Ukraine | Message to Thailand

[Vaka]

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Encryption:
Recipient: Kanokrat Lertchoosakul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Socialist Republic of Thailand Bossza007
Sender: Yuliia Bereza, Ukrainian Ambassador to Thailand.
Subject: Opening Foreign Realtions

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Good Morning,

I am currently sitting in my office here in the beautiful Dusit District and just outside my office window lies the magnificent Chao Phraya River. The distance between the west and east banks of the river often seem so far apart. Usually traversed by talented captains of water taxis and river buses; they explained to me the importance of knowing the speed of the current the river takes as it is often affected by weather and tides. So much effort is required to connect people on either side of the river. So much so that Krung Thon Bridge was built to make the connection easier.

Just like the mighty Chao Phraya River, there is currently a gap between Socialist Republic of Thailand and Ukraine. We both share completely different styles of government. We have completely divergent histories. Our peoples subscribe to different ideologies. We are roughly 6500 kilometers apart. The distance seems vast and the differences too great. But just as those brave water taxis cross the river in a storm, I feel like our two peoples can be brought together. I do honestly believe that although we might disagree on the method, we both want what is best for our peoples. In fact, I think that we might find ourselves in agreement on a few things.

If you would allow, I would love to arrange a meeting in person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I would hope that even if no agreements can be found, our two nations could be at the very least cordial. I will make myself available to your office at a moment's notice. I look forward to meeting you in person.


Sincerely,

Yuliia Bereza
Ukrainian Ambassador to Thailand
Republic of Ukraine

 

[Bossza007]

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To: <Yuliia Bereza, Ukrainian Ambassador to Thailand> Vaka From: <Kanokrat Lertchoosakul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Thailand> Subject: RE: Opening Foreign Realtions Security Type: NSST Architecture 1.5 | Secret and Encrypted

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Dear Bereza,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Thailand has received a communication from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Thailand.

I thank you for your poetic missive, although I find much of its content to be negligible and unnecessarily flowery for diplomatic communication. I hope the view from your office is spectacular, as it takes real workers, not some idealistic sense of appreciation, to keep the water clean, transparent, and free from waste.

I would love to accept the meeting proposal with you, ambassador, though I must be noticeably clear, Thailand has no interest in satisfying the interests of the Ukrainian state apparatus. The material reality of our relationship comes from the fact that our two economies are irreconcilable. Like the Soviet Union, your Ukraine is merely another reiteration of capitalism in Eastern Europe. The fact that your country is not ruled by a state capitalist ideology anymore doesn’t mean that the lives of its workers would be better under a regime of the left wing of the capital practicing social democracy, an ideology that has no foundation or inherent potential to liberate humanity from alienation and wage slavery. I would not tolerate any farcical and economically illiterate rhetoric that Communism ever existed in your country when clearly millions of Ukrainian people died from the totalitarian, state capitalist regime of Lenin, Stalin, and so forth.

Moreover, I could see how our two countries can at least be cordial. However, that cordiality would come from the place of critical engagement, not economic or political pragmatism. Thailand is interested in maintaining a relationship with Ukraine as long as it comprehends that it will continue to support the international working class, including those within Ukraine, over the interests of the Ukrainian state apparatus.

I wholly do not expect any agreement to come out of our meeting, but I highly respect the audacity it takes for you, a diplomat representing another capitalist regime to try to wear a humane mask, to seek a frank, transparent, and respectful private meeting with the Foreign Minister of a confederation of free communes that have everything in interests to hinder your state’s interests.

Please visit me at anytime between tomorrow and four days from now, during the afternoon and before the working hour ends. I hope we will have a frank, transparent, and wide-ranging discussion where we do not shy away from speaking our minds, positions, values, and proposals.

Best Regards,

Kanokrat Lertchoosakul
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Confederal Government
Feminist Socialist Coalition
Socialist Republic of Thailand​

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Digital Diplomatic Communication​

 

[Vaka]

Location: Ukrainian Embassy, Dusit District, Bangkok, Thailand
Date: March 10th, 2008
Time: 0915​

Ambassador Yuliia Bereza sat reading the reply email she had just received from the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs. The woman sat back in her chair clearly deep in thought as she pondered her next move. Her office was a mess with papers and books but a grand window at the far end of the office looked over Chao Phraya River. Amidst the towers of legal documents and boxes of unpacked office decorations, was a light brown corduroy couch covered in unfolded blankets that had been her hotel since she had arrived in Thailand.

She reached for the telephone, nearly knocking over a photo of her late father, and frantically dialed a short series of numbers that would connect her to another part of the building. She waited patiently as another voice came alive from the other side of the phone.

“This is Pavlo.” the voice said in an almost robotic tone.

