General Facts

Westeros and the Independent Republic of Valyria are neighboring countries. The two countries have a lot in common, however they have had a tumultuous past. For over 100 years, from 1870-1990, Valyria was merely a province of Westeros. But in 1990 the Crownland Party, now the ruling party in Valyria, formed and declared the Republic of Valyria independent from Westeros. A brutal conflict ensued as the Crownland Party fought to defend Valyria's claimed independence and Westeros invaded to maintain control of its province. Over 200,000 people, mainly Valyrians, died. In 1992, the conflict ended when Westeros recalled its forces because of mounting political pressures at home. With Westeros's forces removed, the Republic of Valyria was officially established. Ever since, the two nation's relations have been described as hostile as best.

Westeros is a developed country with a vibrant city center, gorgeous coastlines, and thriving trade routes. The Independent Republic of Valyria is a small, landlocked, developing country with an abundant amount of underutilized natural resources. Today, twenty-five years after the countries officially split, both Westeros and Valyria have problems that only the other can solve. As such, the two countries have recently initiated relations and planned a summit meeting to discuss underlying issues that historically have prevented trade and relations. Both parties hope to reach an agreement that will resolve these issues so that they can begin a flourishing and enduring trade relationship. However, given the complicated political history between the two nations, it is likely that some political issues will have to be ironed out in addition to trade details. The ideal potential agreement would be beneficial to both nations economically and in terms of building stability in the region.

Two years ago, Tom Snow, the son of a Valyrian killed in the revolutionary conflict, carried out an assassination attempt on the President of Westeros, George Lannister, by bombing the President's motorcade. President Lannister suffered severe injuries from the attack, and had to be placed in a medically induced coma to save his life. President Lannister remained in this condition for almost six months. The results of this assassination attempt plunged Westeros into a period of uncertainty. The markets took a dive, and the economy took a big hit. Tourism, previously the Number One industry in Westeros, has yet to recover. Snow escaped Westeros after the assassination attempt, and made it back to Valyria. The Valyrian government has refused to turn Snow over to Westeros for prosecution. The Westerosi representative would like to discuss plans for the extradition of Snow to Westerosi authorities for prosecution in Westeros on charges of terrorism.

Ever since the assassination attempt on President Lannister, the tourism industry in Westeros has struggled. The assassination attempt occurred in Winterfell, the capital of Westeros. The museums, historical sites, and vibrant city life in Winterfell and its surrounding areas have historically accounted for bringing in 60% of Westeros's total international tourism. After the bombing occurred, international tourism to Winterfell fell by 50% or $2.4 billion annually. Efforts to revive Winterfell's image abroad over the last year have resulted in a slight improvement to tourism, but the impact has been minuscule. Westeros needs its tourism industry to recover for its economy to rebound.

Westeros has a gorgeous coastline, and a vibrant nightlife in the city of Westerosi Beach that has remained mainly unknown to the outside world. Currently, Westerosi Beach is only lively during the summer months when Westeros's own citizens, not international tourists, travel to Westerosi Beach. The rest of the year only about 300 people live in Westerosi Beach. The Westeros government hopes to reclaim tourism by attracting international visitors to Westerosi Beach by building a port to attract cruise lines. The Westeros government also plans to spend an additional billion dollars on developing the city into an exotic destination for year-round travel. Consultants hired by the Westeros government believe that the economic development in Westerosi Beach will increase the number of international tourists from 300 annually to over 1.7 million annually. After the new developments are completed, it is estimated that visitors will spend around $2.6 billion annually in Westerosi Beach. The Westeros government has started negotiating with hotels for the creation of six resorts in the area to accommodate these additional tourists. Westeros wants all the resorts opened by the start of tourist season in January of 2019. The hotels all say they will not be able to achieve this deadline unless workers are there, ready to work, day one of construction.

Valyria experienced a boom in the number of children born annually in the years immediately following the conflict. These children have all now reached adulthood and are starting lives on their own. However there are not enough jobs in Valyria to support these young people. As such, unemployment for youth aged 18-25 has recently reached 32%, a historic high. Westeros believes it can help Valyria by hiring some of these unemployed young adults for its Westerosi Beach Development Plan. Since the conflict, however, Valyria has banned Valyrian citizens from working in Westeros.

