2039
In early autumn of 2039, nearly a year after the transmission from the Esperanza, ambassador Masakiyo presents the Chicxulub embassies with the first draft of an international treaty to regulate ownership of stellar bodies in Sol.
International SolSpace Treaty
The Contracting Parties,
- Desiring to develop and maintain the status and security of the Sol system in a fair manner,
- Recognizing the need to introduce new international rules in order to provide adequate solutions to the questions raised by new economic, social, cultural and technological developments,
- Further recognizing the need to maintain a balance between the nations of Earth and the larger public interest,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
General obligations
Each Contracting Party undertakes never under any circumstances:
- To declare a planet or moon as governmental property of their nation or to enforce, in any way, an inofficial state comparable to such;
- To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a Contracting party under this treaty.
Article 2
Definitions
- "Planet" means a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.
- "Moon" means a celestial body that orbits a planet and is of sufficient size not to be declared an asteroid.
Article 3
Exclusions
The Kuiper Belt and Outer Asteroid Belt1 are not protected by this Treaty.
Article 4
International cooperation and assistance
- In fulfilling its obligations under this Treaty each Contracting Party has the right to seek and receive assistance, where feasible, from other Contracting Parties to the extent possible.
- Each Contracting Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the ensured international status and security of any celestial bodies in the Sol System.
- Each Contracting Party giving and receiving assistance under the provisions of this Article shall cooperate with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.
Article 5
Signature of the Treaty
This Treaty shall be open for signature until December 31, 2040, by any nation of Earth.
Article 6
Entry into force of the Treaty
This Treaty shall enter into force three months after 3 instruments of ratification or accession by nations have been deposited with the Chicxulub Embassies.
Article 7
No reservations to the Treaty
No reservation to this Treaty shall be admitted.
Article 8
Duration and withdrawal
- This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.
- Each Contracting Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Treaty. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other Contracting Parties in form of the Chicxulub Embassies. Such instrument of withdrawal shall include a full explanation of the reasons motivating this withdrawal.
- Such withdrawal shall only take effect one year after the receipt of the instrument of withdrawal by the Chicxulub Embassies.
- The withdrawal of a Contracting Party from this Treaty shall not in any way affect the duty of other nations to continue fulfilling the obligations assumed under any relevant rules of international law.
"The Japanese Alliance decided to pursue this matter urgently as all of humanity reaches for the stars and a conclusion previous to first diplomatic disputes would proof favourably for every nation's plans. We ask all nations of Earth to note, however, that this is but the first draft and intended to serve as the base for in-depth debates. We look forward to a lively contribution and hopefully soon ratification.
Due to the legitimate demur of New Canada we exempted all armament affairs from this draft. We believe that subject to be of comparable urgency, but also affiliated to a seperate debate and treaty."
1I have no idea how the outer asteroid belt Aurora puts into Sol is actually called.
OOC: I did some research into international treaties, but the matter is ... thick. To be honest, I think all I can write would be null and void before our modern international law. Hence, I 'just wrote something' that sounds good. Don't hold the treaty up to real international standards and take the wording for what it is. Please voice any questions concerning the comprehension in the Game Discussion thread - especially non-native English speakers but also everyone else.
2043
Late in 2043 ambassador Masakiyo steps before the Chicxulub embassies with a lengthy proclamation from the Japanese Alliance.
"Honourable ambassadors from fellow nations of Earth, today I step before you because of several pressing topics.
At first, we must welcome the People's Socialist Canton Republic back onto the surface of our planet. We do not wish to overshadow the emergence of a new state, but we will wait for them to make a public announcement towards the Chicxulub embassies and yet have other, urgent matters to adress:
To start with the more pleasent progress, the Japanese Alliance can present a new draft of the International SolSpace Treaty, In its writing we did heed the commentary given by the Northern Kingdom and W., W., & Sons Legal Consultation Firm, of which both offered valuable intellectual input for this debate. The Japanese Alliance deems it necessary to annotate that within the current draft no active repercussions are intended for non-signing states, but that the various benefits extend only to those nations that sign the treaty - namely the sharing of ruin technology and security offered for any civilian or military operations beyond the tradional earthern borders - and that any blockade by even non-signing nations will be acted upon in accordance with the treaty to ensure its validity.
If however the general opinion is to inclose active repercussions and the necessary will to enforce such is present with the potentially signing nations we still urge these people to voice any ideas and concerns."
International SolSpace Treaty
The Contracting Parties,
- Desiring to develop and maintain the status and security of the Sol system in a fair manner,
- Recognizing the need to introduce new international rules in order to provide adequate solutions to the questions raised by new economic, social, cultural and technological developments,
- Further recognizing the need to maintain a balance between the nations of Earth and the larger public interest,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Presence on celestial bodies
Every Contracting Party is entitled to establish a civilian presence on every celestial body of Sol, and may do so on its own accord with due respect given to previously established presences of other Contracting Parties on the same celestial body.
Every Contractin Party is entitled to establish military presences within the Sol system, but has to respect the international neutrality of celestial bodies and consider the security of civilian populations and installations. No large military bases may be eracted on the same body as a sufficiently large multicultural civilian presence and the colonisation after the establishment of a large military presence is reason enough to force a relocation of the military base.
Article 2
Obligations
Each Contracting Party undertakes never under any circumstances:
- To declare a planet, moon or asteroid as sole and governmental property of their nation or to enforce, in any way, an inofficial state comparable to such;
- To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a Contracting Party under this Treaty.
