[War] Germany: "An informal meeting"

[Michael Brittain]

"Germany:  An informal meeting"
Chancellor Lukas Lehman
March 22nd, 2013

Lukas had spent his lunch break poring over reports coming out of North
Korea with his Foreign minister, later to be joined by the European Minister 
to
discuss France's recent letter. Although Germany had no official reason or
power to intervene in North Korea, it was still a prominent voice within the
European Union and had the influence to persuade a number of member states.
Alongside his foreign minister, the German Chancellor had expressed
'concerns' that no action should be undertook that would be to the detriment
of the North Korean people. The German foreign office noted that while there
were frustrations, all countries involved had a moral obligation to help NK.

"Bickering," Lukas said over his lunchtime paper, "pure bickering."

"It happens," Lukas's European Minister, Heinrich Kellen, commented. "No
real damage was done."

Lukas shrugged. "It wasn't helpful, but one can see why America are
 annoyed."

"Pissed off is more apt." The two men glanced across at a middle-aged woman
sitting next to Heinrich. Noticeably a lavish woman, she sat opposite Lukas
with her legs crossed wearing a smart black suit. She was the countries
Foreign Minister, Ruth Schneider.

Lukas chuckled. "If you prefer Ruth. Still, it's not our fight so let's
tread carefully and say nothing specific just yet."

"It'll all calm down, " The Foreign Minister said with a sarcastic smile.

Lukas just shrugged. He placed the newspaper down on his desk and sipped his
coffee. "But let's make sure we get the French onboard, I think both of us
would do better to appear unified. As a European bloc we would hold more
influence."

Ruth thought for a moment before replying. "It does make sense, but we still
have little reason to be involved other than expressing European or economic
concerns."

"Quite," Heinrich interjected.

Lukas leant back taking it all in. Before this meeting he had spent over
four hours with a review body publishing its findings on planned government
reform for the economy, and the sharp change of meeting was exhausting. "I
would still prefer to work with the French on this. Traditionally, working
together has only benefited us both, not just within Europe but abroad."

"Agreeing with them over Europe wouldn't hurt relations either," Heinrich
commented.

Lukas rubbed his eyes. "The French are making sense though. The President is
right, the EU has become far too bureaucratic. It is too distracted from its
original goal"

The three of them seemed in agreement. "Agreement with France would
naturally make reform of the EU easier to achieve." Heinrich commented. "In
all honesty, they have similar goals as us."

"I will draft a letter to the French President this afternoon." Lukas
sighed, flagging.

"It's only lunchtime, Lukas," Ruth reached into her bag and pulled out a
cigarette, before a look from Lukas made her put it back.

"I know," he yawned again. "It has been a long day, Stefan was ill in the
night and he kept us all up."

Ruth was an old friend of Lukas's even though she was 20 years his senior.
She was always seen as a motherly figure within politics. Heinrich smiled
and made his excuses before leaving at the end of the meeting, it seemed he
had a meeting at the Europe Office. Leaving the desk behind, Lukas and Ruth
sat down in the sitting area to enjoy a cup of coffee and a quick lunch.

"Coffee?" Lukas asked poring a fresh cup and motioning toward Ruth.

"Please," she crossed her legs and flicked her hair back. "Thank you," she
took the cup and Lukas sat down.

"The economic commission report their findings tomorrow, I spent hours in a
seemingly endless briefing with them today." He sipped his coffee, drawing a
deep breath. He relaxed in the company of an old and loyal friend.

"Sounds like a waste of time," Ruth sipped her coffee. The foreign secretary
was infamous for always speaking her mind in private. "We all know what they
are going to say." She paused. "All the same, I suppose you need it rubber
stamping."

Lukas nodded, smiling. Ruth was certainly a rare breed, approaching
retirement age yet still at her prime politically. She was down to earth,
fashionable and brutally honest. She didn't exactly look her age either, a
topic that she notoriously detests.

"That letter you were going to write to the French," Ruth sipped her coffee.
"Would you mind if you run it past me before sending it?"

"That's fine, I'll get a copy sent to you and Heinrich. I should warn you,
I'm hoping that we can hold talks with the French at some point, the Beijing
conference has woken us both up to the importance of an efficient and far
reaching EU. " Lukas picked up a paper from the coffee table, the front page
covered in pictures of North Korea. "How is the foreign office coping with
the situation in North Korea?"

Ruth just leant forward and began playing with her left earring. "Fine - I
can't say there have been any problems. Generally, as with all things such
as this, we are one voice in a choir. Aid work is underway in North Korea,
and we have offered everything that we can to assist, as you know. The ball
is well and truly in the Chinese court, but the recent Beijing conference
has shown that things are moving along and that the Chinese are willing to
sit down and talk. Nothing that's not in my report Lukas."

The Chancellor nodded, "It certainly highlights Chinas new place in the
world."

"All the more reason for a stronger European bloc," Ruth interjected,
bringing the conversation back to Europe. "This was a well needed wake up
call."

"Change takes time though Ruth, particularly when you're dealing with
something so complex as the EU. I don't envy anyone who takes that task upon
them," Lukas loosened his tie lying back into his chair. He tried not to
sound patronising, but reforming the EU wasn't easily done - no matter how
well intended some people in his government were. "Lunch?" He asked, wanting
to take a break.

ACTIONS:
1. Express agreement with the French letter and offer an invitation to hold
talks to improve working relations between the two countries. An 
'unofficial'
discussion over the EU is on the table.
2. Offer whatever aide possible to North Korea. Encourage calm and the
involvement of EU member states to offer aide and assistance. 



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