Intergalactic Summit

Ok kim.

This amount of lies and propaganda is a quite vivid example, why peace between the Republic and the State (of course with our allies - the Empire) doesn't look possible at all... well, while peoples like Matar Ronin are alive, of course.

Hopefully one day Shakor will explain what this move was supposed to achieve. If anyone has the obligation to release tensions between the two empires it's the Amarr. If Catiz wants to come and visit Matar and kiss the ground I'm sure she's welcome to do that without invitation. Doing the first step just shows how far Shakor stands above this pompous institution of an Empress - and nobody call Catiz Tash-Murkon's invitation or all the former invitations to those conceited ceremonies a first step, the hard part to accept was no doubt on Shakor's side.

However, is it appropriate and politically smart for a leader to offer a hand to the villain who murdered and kidnapped his people, holds them in slavery and puts them under drugs, continues to do so and shows no serious sign of regret? Even more confusing is why he brought the man with him who slapped - just well-deservedly and, in regard of the whole history, slightly - in the kidnapper's face. How does that look like? "Now, Keitan, be good and say 'Excuse me! I won't do that again.' to the Lady!" Not to mention how much Shakor's visit smells of begging for a piece of the economic cake everybody expects to emerge from Tash-Murkon's reign.

I'm not a hardliner for the Minmatar cause and would agree to every kind of informal and bilateral cooperation between the empires - on the right level. There are many people, corporations and communities in the Amarr Empire to easily work with if they haven't been brainwashed or even killed by the Amarr's theocratic, old reactionary and diehard institutions. But the head of the Republic in Dam-Torsad is just a level too high and places an unfortunate symbol of weakness rather than greatness of mind.

These are my thoughts, perhaps Shakor's go deeper and are much more refined. Right now I can't see them, but future will show.

As a believer in the principles of the Pax Amarria, I for one would welcome bilateral talks to work towards a common ground in both economic and political relations. I am also, however, quite realistic of what giving the real demand here would cost to both of our states.

A gradual work towards reform, progress and reconcilliation is the only sensible option for both parties. There's too many old stakes and old minds still involved on both sides for it to be otherwise, and neither party would cope with an immediate implementation of what I know you are asking for. The example of the Emancipation Decree before should be a lesson to take onboard.

Empress Catiz is still the Empress and, therefore, it is her place to speak to put former Imperial policy in the context of her current Administration's goals. She now has the opportunity to act in continuation, amendment or a break away from previous Imperial policy - but blaming her on the day of her coronation as personally to blame for the acts of former Imperial heads smacks of victimhood. Let her at least get her feed under her first.

As for Shakor and Yun - if I'm not mistaken, the two of them have been politically aligned since well before the Elder Fleet raid. If Keitan Yun accompanies Malateau Shakor on a diplomatic mission then that says that Shakor stands behind Yun's diplomatic record. The fact that Yun didn't fling crap around the place during this mission also says that Yun acts at Shakor's orders and that the Sanmatar is, perhaps, cautiously optimistic that there is something to be won by diplomacy at this point.

It will make any future comments made by Yun all the more credible as a statement of Republic policy, no?

I really think that the real meat of this this move diplomatically will really become clearer in the coming weeks. If I had to guess, this gesture was the loud noise designed to draw attention, and that the diplomatic moves that we'll see in the coming weeks will say more about the actual diplomatic direction that Shakor has in mind. Regardless, it definitely seems like a move that signals a change in the current relationship with Amarr--and the wider Cluster--that I think offers more options for action and effectiveness in international developments.



The way I see it, those are excellent reasons to extend a hand. With Arrendis' point about visiting the sins of her predecessors upon Catiz, it is because this entity holds a great deal of power over the political change that that we (and the Sanmatar by extension) want to see. Whether we like it or not, Catiz will have a great deal of power over the institution of slavery and its future within the Empire. Given that, I think it's to our advantage to be in some kind of conversation with the source of that power.

It reminds me of a situation that my aunt is involved in in Sinq Liaison. She's a part of the regional business association and regularly hosts parties, events and such with the members. Many of these members are the same wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers who wouldn't hesitate to use every trick in the book to rip her off. Yet there she is, laughing away over cocktails and hors d'erves with these creeps. I asked her why she puts up with it sometime back and she said, 'because they're the game that I need play.' Now I'm not sure that Shakor's reasons are as adversarial as my aunt's, but I think the general principle is the same.



This makes me think that this move was a message directed at the international community, rather than just toward the Empire. Remember, the heads of each state and several important internationals were in attendance, and so the Coronation was as much of an international event as it was a rite of the Empire. I think the Sanmatar saw this as a chance to make a statement about the Republic's international ambitions and that Yun's accompaniment was a part of that.

One of the major criticisms that I've heard of the Republic is that there's a perception that there is a lack of control from the top, especially among military and diplomatic personnel. Colelie is often used as an example of action being taken without widespread approval or coordination. I think that the charge is somewhat inaccurate, but I think it persists. I see the Sanmatar's choice of companions as a statement that even hardline voices are behind him. It's a way of saying 'I'm making a bold diplomatic move, and I have the power to make it stick' and I think that message was direct to the entire Cluster. The fact that Yun was pretty silent during and after the event speaks volumes.

Just my .02 isk, though. I think you've got a good point about the move being too bold, but you know Shakor, when he's ready to move, he doesn't mess around. :)

I'm sorry if I was unclear in some points but, of course, I don't blame the new Empress for not having made an effort yet to improve relations. The point is that Shakor accepted an invitation which isn't only an invitation to a coronation ceremony by the private person Catiz Tash-Murkon. It's the invitation of the whole Amarr Empires' representative. Nobody of the former ones made a serious step to end the dark history between the empires - with the appreciated but much too small exception of Empress Jamyl's I. Decree of Emancipation (Utari Onzo mentioned it).

Now, Shakor takes part to celebrate this questionable tradition, and I can't see a sign that Catiz will break it, given her thoughts about the Reclaiming and the fact that her inaugural speech didn't mention anything about conciliation and intercultural relations beyond economy and trade - as if that would be new - but a lot about the growth of her armed forces. Maybe, as Arrendis speculates, Shakor took Yun with him for quite the opposite reason than I was assuming. Maybe.

Anyway, as others already said, it's all speculation. We have to wait for the next steps to understand Shakor's motivation.