Late March 2022 Department of Foreign Affairs Freyrsburg, Auileria
Johann Kutner put his signature under the last document. By the third one he'd had his secretary read the text out loud to him. Requests for dedicated parking spaces, validations of diplomatic immunity for the staffs of several new embassies, they hadn't found a proper build site for the Central Russian embassy yet. His office had become a good deal busier since Auileria started taking a keener interest in the international stage.
"Is that all, Verinne?" he asked, toying with the rim of his reading glasses hopefully. "Yes, your grace." She gave a short curtsey and carried the signed paperwork out of the room. Johann leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. His wife said he looked older by the day. And it was barely lunch time.
There was a knock on the door and one of the male assistants stuck her head around the opening. "Your grace, the ambassador of Primeon is here." "Yes. Give me half a minute, then sent him in ..." His name eluded Johann. He waved his hand dismissively. The assistant nodded and disappeared.
He straightened up in his chair and gave Vera Heuser, his Chief of Staff, a look. She nodded from her seat on the small sofa. Johann pushed himself out of his chair to greet the ambassador as the door opened and the assistant led the ambassador in.
Last Edit: Apr 10, 2015 18:08:32 GMT -5 by Auileria
Early October 2021 Department of Foreign Affairs Freyrsburg, Auileria
Bishop Abraham Tribo had said a quick prayer in the car on the way to the Foreign Affairs building. He asked The Honored One for wisdom and to see the truth behind the words to be said.
He had never been so far from the Islands and this new land was especially foreign to him. It was far from the beaches he grew up on, playing in the surf and chasing crabs. He never saw himself as an Ambassador but one does not tell The Primus no. In truth he was honored to be chosen for this post but he did not know what to expect. As he entered the Department of Foreign Affairs offices he was overwhelmed by the amount of people working so hard. Until a week ago he was the local bishop of an outlying island. He had not known that The Primus even knew who he was.
We was warmly greeted by the Minister's assistant, and he took this as a good sign. The assistant returned and led Abraham into the Minister's office and he immediately noticed that the minister seemed stressed.
"Your Excellence, Minister Kutner. So glad to make your acquaintance. Your nation is so beautiful. I do miss the sea but am enjoying your culture." He extended his hand in the first diplomatic gesture of his life.
(OOC: Since this is going to be about religion, I'd like to make a little disclaimer that the in-character views of my country and its people don't represent my own personal views on things)
He shook the hand. "Your excellency. So good to see you. I don't believe you've met my chief of staff Vera Heuser?" Vera stepped forward and made to shake the bishop's hand too. "Your excellency."
"Have a seat." He gestured to the sofa and arrangement of chairs set up in the middle of his office. "Has my assistant offered you anything? Tea? Coffee?"
He'd wait for the ambassador to sit before taking a seat in one of the chairs himself.
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2015 6:10:26 GMT -5 by Auileria
Abraham shook the Chief of Staff's hand. Warm and inviting but he could tell that this was a woman of power, he made a note to stay on good relations with her.
"Oh, a water would be wonderful." Abraham said as he took a seat in a chair to the right. He had never seen the purpose in sofas in offices, one did not lay down while taking to another on businesses.
He noticed the elephant in the room immediately. He suddenly felt self-conscious of something he had never been before. He felt out of place in his teal robes and white turban. He was glad the holidays had ended so that he could trim his beard before his arrival but noticed that his facial hair was longer than any Auilerians he had seen so far. He had never noticed his dress before, on the islands it was custom, but suddenly he felt out of place.
"Minister, the building of the embassy is going splendidly, and we cannot thank you enough for this extension of friendship. I know that this time cannot be easy for you. Primeon is in the process of opening up our capital to foreign dignitaries. But, the reason I'm here is that I'm concerned with your conditions of our embassy. You see, Primeon is the home of The Faith and I have heard that religion is frowned upon here. I want us to be able to have healthy relations and hope this does not get in the way of that."
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2015 15:35:03 GMT -5 by primeon
The minister himself was dressed in a suit decorated with the cross-chest band and colorful rims of a lord. Vera wore a simple business suit.
