Sunday, 21 Vendémiaire 185 15:20 LMT
AIW and Commonwealth Discussing Treaty
by Jarod tr'Rekhil
CH'TAALA, L'NHRAEI (LNN) - Earlier today, Arch-Prime Minister Timothy Wolf of the Alliance
of Incorporated Worlds arrived in ch'Taala to begin discussing a treaty between the two
nations.
Since taking office in Thermidor, Arch-Prime Minister Wolf has already visited several
nations, including the United Federation of Planets, the Yoltorian Authority, and the
Parthian Imperium. All three have signed treaties with the AIW guaranteeing peace and
freedom of trade and movement.
President Macpherson has said he expects the treaty negotiations to go smoothly. "The
Alliance and the Commonwealth are committed to peace between our nations, and despite the
differences in our economies, we both wish to allow a free flow of goods and people."
The President plans to ask for a reduction in tariffs on Commonwealth goods sold in the
Alliance. The Commonwealth already places no tariffs on goods from any nation.
Another sticking point may be the Commonwealth's lack of recognition of diplomatic
immunity. "The law applies to everyone," the President said. "No king, no
prime minister, no president, no general is any greater than anyone else under the law.
'Diplomatic immunity' will not be used as an excuse to break the law and get away with it.
I will not have a repeat of the Tal Shiar station."
In 64, a Tal Shiar base was placed in orbit above L'nhraei by the Federation Council. It
later blew up, killing everyone aboard, including several L'nhraei observers and two
members of Starfleet. Many people believed the Tal Shiar blew up their own base to conceal
their research. Some members of the Federation Council believed that since it was a
Rihannsu military base, Rihannsu law should apply. L'nhraei's government disagreed and
ultimately convicted the top three officers of manslaughter. Those officers are still
serving their 250-year sentence.
There were some protesters outside the treaty talks, including some from the AIW against
the recent military actions in the Yoltorian Authority. "A poll of AIW citizens
showed 80% against it. Why won't the government listen to its own citizens?" said one
protester.
Others, mostly from the Commonwealth, didn't believe the Commonwealth should be
negotiating with a socialist nation. "We shouldn't give anything to the Alliance. The
meddling in the Yoltorian Authority, the oppressive tax rates, the state control of
practically everything - there's no way we should recognise that," stated another
protester.
The President addressed the protesters' concers by stating, "This treaty will not
give up one bit of freedom of Commonwealth citizens. We already do everything in it. We
may not agree with how the Alliance government treats the citizens, but we're certainly
not going to force them to change. That's something they have to do on their own."
The talks are expected to finish by the end of the week. Any treaty must still be ratified
by Parliament, which has adjourned for the year. The President has said he and
Vice-President t'Khaalis will call a special session once the treaty negotiations are
complete.
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