Mediterranean Neighbours

#1

In a recent meeting with Prime Minister Qasim Al-Hamdani, Caliph Makki Ibn Asim bi-llāh has brought forth the idea of establishing positive relations with the French. Hesitant about being dragged into a potential conflict in Europe, especially involving communism, to which the Caliph is ambivalent towards, Al-Hamdani suggests a meeting be held in Barcelona. The purpose of this meeting is to establish, at the very least, a positive trade relationship between the two nations, and to further explore relations between the two. Ibn Asim agreed to these suggestions and has made the proper arrangements.

To this end, a representative from the @French Republic is invited to Barcelona to meet with Caliph Makki Ibn Asim bi-llāh to discuss relations between France and Andalusia and the current state of affairs in Europe and the Middle East.

#2

In the Élysée, the Presidential Palace, Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson waits to see President Mitterrand. The President has been rather busy of late, meeting a lot of members of his cabinet over matters varying wildly; economic development in Algérie to R&D budgets for Defense. General Méry and Defense Minister Hernu leave the conference room, and Cheysson knows this is his unofficial offer to enter. The President doesn't like to waste time, and if a meeting ends early he prefers to start the next one as soon as possible. Cheysson gets out of his chair and grabs his briefcase, entering the room before the door has a chance to fully close.
"Monsieur Président" Cheysson says as he closes the door behind him.
"Cheysson!" Mitterand replies, apparently having lost no energy despite the gruelling bureaucracy he has been subject to today. "What do you bring for me?"
"A request from our southern neighbors, surprisingly." Cheysson says in a deliberately professional way. He places the briefcase on the table and opens it. Inside are two copies of the request from Al-Andalus. Cheysson passes one to Mitterand and continues. "The Andalusians seem to desire a thaw to our relations. Trade agreements, regional state of affairs, and potentially to 'further explore relations' between us', to quote the communique."
"Interesting..." Mitterand ponders this, allowing Cheysson continue his brief.
"The invitation is to meet with the Caliph, not the Prime Minister or a member of their Foreign Ministry. This must be a meeting they consider important."
Mitterand raps his fingers across the table. Just once, though and then speaks.
"Of course, we will accept. We have no reason to deny a friendly meeting between neighbors. However, their ambivalence concerning the UCSA is disdainful, particularly from a-" Mitterand stops a beat, and Cheysson can only tell from his regular meetings with Mitterand that he is briefly controlling his contempt for what he says next. Not an intense contempt, but enough to affect his mood if left unchecked. "A monarchy. Perhaps the only form of government the communists hate more than ours. Cheysson, you will go in my stead."

A communique is sent back to Al-Andalus, informing them that the French Republic accepts their offer to meet with the Caliph and Foreign Minister Cheysson will be representing France. He is en-route to Barcelona.

#3

Location: Alhambra, just outside Cordoba
[private]

Crown Prince Ziyad stares at Prime Minister Qasim Al-Hamdani, both of them sitting in a private courtyard, with servants and guards discretely waiting nearby. "Tell me again what my father said?"

Al-Hamdani shrugs. "He said that he was ambivalent towards communism."

"He does know that communism is the idea of public ownership and the removal of dynastic power and the like, right? As in, the complete destruction of our entire political and socio-economic system?"

"I... I do not know, sir. I just know what he said." Al-Hamdani replies nervously.

"I will deal with this. When is the meeting?"

"In the next couple days, sir, in Barcelona."

Ziyad stands, nodding. "See to it that no one else knows of what he said." With that, he turns and leaves the courtyard, his robes swirling behind him. The guards turn and follow him.

A mere four hours later he is on a train heading towards Barcelona.

As Foreign Minister Cheysson's train rolls into the station in Barcelona, he would notice an honour guard waiting on the station. As he exits the train, trumpeters play a royal announcement, welcoming him to Andalusia. Waiting for him at the platform is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Safya Al-Haddad, "As-salaam 'alykum, Bonjour, welcome to Barcelona. If you will come with me, we have prepared a place for you to refresh yourself before meeting with the Caliph for dinner tonight. If you wish for some extra time to freshen up, he can meet tomorrow morning instead. Just let me know." She smiles at him, before leading him to a waiting motorcade, which would take them from the train station and to a nearby estate with a luxurious courtyard.

[private]

While Foreign Minister Cheysson is meeting with Al-Haddad, Crown Prince Ziyad's train would be arriving on another platform, where the Crown Prince would requisition a driver to bring him to the provincial palace. Upon arriving, he would head straight for his father's chambers, barging in without knocking.

"Father, have you lost your mind?" He exclaims upon entering.

Looking up, Ibn Asim sighs, "My son, what is it this time?"

"Declaring to Al-Hamdani that you are ambivalent towards communists? You do know what their long term goals are, right?"

"The ideas of communism really don't seem so bad, my son. Truly, I think we might benefit from implementing some of them. Besides, their main issue is with capitalist democracies, not monarchies."

Ziyad looks at his father for a moment, before quickly recovering. He pulls out three books from his pocket, "Have you even read the Communist Manifesto? No, well I just happen to have brought some for you. Here is one in Andalusi, and another in Mozarabic, just in case." He hands the copies to a servant, who brings them to the Caliph. Not even giving his father a chance to read them, Ziyad continues. "But, since I know you're a busy man, let me assist you in your reading of it. They may be talking primarily to capitalist systems, but it holds just as true for our government, if not more so! Listen to some of their core policies:

"The abolition of private property in land and inheritance; introduction of a progressive income tax; confiscation of rebels' property; nationalisation of credit, communication, and transport; expansion and integration of industry and agriculture; enforcement of universal obligation of labour; and provision of universal education and abolition of child labour."

"All great ideas, really." Caliph Ibn Asim shrugs, looking at his son. "If this is all you came to bother me about, please, I have an important dinner to prepare for."

Ziyad crosses his arms, standing in a defensive stance. "Did you even hear what I said? Yes, some of those points are very important, such as the labour laws, education, and having national systems. But you'll note that those are all things that we already have in our nation. And, if you look beyond those values, you'll see that they're calling for the abolition of private property! That means this palace would got to the state, and the state would not include us, or any members of our family! We would be seen as the so-called 'rebels'! Father, do you not see that communism is antithetical to our very governmental system and way of life? Sure, we aren't capitalists, but we are definitely not those who would be considered as friends of communism either."

Ibn Asim frowns, peering more closely at the pamphlets handed to him. "I will need to study this further. Dismissed." He looks over at his guards, who escort Ziyad from the room. After Ziyad leaves, he turns to his servants. "You as well, please." The servants then leave, where they whisper amongst each other outside of the chambers. To some, the communist manifesto sounds interesting, but to most it seems as a direct break from Muslim traditions.

Alone in the room, with the exception of his guards, Ibn Asim takes a closer look at the Communist Manifesto for the first time, really looking into what it says.

Infinitos Mundos