Due to the tragic loss of life during the conflict over the last twenty-five years Valyria has developed an elite military. At the same time, Westeros's military has dwindled. Three months ago, a Valyrian drone was spying on a Westeros security prison. However, Westeros forces shot the drone out of the sky within minutes of spotting it. The drone remains in Westerosi possession.

Over the last twenty-five years Valyria has developed a thriving manufacturing industry, however Valyria has struggled to export its products. As a landlocked nation, the country has no access to a seaport, which has hindered its ability to access international markets. The Valyrian delegation would like access to one of Westeros's ports so that Valyria can introduce its products to new markets abroad. The most direct shipping route to the Westeros coast from Valyria is up Blackwater Bay until it hits the Trident River, and then following the river to the ocean. Since the revolutionary conflict, Westeros has denied Valyria access to its ports and refused to let Valyrian merchant ships sail down the Trident for decades.

A major concern in Westeros is that Valyrians will use the water route to facilitate human trafficking. There have been rumors that illegal groups in Valyria use other trade routes by land to smuggle thousands of people out of the country annually. If the rumors are true, Westeros is concerned that granting Valyria access to the Trident River and a seaport would lead to an exponential increase in the number of people trafficked out of Valyria. However, there has never been any evidence to corroborate these rumors.

Numerous reports have corroborated that there is increasing pressure on Westeros's government from the Westerosi lumber industry. Historically, Valyria has exported some timber to Westeros. Lately, however, Valyrian timber has been trading drastically below market rates. This has caused Westerosi producers' lumber sales to plummet. In recent months Valyria began to subsidize its lumber industry, allowing the prices to substantially drop. Westeros thinks the current tariff on timber should be raised to offset the subsidy and bring the price of the timber back up to market rates. Historically, there has only been a 3% tariff on timber.

Both parties hope to find mutually agreeable solutions to their concerns so that trade may once again open between the two counties.

Confidential Facts for Valyria

Objective 1: Get rid of Tom Snow, but only if the death penalty is taken off of the table, and the transfer occurs through Dorne with Valyria paying no more than $750,000 of the costs to do so.

Valyria's government arrested Tom Snow a little over a year ago, as soon as it became clear that he had tried to assassinate President Lannister. However, this arrest was never publicized because of the potential for political backlash. A lot of Valyrian citizens consider Snow's actions to be justified. Snow was formally charged and sent to an underground military facility, where he has been awaiting trial for almost a year. The Valyrian government does not know what do to with him because a trial in Valyria could result in political backlash. However, the Valyrian government has serious apprehensions about extraditing Snow to Westeros since Westeros has the death penalty, a sentence Snow would no doubt receive. The Valyrian government would like to get rid of this problem, but will not do so if the death penalty is still on the table. If the death penalty is taken off the table, the Valyrian government would be willing to extradite Snow to Westerosi authorities. However, Valyria is still concerned about the possible political backlash the government faces if Valyria transfers Snow directly to Westeros. As such, Valyria has secured approval from the country of Dorne, a neighbor to both Valyria and Westeros, to transfer Snow to Dorne and have Dornish authorities extradite Snow to Westeros. However, in exchange for its trouble, Dorne wants $2 million in aid. Valyria wants Westeros to pay the entire $2 million in aid but is willing to pay up to $750,000 of the cost. The Valyrian government will not agree to a deal if the exchange does not occur through Dorne.

Objective 2: Lift the work ban in exchange for a minimum of a $15 million aid package to improve Valyrian infrastructure. Further, get a guarantee that Westeros will employ at least 7,000 workers at a minimum of $18,000 per worker.