“Kanokrat has agreed to meet with me.” Yuliia said enthusiastically. “Arseniy doubted I would get this far.”

“Kanokrat Lertchoosakul is a brilliant woman and skillful negotiator. Please do not take her lightly. She might have you in tears before the end of the day.” Pavlo quipped as if he was speaking to one of his students.

“The woman is intimidating, there is no denying that.” Yuliia stated confidently, “That is the reason I took this assignment. Arseniy said it was impossible.”

“Minster Yatsenyuk would not have put you in this position unless he had full confidence in you.” Pavlo explained proudly. “But you are going to have to show this woman that you are dead serious about opening real foreign relations between us. That Ukraine is serious.”

Ambassador Yuliia stood up, phone in hand and gazed out the window. She saw an old river taxi unloading a group of older passengers at a dock on the eastern bank of the river. Some of the passengers were holding bags of groceries and other items obviously resourced from the other side of the river. It was the beginning of the hot season in Thailand. But those older travelers still had smiles on their faces. Yuliia’s eyes lit up and she gleefully shouted into the phone, “I have an idea.”

Location: Ukrainian Embassy, Dusit District, Bangkok, Thailand
Date: March 11th, 2008
Time: 0450​

Early the next morning, Ambassador Yuliia stood in the small courtyard of the Ukrainian embassy. The sun had just begun to creep into view. The morning was warm but the breeze was almost nonexistent. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a white three-quarter length-sleeve blouse and a pair of dark tailored jeans. She had ditched her usual briefcase for a green backpack packed full with everything she would need for the upcoming meeting.

“Ma'am it's almost 5 miles to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Are you sure we can’t just drive you there?” pleaded one of the many security personnel that followed her outside. “Us just walking with you is going to make things much more difficult ensuring your safety.

“That’s why I’m going alone today. Mr. Koval” She commanded as she took a small sip from a water bottle.

“I beg you to please reconsider, we have no reason to believe you would be in danger but to walk the streets of Bangkok with no esco-” the man was cut off mid sentence with a firm raised hand from the Ambassador.

“I will be fine. I trust the people here.” she said bluntly as she looked down at her very basic wrist watch. “And I must really be off now if I am to make it in time for the meeting.”

Ambassador Yuliia made her way through the gates of the embassy and started towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sun was fully up now and it was already 24 degrees. “Yes, a wonderful day for a walk.” she whispered to herself.

When she made it to the front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building the temperature had already climbed to almost 30 degrees. She was slightly moist with sweat and had regretted her choice of shoes. She didn’t look over disheveled but hardly looked like a proper diplomat. She walked into the reception area and introduced herself to the younger man at the desk.

“Hello.” she said with a sincere smile, ”I am Yuliia Bereza, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Socialist Republic of Thailand. I have a meeting with Kanokrat Lertchoosakul.”

Bossza007​

 

[Bossza007]

Dusit District, Bangkok Provincial Federation​

A peaceful morning in Bangkok​

What would become of the state following an anti-capitalist struggle? Friedrich Engels once said, “The interference of the state power in social relations becomes superfluous in one sphere after another, and then ceases of itself.”

What had become Thailand after the revolutionary change on May 19, 1998? When you looked around at what was known as a Kingdom, authority ceased to be centralized and diffused itself throughout the public sphere. Ukrainian Ambassador Yuliia stepped out from his embassy, not into any single nation-state, to set foot on a confederation of self-governing communes.

Humidity was the sound of the early morning. No roaring sound of combustion engines expected for a city of millions. Instead, the hum of electric motors and the chirping of birds sang in an orchestra. She wouldn’t see many private cars. Why would you take up more space than others when electric buses and rapid transit lines were available? Most days are wonderful for a walk in Bangkok, when you can look at the verdant vertical forest lining the city skyline.

As she walked, the sun shone, and activities took place across the city. Doctors and engineers, alongside office workers and garbage collectors, picked up cleaning equipment and began sweeping the streets. Meanwhile, digital screens on buildings display real-time economic data, air quality indices, upcoming Community Assembly agendas, and arts from Collective Clips.

When the ambassador became moist with sweat, perhaps she was walking past “Cooperative Distribution Center #402” or a communal kitchen, a high school student noticed her and said in Thai, “Sahai (Comrade), take this.” He gave her a chilled bottle of water and nodded in what felt like an air of solidarity. Could he assume that a sweaty, disheveled person was performing voluntary manual labor?

Regardless of Yuliia’s reaction, society would pressure her to pause her movement minutes later as the clock struck eight. Activities ceased, people became still, and the swelling, orchestral melody of The Internationale began playing from the loudspeakers. Every single person around her stood still, though not like the rigid attention of a soldier. They stopped living their individual lives for a moment, listening to the anthem of their revolution.​

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Confederal Government​

When Yuliia arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a younger man sat at the reception desk, busying himself with the computer. The conditioned air inside the building smelled of jasmine. Though not that early in the morning, the atmosphere would appear eerily quiet. The Thai only worked six hours a day.