He nodded graciously at Tribo's concern. "It has been a busy time."
Vera said, "We like to think of the policies as respecting the different religions within this country without favoring any one of them."
Feeling that this was not quite an adequate answer, Johann added, "As we discussed before, you will be allowed to practice your religion freely within the grounds of the embassy. What is your concern exactly?"
Last Edit: Apr 12, 2015 2:47:21 GMT -5 by Auileria
"I am grateful for the chapel you have approved for our diplomatic compound and understand you have worries about the barracks for traveling missionaries. You must realize that as the birthplace of The Faith, The Primus is responsible for all of his followers, even those of other nationalities. He are worried that efforts to inform your people about The Faith will be seen as harassment."
"I'm not sure about the exact language off the top of my head. As you can imagine it has proved a complicated law to enforce in practice. Vera, maybe someone from legal ...?"
She stood up and used one of the landline phones. "Heuser here. Could you put me through to the legal department please?"
"You know of course that the law doesn't only apply to The Faith. It is his majesty's concern that he can't seem to give preferential treatment to one community over another."
"Of course. And we are not asking for special privileges. We only ask to wear the robe and turban and to admit all adherents to the embassy for services and festivals, with no regard to nationality. I assure you our missionaries will abide by your laws and customs, but will need guidance from your government on what is permissible. If are not looking to preach on corners, like beggars, as would offend your people. We wish to find a need and fill it, possibly through orphanages or soup kitchens. We ask that anyone interested in The Faith be able to speak freely with our missionaries or attend services within the embassy walls."
"I'm sure that shouldn't be a problem. In this country people are allowed to wear in public whatever suits them, within the bounds of reasonable decency. As for the other matter, who you allow in your embassy is entirely up to you."
A short knock on the door and the assistant entered. "Olav Wenkel from legal, your grace."
"Yes, send him in."
A man in his mid twenties entered, carrying a small folder. He made a jittery bow to first his employer and then the bishop. "Your Grace. Your excellency." He stood awkwardly near the doorway, unsure where to place himself.
"Take a seat Olav. The ambassador and his grace were discussing the law on proselytising."
Olav nodded and sat down stiffly in a chair, holding his folder protectively in his lap. With big eyes, he looked between the present company. "The Spiritual Advertisement and Confirmation Act."
"The ambassador was just asking," said Vera, "if the religious dress, the robe and turban, are a problem under the law, as well as services like soup kitchens and orphanages and the like."
Olav thought about that. "The law doesn't say anything about it explicitly. The consensus is that dressing a certain way is allowed as long as the wearer is still decent by common standards." He looked over the covering robes and headwear of the ambassador. "I'd say a dress-code like yours shouldn't be any problem, your excellency." He fidgeted with the papers in his lap. "What was the other thing? Ah yes, services." He fumbled through some notes. "I'm not sure. Is membership of your church a requirement to make use of these services?"
"No, our missionaries seek permission to go into the community to provide services to all who are of need. It is our hope that they see how we live our beliefs and make a free will decision to inquire more information. Would the conversation of The Faith between a missionary and inquiring adult be illegal outside of embassy walls? We are not looking to impose or beliefs, just do what we are called as sons and daughters of The Honored One to do."
Abraham took a drink of water and said a silent prayer for the life giving power of water. He realized that they had never encountered someone of The Faith in person.
"We are believers that The Honored One, The Spirit of the Water is the great Life Creator and Sustainer and worship it. The Faith, as we call it, you may know us as Primithiests, calls us to preserve the creation and life that The Honored One has originated. In doing so we show kindness to fellow humankind."
He paused and saw they were listening but guarded.
"Oh, please excuse me. I would go on forever. I know the Auilerians are fair but wanted to make our intentions very clear."
"I think we understand each other. And if you have any questions in the future you can always direct them to the Department of Justice or this department."
Standing up He extended hiss hand first to Olav, then Vera, and lastly to Johann.
"Again, thank you for this opportunity to build a friendship between our nations, and thank you for this meeting. I am sure there will be no problems with our delegation here."
He left with a sense that his delegation would be walking a fine line during his time here.