The high level of unemployment among Valyrian youth is something the government desperately wants to fix. Valyria would prefer to fix its unemployment problem by creating jobs within Valyria rather than allowing Valyria's young adults to secure employment in other nations. Valyria knows that Westeros wants to possibly hire Valyrians for its Westerosi Beach Development Project. Valyria is willing to lift the ban forbidding Valyrian workers from working in Westeros but wants $40 million in aid for doing so. Valyria wants to use the aid package on infrastructure projects within its own nation to hire more people internally. Valyria will accept no less than a $15 million aid package for lifting the ban. Additionally, Valyria wants a guarantee that at least 7,000 workers will be employed on the Westerosi Beach project for at least $18,000 per worker.

Objective 3: Secure the release of the ten prisoners if possible, but at a minimum secure the release of Brandon Stark, Samuel Tarly, and David Seaworth.

Before the drone was shot out of the sky, it transmitted imaging of a group of ten prisoners being transferred into the facility. The images were run through facial recognition software and all ten prisoners were recognized as Valyrians who went missing two years ago. This news spread like wildfire through the Valyrian military and government. Valyria always suspected that Westeros had been involved in their disappearance because the men were last seen illegally sailing on the Trident River. But this is the first time Valyria had real proof of the matter. The drones not only captured proof of the ten prisoners, but also recognized the faces of Brandon Stark, Samuel Tarly, and David Seaworth.

All three men were leaders of the Crownland Party during the conflict. Stark, Tarly, and Seaworth are considered national heroes for their contribution towards creating the Independent Republic of Valyria. Securing their release and return would be a monumental victory for the Crownland Party and help immensely in next year's elections. Securing the release of all ten prisoners would be ideal.

Valyria does not believe it should have to agree to anything in exchange for the release of the prisoners. Westeros should not be holding them at this point. However, Valyria knows it was caught spying. As such, Valyria would be willing to enter into an arms deal with Westeros in exchange for the prisoners. Even though there are still concerns throughout Valyria about a more militarized Westeros, Valyria would feel more secure about helping militarize Westeros if they agreed to be an ally. Valyria would want the trade deal to be for $12 billion over 15 years with slight training not exceeding six months. However, Valyria would be willing to accept up to $24 billion over 8 years with four months of training. If necessary to secure all ten prisoners, Valyria would be willing to commit to up to six months of training but only as a last resort to secure their transfer.

Objective 4: Secure an agreement for the use of a Westerosi port, preferably with more leniency in custom laws. Further, keep lumber tariffs under 10%.

Valyria's landlocked status has hindered its position in international trade. Access to a Westerosi port is a top priority and the government is willing to negotiate on other factors to ensure this access. Valyria realizes that the port access will not be free but is reluctant to be taken advantage of through unreasonable fees. Further, Valyria is hesitant to allow its goods to be subject to Westerosi customs and duties because that would discourage exporters from sending goods to Valyria since they would have to clear customs in both Westeros and Valyria. The Valyrian government hopes to earn revenue through its own customs and duties to fund service delivery and infrastructure improvements. While it is unlikely that Westeros will grant Valyria sovereign control over the port, Valyria still wants its goods to avoid the Westerosi customs system, or at least obtain some substantial leeway. To do so, it is willing to pay a higher "use" fee for the port. Valyria knows that there are concerns about the human trafficking occurring in Valyria. The Valyrian government does not support the illegal groups conducting this trade, and launched a new task force to stop the problem two months ago. The government has entrusted you to formulate alternative suggestions to create a mutually beneficial agreement with Westeros for access to the port.

As for lumber subsidies, Valyria does not understand why Westeros is so upset. The fact that Valyria can provide lumber for cheaper than market rates makes sense. Valyria is a country with vast unutilized natural resources, including half the country being covered in dense forests, and Westeros's forests are dwindling. Moreover, the Valyrian government needs more forests to be chopped down to facilitate planned infrastructure projects and to create more jobs for young people. Therefore, it needed to subsidize the domestic lumber industry to encourage its growth. In fact, the subsidy achieved this goal by creating a boom in the domestic lumber industry. It would be better for Valyria to keep the tariff as close to the historical level of 3% as possible. However, Valyrian economists believe that as long as the tariff remains below 10% the lumber industry will continue to boom.

Can you help me with the terms to this negotiation prompt?