“Hello—” the receptionist responded, staring in confusion and worry after seeing the Ukrainian ambassador’s sweaty, disheveled appearance. “We have a shower room available if you require it, Sahai Yuliia. Sahai Kanokrat hasn’t arrived at work yet today. Why are you soaked in sweat?” The man was genuinely puzzled.

Meanwhile, a janitor named Mali blocked a diplomat at the entrance to another section of the building and said, “Sahai Pichet, I’ve read your report on our trade with Eran. I believe you overestimate the potential willingness of the Kingdom to incorporate even less business-friendly labor protocols in raw material industries that they rely on us as an importer.” The diplomat nodded vigorously and replied, “A dialectical critique is needed, Sahai Mali. It would be lovely if you could participate in our department’s review session on my report this evening.”

A group of people then entered the building’s reception area after leaving an electric bus. They were laughing. In the center was a woman who represents one of the world’s largest economies on the international stage, Kanokrat Lertchoosakul. She looked less like a bureaucrat and more like a rebellious teen who realized she could do anything with her hair.

She noticed the janitor first and rushed toward the woman. “Oh, hi, Sahai Mali! How’s your grandson's violin practice? Did he make it into the conservatory?”

“He did, Sahai!” Mali beamed, leaning on her mop. “Thanks to the new arts funding allocation.”

"The allocation works because the people manage it, Mali. Tell him to practice his scales," Kanokrat said with a genuine, warm smile.

Then, she turned. Her eyes swept the room efficiently like a radar, landing on the Ukrainian Ambassador standing in front of the reception desk.

“Sahai Ambassador,” she remarked, annoyingly. “I didn’t realize we have any scheduled meeting in the morning unless arriving early is your quirk. Please take a shower unless sweat is your fetish. Sahai Mali can show where the spare clothes from the communal dispensary are. I have a briefing to attend. We don't stand on ceremony here, but we do believe in hygiene before dialectics.” She would leave the reception area and walk deeper into the building.

Meanwhile, Mali would insist that the ambassador take a shower so she could clean herself. Yuliia would get some alone time during the show to plan or reflect on anything that came to her mind. She would have to wait for a while in the building’s common room while the Thai Foreign Minister tended to her errands.

At last, around noon, Kanokrat would enter the common room to invite the ambassador outside. “Please follow me, Sahai Yuliia.” She led her to a section where rooms were available for reservation. Kanokrat stood in front of a room and interacted with her mobile phone. “I’ve heard you walked, Sahai ambassador.” She remarked absentmindedly. “Remember that effort and imagine what a typical Ukrainian worker goes through trying to make ends meet.” She finished booking the room and opened the door.

The room was small but functional, decorated enough to feel cozy. Kanokrat switched on the lights and air conditioning before settling into one of the two chairs in the room. She waited for her counterpart to sit and say, “I see you as a capitalist state representative first and a sister second. We are isolated, and the room is soundproof. Please speak your mind, and I will engage with everything you say. Truth remains that I am not the one who dictates this confederation’s foreign policy.”

Vaka​

 

[Vaka]

“Surely I am not the first foreign ambassador to have taken a shower in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.” quipped Ambassador Yuliia in an attempt to break some of the tension. Her hair was almost dry now. The spare clothes from the communal dispensary were surprisingly comfortable. They reminded her of youth in Ukraine in the 1980s for some reason.

“I genuinely appreciate you taking this meeting, Minister Lertchoosakul.” She relaxed a bit and continued. “I fully understand that you do not decide your confederation’s foreign policy. I am here in hopes of reaching a level of understanding between our peoples”

“While I waited, I had a chance to really sit and absorb how the people who work in this building go about their jobs. From janitors to technical staff, everyone seems to be happy and going about their work.” she adjusted in her seat before going on, “A true Socialist utopia straight from the works of Marx and Engels. Works that I am not unfamiliar with however. I did spend time as a part of the Komsomol of Ukraine as a young child before its dissolution in 1991.”

“I understand that my reading of such works is at best elementary.” She pulled her hair behind her ears. “And that soviet communism was merely communism in name only.”

“But I am here to understand how your confederation has done it so completely. It is quite literally a workers paradise.” She thought carefully before asking the next question. “Why would the Socialist Republic of Thailand ever have need of things such as trade agreements? How does the Socialist Republic of Thailand interact with other nations that are, in essence, diametrically opposed without seeing them as openly hostile?”

She let the words lose in hopes that Minister Lertchoosakul would understand where she was coming from.

Bossza007