Rusjar Negotiations

The Rusjar Negotiations refer to diplomatic talks between the Imperial State of Constancia and the Imperial Federation, held within Rusjar, Commonwealth of Zeed at the start of V.1740. The resulting treaty, subsequently known as the Beihagh Treaty, permanently settled sovereignty and goverrnace over Beihagh.

The Imperial Federation ultimately retained the island's territory, while Constancia was given sovereign protections and extraterritoriality on its new (formerly Surenid) primary military bases on the island that ensured permanent and favorable Constancian presence on the island. The Imperial Federation also gave substantial reimbusements to Constancia for existing real estate, formerly Surenid joint assets, and set up strong protections for the petty Surenid and Constancian nobility that had moved to the island since 1722 AN.

Background

The Imperial State of Constancia, through its Foreign Minister, Lucas Hilarion, gave a notice to the General Assembly of the Micras Treaty Organization, on 2.V.1740, and through this, to the nations of Micras, that the Imperial State of Constancia, intended to, "...integrate, unite and unify," with the Suren Confederacy, "...with the Imperial State of Constancia as the surviving entity".

A similar notice was provided to nations with the presence of an Imperial Constancian Ambassador or diplomatic mission, embassy, or legation. In this regard, the Imperial Federation was duly notified, which soon presented to Imperial Constancian Foreign Minister, Lucas Hilarion, something of a quandary: the status of islands nearby with which the Suren Confederacy, and now the Imperial State, would have more than a passing interest.

The Commonwealth of Zeed, hungry for any reason to give it some credibility on the world stage, happily provided the facilities to discuss this grave matter, within the state premises in Rusjar. As a matter of state record, and more importantly, public propaganda, the event was to be denominated as the Rusjar Negotiations, to better highlight to the world the quality of the generous hospitality of the Commonwealth and its people, all the more so to friendly neighbors and even more amicable trade partners with hard currency that would make the ruble slightly more valuable than a piece of bread.

For its part, the Imperial Federation wished to make itself look like a reasonable state party on the world stage. The possibility of being able to enhance its good reputation in areas of Micras that had barely, if at all, felt its presence, was indeed a lucrative one for the imperial court in Gondolin. Further, the possibility of fully opening trade on Eura's interior outside of the loose auspices of the Raspur Pact was also something that they couldn't just casually overlook. It was, in this moment, that the main island of Beihagh became much more than a passing thought in Ralgonese minds. Far more than a modestly-sized sand pit off the Euran coast, Beihagh became in that instant a gift from the gods themselves, to the degree that Emperor Anarion took personal interest in seeing any resulting talks yield long-term benefit, regardless of what happened to the main island.

It was for this reason that the Ralgonese delegation arrived at the highest levels possibly acceptable to such an event. The charismatic King of Eternia, Sozin V, personally showed up with a retinue of other senior nobles from both Gondolin and Glacier City. It was even rumored that the great Nobunag'an IV, the Emperor Emeritus, also made intermittent appearances at meetings to lend his voice to negotiations. His role, while not officially attached to the Ralgonese delegation, was nonetheless registered so that he could aid in seeing things to an aspirational end for both sides. If one thing was certain, it was plain for all to see that the Ralgonese delegation had arrived to this anticipated event with exceptionally high spirits, bringing a range of who's who of high officials either in a visiting or formal capacity to the meetings.

Parties

Delegate Name	Office Title	Affiliation
Delegation of the Imperial Federation
Sozin V of Eternia	King of Eternia Chief Ambassador to Eura President of the Imperial Federation's Delegation
Kazuko Hawkins	Vice President of the Regency Council Viscount of Gondolin Member of the Imperial Senate Deputy Minister of State (Overseas Affairs)
Karl Valorum-Ral	Lord of West Valora The Emperor's Voice in Valora
Nobunag'an IV	Visiting Ambassador Honorary Chief Ambassador of the Imperial Federation Emperor Emeritus of the Imperial Federation Head of the Draconic Humanist Party The Emperor's Voice to the Raspur Pact
Delegation of the Imperial State of Constancia
The Prince of Molivadia	Autokrator of Constancia Deputy Commander, Trans-Euran Command Director of Financial and Legal Services, ESB Group
Agnar Egbert Oakwood	Mesazon
Lucas Hilarion	Foreign Minister

