ties among former Bursil Alliance nations and resist the encroachment of former Ribenstadt Pact nations.

The Oan Isles and Great Morstaybishlia called for a conference in Sani Bursil and invited Axdel, Tuvaltastan, Yor, Blueacia, Tivot,Dragonia, and Emberwood Coast. Dragonia and Emberwood Coast did not attend. From the outset, Axdel expressed their wariness and explicitly defended their right to secede from the Auroran Union at any time. Nevertheless, the ratification by the members that attended of the Charter of the AU, effectively rendered the ACA moribund.

Fears over Oan and Morstaybishlian domination emerged. Furthermore, protests ensued and public opinion turned sharply against what was seen as an Oan-Morst plot to dominate the new order and divide the continent. Despite aims to show their desire to build a union of democratic states such as supporting Pearson Lagonus of Blueacia as General Secretary and Lara Tarasovna of Tuvaltastan as Undersecretary, the Auroran Union was unstable. It was in fact, so unstable, that nations jumped at the opportunity to attend a counter-conference organized by President Nimona Poole of Emberwood Coast.

Prelude

On 21 November 2017, President Nimona Poole of Emberwood Coast issued an open invitation to leaders and representatives from the nations of the Urth to discuss de militarisation and disarmament. This conference was aimed at soothing the tensions had had arisen from the Auroran-Pacific War and putting in place safeguards to prevent conflicts of this scale from arising ever again.

Representatives from outside Aurora attended the bigger International Conference of Demilitarisation and Disarmament namely, Nacata, Atlaesia, Kuthernburg, Tretrid, Free Syllvin, Setzna, United Confederation of Concordian States, Ivlya, Cerdani Democratic Republic, Lokania, Ziseshouwei, Verdrassil, Furnifold, Peregrinia, Asendavia, Vekaiyu, and Yuno. Initially the following Auroran countries attended the greater conference: The Oan Isles, Axdel, Great Morstaybishlia, Kostromastan, Dragonia, Oceansend, Vothetria, Drakaland, Sarentria, Blueacia, Tuvaltastan, Yor and of course Emberwood Coast.

However, there was evidence that the Auroran nations wanted to use the Conference to hash out differences or to assert their dominance or moral authority over the opposing side. For example, the President of the Transitional Authority of Drakaland and Sarentria, Woodrow Taft specifically expressed hopes for Auroran reunification in his reply to the invitation. President Alyona Petrovavich of Tuvaltastan specifically addressed the impact that the Auroran-Pacific War had on peace in the continent and invited former undersecretary of the Auroran Union, Lara Tarasovna to attend, alluding to Pan-Auroran plans. In a similar vein, the Executive Cabinet of the Kostromastan Confederation and President Ivan Trikolovich of Tivot specifically addressed peace in Aurora as a motivating factor for their attendance.

In step with his colleagues, President Leon Jolva of Axdel spoke to the importance of peace on Aurora (first) as well as the rest of the world. In contrast, the reply from then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Locklyn Le Roy of The Oan Isles was outwardly hostile to the invitation of former Axis nations was explicitly stated that Oan presence was aimed at thwarting their alleged dilution of democratic and peaceful values (a thinly veiled allusion to existing Allied hostility). This shows that despite appeals to broader ideas on international demilitarisation and disarmament, an Auroran-dominated agenda was playing out and shaping the dialogue.

Deliberations

Pre-discussions

The Oan Isles recognized that the Auroran Union was falling apart. Thus, Locklyn Le Roy and Woodrow Taft held side-negotiations on ACA and AU Reunification. The Oan Isles expressed that reunification was inevitable but demanded that it be on AU (by extension, Oan) terms. Taft blamed the Bursil Alliance for the division of the ACA and the political and economic troubles that Drakaland and Sarentria were experiencing because he claimed that the terms of the capitulation were too harsh. The Oan Isles demanded that Sarentria and Drakaland effectly have only a token military and that advisers from Bursil Alliance nations be placed into positions of power in their governments to reshape them in the image of the Bursil Alliance and ensure that they did not rise against the Bursil Alliance again. Taft complained that they needed a strong military to counter extremist groups that had emerged from the war and that Bursil Alliance influence would enflame hostilities. In the end, Drakaland and Sarentria refused to succumb to Oan demands.

Nimona Poole held a discussion with Tipene Rahua who was part of the Oan delegation and tried to convince him to convince Le Roy to restart negotiations with Drakaland and Sarentria. Tipene Rahua expressed that the enmity between Sarentria and Drakaland was so strong, he found it doubtful that Le Roy would be willing to negotiate. Seeing that discussions with the Oan delegation were going nowhere and recognizing that the Oans were an impediment to one-on-one discussions, President Poole called a joint meeting of all the Auroran states to start in Conference Room 2 at the Aura International Convention Center.

Reuniting the continent

Recognizing that their position was untenable and seeking to sow goodwill with the attending nations, the Oan Isles published an announcement on 29 November 2017, stating their commitment to reunification and tempered their anti-Ribenstadt Pact rhetoric. This came as a surprise to many in attendance. The Oan Isles also released an accompanying white paper calling for special exemptions for island nations from travel and trade rules, as well as establishment of institutions that promoted justice and democracy.