Furthermore the Contracting Parties are obligated to:
- Protect the international neutrality and freedom of each celestial body within the Sol system.
- Assist in any defensive maneuvers to ensure the continued freedom and security of any celestial body within the Sol system in accordance with Article 6.
- Respect the established military bases and civilian presences of other Contracting Parties, keeping safe distances with own military units unless sufficient reason for an approach is given or an invitation is sent by the initial Contracting Party.
- Identify their vessels upon flight within the Sol system whether it is a civilian or military ship.
Article 3
Handling of extra-terrestial remnants within Sol
As the Sol system is the crip of the entire human race the ruins located on Mars as well as any further abandoned extra-terrestial presence are regarded as the communital property of all Contracting Parties. As physical remnants are unique and undistributable the handling of intellectual and physical salvage has to be distinguished:
- All finds within Sol have to be disclosed to the general public to ensure a fair handling of this matter and neutral observers from other Contracting Parties should be allowed to inspect salvage operations.
- Installations salvaged from an alien ruin within Sol are the property of the salvaging Contracting Party. As information about what can and cannot be salvaged is lacking no fixed compensation can be assigned however. Exceptional finds are open for debate among the Contracting Parties whether a compensation needs to be made or not.
- Intellectual finds in form of technology can and must be distributed among the Contracting Parties.
Article 4
Invader activities on celestial bodies within Sol
Should any remnants within Sol hold dormant or active Invader units within vaults or on the body's surface the celestial body is considered a war zone.
- The Contracting Parties are obliged to cooperate and exterminate the alien presence as national capabilities allow.
- Civilians are to be evacuated or otherwise safeguarded from harm from any Invader force by mutual military efforts of all present Contracting Parties.
- Collateral damage is to be expected in a war zone and no reparations can be made unless the cause and victims can be seperated and clearly identified, in which case any loss of property needs to be replaced or otherwise compensated.
Article 5
Definitions
- "Large" military bases mean a military presence exceeding the absolute neccessary size to ensure the safety of local civilian settlements under peaceful expectations.
- "Large" civilian presences are any multicultural civilian presence on a celestial body exceeding the 100 million population mark.
- "Sufficient reason" is only necessary for the approach of military vessels onto large civilian presences or celestial bodies solely hosting a military presence from another country. The ensured freedom and neutrality of all celestial bodies within the Sol system explicitly allows the approach of any planet, moon or asteroid by civilian vessels without any given reason.
Article 6
International cooperation and assistance
- In fulfilling its obligations under this Treaty each Contracting Party has the right to seek and receive assistance, where feasible, from other Contracting Parties to the extent possible.
- Each Contracting Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the ensured international status and security of any celestial bodies in the Sol System.
- Each Contracting Party giving and receiving assistance under the provisions of this Article shall cooperate with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.
Article 7
Signature of the Treaty
This Treaty shall be open for signature until December 31, 2045, by any nation of Earth.
Article 8
Entry into force of the Treaty
This Treaty shall enter into force three months after 3 instruments of ratification or accession by nations have been deposited with the Chicxulub Embassies.
Article 9
No reservations to the Treaty
No reservation to this Treaty shall be admitted.
Article 10
Duration and withdrawal
- This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.
- Each Contracting Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Treaty. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other Contracting Parties in form of the Chicxulub Embassies. Such instrument of withdrawal shall include a full explanation of the reasons motivating this withdrawal.
- Such withdrawal shall only take effect one year after the receipt of the instrument of withdrawal by the Chicxulub Embassies.
- The withdrawal of a Contracting Party from this Treaty shall not in any way affect the duty of other nations to continue fulfilling the obligations assumed under any relevant rules of international law.
"Further important news are that the Japanese Alliance and the Northern Kingdom are approaching each other in a international union. Our two grand nations are willing to cooperate on a large scale and aide each other in times of need. For the time being no further information will be disclosed, but with current developements both our nations regarded it as necessary to publicly announce the support we offer oneanother."
The Japanese ambassador hesitates a moment befor proceeding in his speech.
"A much less positive form of progress is the incident between New Canada and the Japanese Alliance. As Emperor Gregor I deemed it necessary to release the details into public and turn it into a debate, so will the Japanese Alliance.
It is true that Japanese Alliance agents found evidence of Canadian "civilians" operating on Japanese territory for espionage purposes. Investigations turned up their intention to unreveal highly classified governmental information which apparently was collected to further the "security" of New Canada, as honourable Emperor Gregor I announced previously.
The Japanese Alliance takes his inabillity to apologise as quite the strain on international relationships between our two nations. However, as New Canada's most respected Emperor Gregor I, too, announced he doesn't trust the Japanese Alliance anyway, and according to his own words, doesn't trust any other allies he might have. In our opinion, this is both a very poor choice of words as much as an open announcement to conduct unprovoked espionage operations on both allied and neutral nations alike. That the entire team of operatives decided to rather die during arrest than face an open and fair trial and interrogation, the standards by which New Canada operates seem questionable at best.
We, the Japanese Alliance, see no other way than to further expect a now public apology by most respected and honourable Emperor Gregor I of New Canada to show that his words did, in fact, not mean the inhospitaility they seem to pronounce.
The Japanese Alliance does not spy on other nations. Our intelligency agency operates solely on Japanese territory. We trust our allies. And we do hope that this can be the standard by which modern and civilised nations operate."[/list]