Talking Points

Initial Reports

The Imperial State of Constancia and the Imperial Constancian Government were only vaguely aware of the intricacies of the previous treaty concluded with the Suren Confederacy. Yes, they were aware of the location of Béihagh, but not much else, not even the background or context of the negotiations that led to that agreement. This was made known at the first day's discussion with the Imperial Federation.

An overview of the Integration of the Suren Confederacy was likewise provided to the delegation from the Imperial Federation, for their understanding. Upon reading the report, the delegation was collectively shocked that there was so much ambiguity in the air surrounding the island's governance. Similar documents were shared by the Ralgonese delegates regarding their own governance of the island and their relatively limited intentions regarding holding territory in this particular region. It was quickly revealed that both sides had considerable assets on the main island alone, never mind within the surrounding territories. It was also clear that the island group collectively held strategic value for both sides, for their own reasons.

At the start of the negotiations, the question therefore became the ownership of the entire Beihagh island group, with the Ralgonese side seeming especially attached to parts of that territory centered around the second-largest island in that group, alternatively known either as South Beihagh or Akuma-Jima. Additionally, the status of Greater (North) Beihagh was so ambiguous as to be borderline anarchic in nature. Investigating the island's hugely complex zones of control would take months, during which each delegation wouldn't have much to do than sample Rusjar's limited amenities... over and over again, ad nauseum, until proceedings could finally get underway in earnest.

Status of North/Greater Beihagh

As it turned out, after sharing each other's reports, it became very clear that the entire main island of Beihagh was questionable in terms of who, exactly, governed what outside of each side's respective (and considerably large) military bases. Even the name of the island itself was a question, as it was alternatively labelled on the maps as North or Greater Beihagh, or simply Beihagh, depending on who was asked. The prevailing political environment following the Norasht campaign introduced a peculiar form of anarchy on most of the island group, particularly the main island. That is, the invading Ralgonese and Surenid forces shared the island among themselves through a marriage of convenience between both themselves and a rapidly changing set of local elites that now consisted of native petty warlords, former Bassarid authorities, and newcomers from elsewhere entirely. This introduced a vast network of petty districts governed either directly or indirectly by either side, with true joint control being rare outside of the capital city or specific military bases on the northern coast.

The greater part of the island's territory was, by 1740 AN, thus governed by a vast patchwork of military officers and civilians loyal to either party, or in remote parts of the island, quasi-independent of any direct authority. Those quasi-independent areas paid lip service to both sides to avoid military occupation, which succeeded for the most part due to a lack of strategic or tactical significance to any major party -- including former Dispossessed forces that used to occupy parts of the island. The only city under anything resembling a joint authority was Beihagh City itself, with nearly a million inhabitants answering to a joint command that only nominally held control over the civilian population. This authority collected taxes that were sent to a joint fund to govern the area. The military forces were also sufficiently strong to hold a monopoly on violence and control crime, but was nonetheless unable to fulfil most day-to-day governance due to limited collective resources. Thus, the local government was left to its own devices so long as the population wasn't openly defiant to either occupying power. In turn, this government lacked the resources to exert control beyond its urbanized area, leaving the rest of Greater Beighagh to its own fate.

For the rest of the island, the joint forces were able to strategically hold and control the island itself. However, due to limited forces and an unclear picture on both sides on whose job was it to govern which area, political control outside of military bases owned either independently or jointly was far more ambiguous. Indeed, the sole unifying force was the fact that islanders (Dispossessed or not) were forced to either choose live on or near a Surenid or Ralgonese military district of random size, move to any of the huge number of small quasi-independent civilian governments controlling random spits of land all over the place (these still paying lip service to either side), join one of the less established petty nobles whose domains now dotted random portions of the island, try their luck at leaving. Even there, it was found that there was an additional layer of petty nobles (self-claimed or otherwise) from the Imperial Federation and elsewhere that had established themselves as petty landlords within the region, the vast majority of these would-be landed nobles hailing from houses bereft of any other significant lands or titles outside of Beihagh itself.