President Petrovavich of Tuvaltastan started the main deliberations of the summit and proposed the dissolution of the ACA and AU and their replacement with the United Nations of the Auroran Continent or UNAC. Sarentria and Drakaland, Great Morstaybishlia and Axdel were the first support the Tuvalt proposal. The Oan Isles tacitly supported but was emphatic about the misgivings it had about the union. Woodrow Taft decried the Oan Isles for insisting on reparations and for sowing mistrust. Furthermore, he criticized the fact that the Oan Isles wanted to impose conditions that would infringe on the sovereignty of the Ethalrian nations.

Lara Tarasovna tried to find a middle ground by validating the concerns that the Oan Isles had as well as their suggestions surrounding building trust through similar policies and ideologies. But she asserted that the end of the war had precipitated conditions where ideologies and policies among the states both Ribenstadt Pact and Bursil Alliance alike were being homogenized, neutralizing trumped up Oan complaints about fundamental and irreconcilable differences. Lord Jeymz Drachenburg of Dragonia agreed with the Oan Isles on issues raised about special exemptions for island nations around travel and trade. President Lupe Juentines of Vothetria rallied behind Lara Tarasovna and emphasized that the new Ethalrian nations were reformed and that Oan misgivings about them were greatly exaggerated. With these concerns allayed, the discussion continued centered around actually establishing the UNAC.

Deciding on a seat

The Oan Isles proposed moving the Auroran Central Bank back to Sani Bursil and basing the UNAC in that city, the establishment of a continental court, a council consisting of equal representatives from member states and a Secretary General who was in charge of the day to day issues of the new union. Woodrow Taft supported keeping the Bank in Tarov, Tivot or moving it to Aura but was adamant it should not move to Sani Bursil. He cited financial costs and a lack of necessity. Polly Newman of Axdel agreed with Taft. Prime Minister Walter Johannes sided with the Oan Isles on having some institutions in Sani Bursil but was willing to compromise on moving the bank and making Sani Bursil the main centre of operations.

Locklyn Le Roy of the Oan Isles felt that the opposition was unjustified and felt that agreeing to their terms was adequate compensation for the ills that he claimed the Ribenstadt Pact caused and for the inadequate punishment they received. Lord Jeymz Drachenburg stated he did not mind moving to Sani Bursil, but felt that the move would adversely affect residents of Aura and Tarov. Taft continued his criticism of the Oan Isles and was emphatic that the Ribenstadt Pact nations had apologized and that was enough compensation for the Bursil Alliance. The discussion quickly devolved into a confrontation between Le Roy and Taft. A proposal arose from another member state to split the bank based on Geography with some functions in Sani Bursil and others in Tarov, and supported having the UNAC in Sani Bursil. Taft vehemently disagreed. Le Roy suggested keeping Tarov and Aura as regional offices as a compromise. Taft argued that this would decentralise and weaken the UNAC. Le Roy remained adamant. Taft accused the Oan Isles of wanting to control the UNAC through MBE and of using ego instead of sensibility.

A spitting match ensued between Taft and Le Roy blaming each other for the APW.

Determining the structure

Le Roy eventually conceded and the discussions moved on. Le Roy and Taft both proposed drafts for the UNAC Charter. Taft proposed the Auroran Continental Defence Council to oversee the UNAC Battlegrouos which consisted of military units from member states as well as for a powerful Secretary General.Walter Johannes of Great Morstaybishlia objected to a military alliance in the Taft proposal. Le Roy objected to the excessive power of the Secretary General in the Taft proposal. Johannes remained emphatic that UNAC should not have a military. Taft proposed an opt-out for the military Lupe Juentines proposed a nuclear disarmament treaty. Taft agreed to the Juentine proposal.


With these impasses the Oan Isles proposed leaving the summit with a resolution instead of a treaty. Further discussions continued. However, the Oan Isles proposal for a Council of the UNAC received support. However, Axdel proposed that the court should have a judicial review to keep the council in check. Le Roy and the Oan Isles took all the ideas and formalized them into a proposed resolution. This proposal contained recommendations for the Auroran Parliament, Auroran Electoral Commission, Commission of the UNAC, President of the UNAC Commission, Auroran Court of Justice and Council of the UNAC. The member states agreed. Deadlines were proposed for the establishment of all relevant bodies. By 5 July 2018, the Council was to be constituted. By 10 July 2018, the AEC was to be appointed. By 15 July 2018 elections for the AP were to be held. By 20 July 2018, the President of the UNAC Commission and the Commission of the UNAC were to be appointed. By 31 July 2018, the ACJ was to be appointed.

Outcome

The resolution proposed by the Oan Isles became the foundation of the final Charter of the UNAC. The Charter of the UNAC was adopted with further information on the different structures of the UNAC namely the Auroran Parliament, Council of the UNAC, Auroran Court of Justice, Auroran Electoral Commission and President of the UNAC Commission as well as the composition of the UNAC and its relations with member states and relations between member states.

Legacy

The Auroran Reunification Summit was hailed as a major opportunity for the nations of Aurora to recover from the disastrous Auroran Pacific War. The UNAC continues to recognize the summit as being their founding event. The Summit is commemorated as a special holiday in some nations. The event has been studied by universities for its role in bridging old foes. Other regions of the world have drawn from the event to help establish peace among themselves.

Criticisms and controversies