Law:Treaty With Penguinea

I, your slightly worn and slightly pudgy Prime Minister, hereby issue this Prime Directive, so that peace between our fine Nation and the Commonwealth of Penguinea shall exist. I endorse and support this treaty: Proposed Penguinean Peace Treaty, 1998

Preamble:

In order to restore the peace and friendship that were lost, and are now mutually desired, the Seneschál of the Kingdom of Talossa on behalf of the Crown of Talossa, and the Protector of Penguinea on behalf of the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea agree to the following:

Article One:

The Government of the Kingdom of Talossa acknowledges the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea to be a free community that has the right to exist unhindered.

Article Two:

The Free Commonwealth of Penguinea acknowledges the Kingdom of Talossa to be a free community that has the right to exist unhindered.

Article Three:

Section One:

In pursuit of our respective unhindered rights of self-determination, the Seneschál of the Kingdom of Talosa and the Protector of Penguinea pledge their determination to actively discourage, without the hindrance of the free speech rights of individual citizens of each community, all forms of rhetorical invective, interference in the immigration procedures, foreign affairs and internal affairs of the other community, and other unspecified forms of hostile behaviour perceived to have existed in the past, at present, or at some future point in the relationship between our two communities.

We agree that mutual antagonism based on historical events is a fruitless course of behaviour. We agree to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and to consult with each other in a climate of honesty and frankness on issues of mutual concern. We agree to work toward consensus on these issues without apportionment of blame or admonishment.

Section Two:

Both communities agree to resolve disputes by a bona fide consensus process of negotiation and discussion, as specified below.

Item A:

Until ratification and implementation of this treaty, the Seneschál of the Kingdom of Talossa and the Protector of Penguinea agree to directly discuss any issues of mutual concern via the most expedient communications medium available to the parties.

Item B:

Upon mutual ratification and implementation of this treaty, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Talossa and the Foreign Minister of the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea agree to directly discuss any issues of mutual concern via the most expedient communications medium available to the parties. Should they fail to achieve a consensus resolution, the matter in dispute will be referred to second tier of consensus negotiations.

Item C:

In the second tier of consensus negotiations, the Seneschál of the Kingdom of Talossa and the Protector of Penguinea agree to directly discuss any issues of mutual concern via the most expedient communications medium available to the parties. Should they fail to achieve a consensus resolution, the matter in dispute will be referred to third tier of consensus negotiations.

Item D:

In the third tier of consensus negotiations, the Seneschál of the Kingdom of Talossa and the Protector of Penguinea will each appoint up to two ministerial-level representatives of their governments to a "Committee of Up To Three" and will themselves join in said committee. The "Committees of Up To Three" agree to directly discuss any issues of mutual concern via the most expedient communications medium available to the parties.

Item E:

Should the third tier of consensus negotiations fail, the "Committees of Up To Three" will defer subsequent discussion for one month to allow for a period of mutual "cooling off." The "Committees of Up To Three" will then reconvene discussions on the issue of mutual concern via the most expedient communications medium available to the parties.

Item F:

Should this process fail to achieve a consensus resolution following two cooling off periods and three rounds between the "Committees of Up To Three", this treaty is considered to be mutually abrogated and the peace between our Great Nations at grave peril of dissolution.

Article Four:

This treaty shall come into effect at such time as both the Protector of Penguinea and the Seneschál of Talossa shall have signed the treaty.

In Conclusion:

In this the year XIX of the Kingdom of Talossa and the First Year of the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea, we put forth out hands in an honourable gesture of peace as representatives of our governments and of our peoples. We pledge our mutual respect and diligence in promulgating a Great Peace between the Penguinean and Talossan peoples. We affirm this treaty and the positive and forthright spirit in which we have achieved this Great Peace through our signatures.

Given this day, 1 May 1998, because I said so.

Chirischtôval Lauramáintsch,

Seneschál del Regipäts Talossán