Decoupling either set of authorities would be a colossal undertaking, never mind unifying control of the island under any truly centralized authority. The unclear status of the island immediately threw a wrench into both sides, and called into question who was responsible for the island to begin with. Investigating the island's true lines of control, ownership, and interests on Beihagh in both military and economic contexts would drag talks along for a considerable length of time.

Constancian Intentions

The comprehensive discussion on the status of the island was greatly appreciated.

The Imperial Federation was duly advised that Constancian intentions were primarily focused on its national security:

Considering that the Democratic Republic of Daau, which bordered Constancian Vipia, still considered the Imperial State as a demonic state (most likely for internal propaganda purposes, as the Constancian officials present openly surmised), and considering further that the nearby Socialist Republic of Banh Nam shared an ideology and mutual motivation to be rid of "imperialists", and considering finally that Greater Beihagh lay at an interesting crossroads between the insurgent Green of what was more popularly known as Norasht from the Babkhan era and these two entities, immediate possession and securing of the island was "...an imperative national policy." Those words were attributed to the Autokrator of Constancia himself, noted the Imperial Constancian Foreign Minister, Lucas Hilarion.

Considering the jurisdictional confusion prevalent with the status quo, it was recommended that a delineation be agreed to, clarified via treaty, Constancia being uncertain if there was an existing agreement with the Imperial Federation and the Suren Confederacy regarding the island. The Imperial Constancian Government likewise requested and advised that it would be taking over the Suren military base as early as the next day, what with the 509th (Surenid) Army falling under the Eastern Eura Army Group of Trans-Euran Command. The move saw no opposition from their Ralgonese counterparts, who openly welcomed the move as a bid to strengthen the island's security.

Results

The Imperial Federation's delegation was collectively surprised at how little the Constancian delegation asked for in return for continued presence on the island. Knowing that additional concessions would ease Constancian concerns and place everyone into an exceptionally good mood in the long-term, the Ralgonese delegation presented exceptionally generous economic terms on top of what they had asked in terms of their continued presence on the island. A straightforward treaty was drafted, and its provisions were quickly accepted with acclaim by both sides.

A series of banquets, parties, and commemorative ceremonies immediately followed that publicly displayed both sides' respective satisfaction at an exceptionally well-done series of negotiations. Both delegations felt they had walked away with something big, and the mutual benefit to the treaty were immediately felt. Given the tendency for Ralgonese nobility to openly celebrate even minor diplomatic victories, they were determined to make these celebrations something to remember. It naturally followed that, for the next few weeks, Rusjar hosted a concentration of impromptu parties, gatherings, and banquets, some of which would go down in legend within Rusjar and, later, the courts from either side.

Near the conclusion of the celebrations, gifts were exchanged by both delegations as keepsakes of these events before seeing to the far less glamorous details of implementing the finer points of the treaty.

Treaty

A treaty draft was thus prepared accordingly, and swiftly ratified by both sides. The Imperial Federation swiftly paid the amount owed directly to the Constancian government in its own currency following further assessment later, these payments being quickly converted or deposited directly into Constancian banking institutions. Surprisingly, very few abandoned the island entirely, and it quickly became a demographic melting pot as a result.

Text for the second (and final) draft follows:

Treaty for perpetual cooperation and friendship between the Imperial State of Constancia and the Imperial Federation in regards to Eura

The Imperial State of Constancia and the Imperial Federation (hereafter called “Parties” or “Party”), desirous of strengthening the bonds of peace and friendship traditionally existing between them and of encouraging closer economic and cultural relations between their peoples, and being cognizant of the contributions which may be made toward these ends by arrangements promoting mutually advantageous trade, encouraging mutually beneficial investments, and establishing mutual rights and privileges, have resolved to conclude a Treaty of Perpetual Cooperation and Friendship (which may be known hereafter as the Beihagh Treaty):

The Imperial Federation assumes sovereignty and general territorial control over the island of Beihagh, forming the Special Region of Beighagh that consists of this entire island group. This grant of sovereignty is legally bound by all of the following conditions.

• 1. Constancia has full, permanent control over its choices of former Surenid military bases on the coast of Beihagh.
  • 1a. All joint bases and abandoned real estate are purchased by the Imperial Federation at 20% above fair market price.
  • 1b. The option to make further sales at this price may be exercised at any time until no further assets remain to be transferred or sold under this provision.
• 2. Constancia is granted permanent extraterritorial jurisdiction on all military bases owned by Constancia.
  • 2a. All military bases owned by Constancia shall include the provision that Constancia also owns the land attached to these bases.
  • 2b. These areas are treated by the Imperial Federation as though sovereignty on these bases belongs to Constancia, until presence on these areas is formally terminated by Constancian authorities.
  • 2c. The laws of Constancia apply to these areas independently of, and addition to, the laws governing the rest of the island.
  • 2d. Where legal conflicts exist in Constancian areas, Constancian law prevails so long as they do not conflict with the provisions of this treaty.
• 3. Constancia is entitled to treat all assets, land, and personnel on its owned military assets as if they were sovereign territory and assets.
  • 3a. Constancia retains the right to transfer and/or resell any land or assets owned per Clause #1 to the Imperial Federation, and only to the Imperial Federation, at any time it chooses
  • 3b. Constancia may alternatively execute sales indirectly through the Beihagh Commission created by this Treaty for the next 10 Norton years.
• 4. All persons either born or resident for greater than three years, are given the option of accepting a grant of citizenship from either Party, granted by this Treaty. Eligible persons have one year from the ratification of this treaty to choose either Imperial Federation or Constancian citizenship. Additional provisions follow:
  • 4a. If a legal resident has not registered their decision, Imperial Federation citizenship is awarded by default to all on Imperial Federation territory, or Constancian citizenship to those living directly under Constancian extraterritorial authority (permanent military bases).
  • 4b. Eligible persons may choose to decline this offer of citizenship. Those with the legal right to stay, may thus stay as foreigners, and are subject to usual visa provisions depending on the Party
  • 4c. Eligible persons who are stateless persons shall be awarded citizenship based on the above provisions, 1 year after the ratification of this treaty.
  • 4d. Any person accepting citizenship under this treaty must renounce all prior citizenships, with the sole exceptions of natural born locals and those already holding citizenship from either Party.
  • 4e. All persons retain the option of being transported at no cost from the island to any destination they are legally allowed to enter, subject to space-available basis. They must declare their binding intention to pursue this option within 1 year of ratification of this treaty, and must board the first available transport accordingly if this transport leaves after the deadline expires. Otherwise, other provisions shall apply.
• 5. All persons resident for greater than three years upon the ratification of this treaty are automatically given right of residence on the island, regardless of citizenship, civilian or military status.
  • 5a. All eligible persons affected by this treaty at the time of ratification are automatically given permanent residency on the entire island.
  • 5b. All citizens of Constancia and the Imperial Federation legally living on Beihagh after the ratification of this Treaty are granted the right of abode on the entire island, regardless of internal boundaries controlled by either Party.
  • 5c. Constancian military personnel are granted the right of abode on the entire island, so long as they are stationed on any Constancian command based on or attached directly to the island of Beihagh.
  • 5d. Those declining citizenship under Clause 4 may still exercise rights to residency under Clause 5.
• 6. All land owned by private citizens will be retained. All local, proven titles of nobility held by all citizens regardless of nationality for at least 1 year prior to the ratification of this treaty are respected and retained.
  • 6a. All eligible persons must register their titles of nobility with the Beihagh Commission created by this Treaty within one year of ratification.
  • 6b. All local titles shall be respected by both Parties, irrespective of eligible persons' citizenship or their civilian or military status.
• 7. All private persons who wish to abandon their land holdings may sell those holdings to the Imperial Federation through the Beihagh Commission created by this treaty. Private sales may still occur, but shall be registered and executed according to the laws of either Party's respective jurisdictions.
  • 7a. Within 1 year of ratification, reimbursement shall be at 20% above fair market price
  • 7b. Within 10 years of ratification, reimbursement shall be at fair market price.
  • 7c. After 10 years, this guarantee shall expire; holdings shall be sold only according to the laws of either Party's respective jurisdictions.
• 8. Clarifications, disputes and official interpretation of this Treaty shall be the jurisdiction of the Beihagh Commission created by this treaty. The makeup of this body shall be governed by the following provisions:
  • 8a. The Beighagh Commission shall consists of composed of one plenipotentiary for each state, appointed by their respective governments. They shall jointly remain the heads of the Commission within Beihagh.
  • 8b. Both plenipotentiaries may jointly appoint no fewer than ten and no greater than twenty-five delegates from among the local population to sit the Commission's governing body.
  • 8c. Both plenipotentiaries hold veto power over any law passed within the locality.
  • 8d. For the next ten Norton years, the Government of the island shall be done by this Commission, after which its functions shall pass to locally appointed bodies.
• 9. Failure to resolve matters via this Commission shall entitle both parties to agree to mediation by a third party or entity mutually agreed to by both parties.
• 10. Both parties shall set up a Consulate General in Beihagh City to supervise diplomatic affairs pertaining to the island and otherwise serve their respective citizens resident within the immediate region.

Both Parties further agree to adhere to the principles of those treaties governing the Raspur Pact. In areas not pertaining to the governance of Beihagh, both parties agree to pursue negotiations under the spirit of cooperation and friendship. Embassies shall be set up accordingly.

Conclusions & Aftermath

The Beihagh Treaty was the final result of these negotiations. In the immediate aftermath, the Beihagh Commission was set up to take the census, ensure citizen choice was fully set up, and ensure the island's inhabitants received appropriate legal protections.

1740 AN Census

In total, the 1740 AN census recorded a grand total of 8,680,381 living on the island. This figure consisted of 8,129,625 new and/or existing citizens of Constancia or the Imperial Federation, 247,765 third-party foreign nationals who retained residency, domicile, or long-term presence of any kind, and 302,991 dual citizens. Stateless persons who hadn't chosen citizenship were automatically granted Imperial Federation citizenship by the end of the year. Dual citizens were typically those who held either citizenship and were awarded the other for services to local governance. While the census was stated by officials to be over 99% accurate, it was speculated in each party's central government that a number of others not on the island legally were not counted either as residents, or they were former Dispossessed persons distrusting the general pardon and/or failing to join into the new political system. By the expiration of the citizen-choice clause, citizenship figures were finalized:

Greater Beihagh's Population in 1740 AN

Citizenship	Population
Imperial Federation	5,999,663
Constancia	2,129,962
Dual Citizens	302,991
Third Country	247,765
Total	8,680,381

The island was found to have a significantly larger population than the prior census taken more than 30 Norton years ago. According to the last known databases, only the population of Beihagh City was recorded, this standing at 821,637 during the final days of Bassarid rule. Being the primate city of the island, the city consisted of much of the entire island's population and, possibly due to lower economic value, the rest of the island went unmonitored in terms of demographics. This led to the end result being significantly more than anticipated, as planners had expected no more than 5 million inhabitants.

As it had been so long since the prior count was taken, a thorough census of the island was conducted in order to uphold the Beihagh Treaty and its provisions. That is, the census was one of the primary tools used to ensure citizenship was given to all eligible persons, and appropriate protections extended to these and all other residents as well. Thus, in 1740 AN, the newly formed Beihagh Commission found the island to have a total population of 8,129,625 who accepted either Imperial Federation or Constancian citizenship. Beighagh City alone recorded 1,780,388 people in the city proper who registered, with more living in the metropolitan area. An additional 247,765 non-citizen residents lived on the island, these choosing to retaining other MCS-recognized citizenships, but also retaining permanent right of abode per the treaty's provisions.

Most people automatically granted their choice of citizenship were stateless due to their former affiliation with this part of the former Bassarid Federation prior to its collapse. Significant numbers of migrants also came from The Green during the Wars of the Dispossessed and in the aftermath of the Norasht campaign in hopes of fleeing the violence. Most of these migrants chose Constancian citizenship, making up the bulk of those on Beihagh taking up this offer. Due to the island's status as a global entrepot devoid of any solid local governance outside the main city, many others came to the island from The Green and from Micras-recognized third countries to find their fortune and carve out petty holdings of their own in the muddy environment that resulted from the situation leading to the joint occupation. Even more came from Suren or the Imperial Federation to occupy the island, govern it, or take part in its rapidly reviving economy. Many others still were islanders who were granted citizenship by either or both of the Surenid or Ralgonese authorities present, and so enjoyed related privileges much earlier as a reward for cooperation with governing the island.

Many of these migrants also had defunct citizenship from countries that had fallen previously to The Green, and for lack of a home to return to had integrated into the island's new political structure. There were, however, a minority of people who held citizenship in any other Micras-recognized country as of the date of the census. for one of the two options stipulated in the treaty

Living on the island were, in addition, another 247,765 who held foreign MCS-recognized citizenship, of which

Included in this number was 30,511 people from around Micras who traded recognized third-country citizenship for one of the two options stipulated in the treaty. Not included in this number were the 203,706 who chose to remain on the island and retain their foreign citizenship, but still remain permanent residents on the island. Also not included were the

Choices of Citizenship

In total, there were 8,129,625 new and/or existing citizens of Constancia or the Imperial Federation living on the island. Of those persons choosing and/or retaining only one citizenship directly as a result of the treaty: 26.2%, or 2,129,962 people, held or acquired Constancian citizenship, and 73.8%, or 5,999,663 people, held or acquired Imperial Federation citizenship. An additional 3.727% or 302,991 people aside from this number were found to be dual citizens, either before or as a result of the Beihagh Treaty coming into force.

Approximately 4.66% of those with Imperial Federation citizenship (279,584 people) had existing citizenship. Approximately 5.28% of those retaining Constancian citizenship (112,462 people) who lived on the island already possessed Surenid citizenship from before the Integration, and 0.34% of that number (7,241 people) already held Constancian citizenship. An additional 3.727% or 302,991 people aside from this number became dual citizens and counted into the new census, either before or as a result of the Beihagh Treaty coming into force.

As a result, Constancia gained 2,122,721 citizens specifically on Beihagh Island as a result of both the Integration and this treaty, and could count an additional 302,991 people as dual citizens. The Imperial Federation, likewise, gained 5,720,079 citizens specifically on Beihagh Island as a result of this treaty, and could count an additional 302,991 people as dual citizens.

40,399 chose to divest their holdings and accept transportation to various places on Micras. Many declined to choose, either due to imperfections in recordkeeping, indecisiveness, or any other reason. The choices of another few thousand living in the most remote areas were unknown as these were lost to imperfections in recordkeeping. It was also presumed that nearly 25,000 existed who were former Dispossessed persons distrusting the general pardon that was offered as a result of the Treaty, and/or failing to join into the new political system. In either case, the vast majority of those eligible per the treaty were eventually offered Imperial Federation citizenship by default, per the treaty's provisions.

Another 3.727% were dual citizens, or 302,991 people. These already possessed both citizenships before the treaty's ratification, or became exempt from provisions of the Beihagh Treaty imposing a choice of either citizenship by the Beihagh Commission, instead being awarded both either as reward for past services, or having proven familial ties to nationals of Suren/Constancia and the Imperial Federation. Thus, these were counted twice, for each nation's respective census.

Another 247,765 held rights to residency per the treaty, and chose to retain their citizenship. As these people held foreign MCS-recognized citizenship, they effectively chose to preserve their status before the treaty's ratification. While records were lost on which countries they belonged to, local sources continued to speculate that most were from other Raspur Pact nations who chose to keep their own options open.