[centre][img]http://i.imgur.com/vk4aR.png[/img][/centre] His most glorious and sublime majesty notes with ever growing concern the terrible crises racking the Americas, which in their turn have caused tensions to rise in Europe. Having recently emerged from a most taxing and destructive war, the Ottoman Empire strongly advices all nations to hold strongly to peace and dialogue. We, as civilised nations which are models to the world, cannot be seen to be indulging in such base and barbaric activities any longer. His majesty would like to point out that while those in power sit in the safety of their homes and vie for glory and other such whimsical and low desires, it is the masses of people - who wish for a good, safe life - who suffer most. Those who shall bear the consequences of these conflicts are not the old men of today, but the generations of the future who shall be forever scarred by the legacy of the ever-bloodier and more destructive wars. We would therefore like to reiterate the calls of Brazil for a peaceful resolution. Despite the clearly aggressive stance of the Union - which is understandable under the current situation - the Ottoman Empire strongly believes that there is a way for peace and unity, as well as for the Confederacy and the Union to get some of what they wish for. Slavery as it is has manifested in the west is indeed a most barbaric thing, and we believe that the institute of slavery should be reformed in the Confederacy so as to meet the basic needs of human beings: slaves should be cared for and looked after in the right way, and have ways in which they can earn their freedom. While the abolition of slavery may be attractive to the Union, it is clearly part of the social fabric of the Confederacy and must be respected, though as mentioned earlier, the Confederacy should be prepared to reform and better the institute of slavery for those who are now victims of a most barbaric system. Once more, we call out for the Union to reconsider their declaration of war on the Confederacy and come to the negotiation table. Through compromise and dialogue, unity can surely be achieved and each side of this terrible conflict can achieve some of their goals while not causing the losses and destruction a war would bring about. The situation in Europe has been ever tense, and these tensions have only been further inflamed by the situation in the Americas. We would like to remind our brothers in the Concert of Europe that war between us, so soon after the Crimean War, is not permissible. [b]We would like to call for a conference in Constantinople to discuss the major issues in Europe and strategies to deal with them[/b], especially since it has become very clear that the benefits of some of the articles of the Treaty of Paris may not be sustainable in the long run, despite their short-term benefits. [b]Invited to this conference are the United Kingdom, France, Prussia, Austra and Russia.[/b] To Russia we send our most sincere pity, for we do see in its outlook a childishness and ignorance matched only by its territorial size - territories, which one must add, were gained by looting and destroying the many Muslim khanates, territories earned on a trail of broken treaties and promises. One hopes that the Russian bear is today satisfied by all it has consumed and will leave neighbouring nations to prosper, safe from its greed and dishonourable ways. Perhaps this intrinsic inability of Russia to be satisfied with what it has can be solved at the Conference of Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire would also like to turn to its brothers of the monotheistic faith, [b]calling for a conference in the holy city of Mecca to discuss future cooperation and greater unity. Invited are Egypt, Persia, the Central Asian Khanates (includes Afghanistan), the Arab Tribes of the Hejaz, the Sultanate of Morocco and Ottoman Vassal of Tunisia.[/b] China, as an ancient and glorious empire which has been a great trading partner and friend to all Muslim nations, has our most sincere sorrow for their great loss. We are certain, however, that just as many great Chinese emperors have passed away in the past to be replaced by those even greater, we hope that the new emperor will be in his father's traits just as , if not more, accomplished. While it saddens us that China suffers due to rebellions, we have every faith that China will survive these hardships just as it has so many times in its long and illustrious history. Given the recent bloodshed on Ottoman soil, his imperial majesty has decided that a new era of reforms and change is upon the Empire. It will no longer be acceptable that the blood of the people of the book should be spilled on Ottoman soil. The true faith demands respect to them and the Ottoman Empire shall hereby take it upon itself to protect its Christian citizens and welcomes all the support and help of European nations in its mission to create greater tolerance and safety for people of all faiths in the Empire. Mehmed Emin Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire