Our goal is to create a confederation between the new Roman states, each with its own government, with a common currency, tied economies and perhaps, a unified foreign policy. Within each state, there could be different state religions, independent militaries, and local laws. Such an arrangement would allow the Roman Empire to continue, without each of the new states constantly at each others throats, with Constantinople serving as a neutral ground and imperial capital.
To Russia, Chaldia, Opsikion, Roman Empire
From Bulgaria
As far as Bulgaria is concerned, there will be no united foreign policy, no lone capital, no overall Imperator or governor of the former Empire. Bulgaria will not, however, oppose a cease-fire between the states, provided we are permitted, in any agreement, to maintain our current borders. Nor would we oppose unity of currency, or abolishing trade duties between the former provinces of the Empire, as this can only ensure that we share our prosperity through the region.
Peace is the way forward for our nations, but reunifying the Empire after the long struggles of our states to achieve freedom is not an acceptable outcome, so far as Bulgaria is concerned. To accept less than the current borders and current freedoms would be an insult to the sacrifices of all Bulgars, and all citizens of Opsikion and Chaldia, as would any settlement that sees the Romans escape paying reparations to the governments of the Free States to have emerged from the ruins of the former Roman decadence.
Bulgaria will welcome the Russian peace-keepers, so long as there is some guarantee that they are committed to maintaining the present borders between the Greeks and Bulgars, and so long as they are willing to intervene, should the Greeks begin to take action against any Bulgars or Slavs still trapped in Greek territory. Should this prove to be an invasion by another avenue, rather than a genuine peace-keeping effort, Bulgaria will not hesitate to call on the Great Powers of this world to assist. Given that ongoing war or chaos would be detrimental to any ongoing commerce or even any investigations that may be ongoing, were sure that certain powers are likely to be interested in an actual cease-fire being enforced.
To the Roman Empire
From Bulgaria
If the Roman Empire is committed to acting in the interests of peace, we would ask, at least, for the following gesture: abandon the title of Roman Empire, abandon your claims to sovereignty or overlordship of the lands that now stand against you. The Imperator, and the territories of his Empire, has no legitimate claim to these territories anymore. If an alliance or limited union of the former provinces is to come about, then any one nation within those lands claiming to be
the Roman Empire would be an effort to set themselves above the other members. Bulgaria will recognise the legitimacy and authority of the Imperator as King of Greece, but as nothing more than that.
To Chaldia, Opsikion
From Bulgaria
We urge you, our fellow free states, to accept Russian intervention as inevitable. To peacefully accept the Russian intervention places us in a superior position for negotiating an end to Roman dominance of our peoples. Surely it would be better for our three states to be bound together by common ties of alliance and currency, than to be held together as slaves of the Russian or Roman states? Bulgaria opposes foreign intervention in our region, as a rule, but for how long can our three states combat the Roman, the Kurd, the Arab and the Russian, should the Russians decide to unify the Empire by force? Better, surely, to accept intervention and work towards a Roman Alliance, with our states free but mutually protective, than to be forcibly reunited in a more repressive Empire than before, or pushed into an unfavourable Confederation because you refused to come to the table?
Bulgaria promises this much, should the Kurd and the Arab reject a truce, and you agree to come to the table and negotiate a settlement of the former Empire in good faith, Bulgaria will send troops, funds, ammunition and medical supplies to aid in defending your territories from aggression.
. I will be returning on Friday morning and will answer any PMs and diplomacy then.
