South Tarsis Organization

The South Tarsis Organization (STO) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising several countries in South and Southeast Tarsis, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic integration among its members. The STO also regularly engages other countries in the South Tarsis region and beyond. It maintains a global network of agreements and dialogue partners and is considered by many as a global powerhouse, the central unit for cooperation in the Tarsic Region, and a prominent and influential organization.

History
The STO was founded in the wake of the Second Great War as a competing economic bloc to the Auroran Community to encourage commerce and foster economic strength of its founding members. The original member nations were a group consisting of Tayara, Ayeran, Abayad, Qaras, Kordalsam, and Dhamila, and was itself created in 1561 AC, when the foreign ministers of these founding nations signed the STO Declaration. As set out in the Declaration, the aims and purposes of the STO are to accelerate economic growth in the region, to promote regional collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest, and to collaborate for better utilization of agriculture and industry to raise common living standards.

The creation of the STO was motivated by a common desire to counter the growing economic and political influence of the Auroran Community to the west, as well as Zhenia to the east, a phoenix reborn from the ashes of its defeat in the Second Great War. The group achieved greater cohesion in the mid 1570s, followed by a period of dynamic growth that strengthened the organization. The STO’s first summit meeting, held in Bukit Singa in 1574, resulted in an agreement on numerous industrial projects and the signing of a nonbinding Concordat of Amity and Cooperation. In the following years, the STO gained several additional members, notably Katamur and Yinguo, the latter of which joined on its second attempt after being blocked by Abayad in its first. By the 1580s, the STO had emerged as a leading voice on regional trade and related issues.

“The South Tarsis Way”
The “South Tarsis Way” refers to a methodology to solving issues that respects the cultural norms of South and Southeastern Tarsis. Experts summarize it as “a working process or style that is both formal and personal.” Policymakers utilize compromise, consensus, and consultation in the decision-making process, and above all prioritizes a consensus-based, non-conflictual way of addressing problems. Quiet diplomacy allows the STO's leaders to communicate without bringing controversial issues into the public view, in turn avoiding embarrassment that may lead to further conflict.

Some have suggested that the merits of the South Tarsis Way might be usefully applied to global conflict management, but critics argue such an approach is only applicable to Tarsic countries due to specific cultural norms and understandings. Member states may not have a common conception of the meaning of the “South Tarsis Way.” Dhamila and Ayeran emphasize non-interference, while larger member states such as Yinguo or Tayara focus on cooperation and coordination. These differences sometimes hinder efforts to find common solutions to particular issues, but also make it difficult to determine when collective action is appropriate given a specific situation.

Open Market
One of the STO's primary purposes is its function as an Open Market between member states, applicable toward goods, services, and capital. Existence of a Free Trade Agreement internally within the group means that all customs on goods are removed, and that member nations recognize one another’s standards on most goods. The exception for this comes with the fact that it only applies when said goods are made within one of the member states, as goods made outside the STO must pass inspections and checks at their first entry into the STO before this clause takes effect on imported goods outside the STO. Tax treaties also exist between all member states on the provision of goods, meaning that no double taxation occurs in the buying or selling of goods. Additionally, no form of restrictions or actions equivalent to restrictions on the movement of goods between member states, in order to reduce the chance of unfair competition between member states (with the exception of special circumstances, such as health-related ones). Along with these benefits, membership in the STO Open Market provides a great deal of freedom as well; no Customs Union exists between member states, meaning that they have the freedom to arrange other free trade agreements outside the bloc.

Similar to goods, member nations must recognize one another’s standards of service (save reasonable doubt that the individual does not possess the standards of that member state, which must be decided on a case-by-case basis with justification from the host state if it is found that the individual does not meet their standards). Companies with a legal entity in one member state enjoy the same legal entity in all states in terms of offering services once they have a legal entity in one of the member states, allowing for freedom of establishment. For the purposes of the agreement, Services only includes activities of an industrial charter, commercial charter, craftsmen, and activities of regulated professions.

Concerning Capital, member nations enjoy an interconnected stock market via the South Tarsis Stock Exchange, with all stock exchanges involved holding voting rights, with the share of votes determined by how large the exchange is relative to STX. Member nations must recognize one another’s banking passporting rights, unless the bank is participating in illegal activities in that nation, such as money laundering. They must also recognize each other’s regulation and certification of financial products (namely loans, bonds, stocks, etc.), unless they have been classified as a kind of financial scam. Equal taxation of capital only from the entity’s main legal domicile may occur, and no form of restrictions or actions equivalent to restricts on the movement of capital and securities between member states may be enacted (save special circumstances, such as a debt crisis, to be decided between member states).

Preferential treatment on Labor
Although no automatic right to work exists for individuals moving between one member state to another, member states are required to recognize one another’s standards on labor practices and standards (unless there is a reasonable doubt they aren’t qualified, following aforementioned rules). Citizens of member nations have a right to find work without needing to apply for work permits or visas, but are required to apply for a work permit after being hired before legally beginning work. A visa-free regime exists for all member state citizens for up to 90 days per 180 days for any legal purposes (tourism, personal visits, business trips, etc.). However, member states may bar citizens of other member states if they suspect that said citizen is entering the country for illegal purposes, defined by the member state wishing to deny them entry.

Joint Council Groups
Several STO Joint Council Groups exist to rule on a variety of matters. Council groups may be added, merged, or removed based on the decision of all member states. Currently, there are Joint Council Groups on:
 * Technical standards on goods, services and capital (includes copyrights and patents)
 * Tax and monetary policies relating to external trade
 * Land, Sea, and Air transport
 * Communications, data regulation and protection
 * Environmental policies
 * Energy policies
 * Agricultural standards and policies (includes fisheries and all forms of agricultural based products, like milk and cheese)
 * Anti-competition standards

Sub-Organizations
Along with its various Joint Council Groups, the STO has many self-contained organizations that aid in its operation and function.

South Tarsis Bank (STB)
The South Tarsis Bank primarily functions for member states as a lender of last resort, as well as being an avenue for member states to lend money for developmental projects. The STB can also give central banks of member states advice and encourage cooperation among central banks. The board of the STB must be made up of members of the national central banks of nation states. The STB does not and cannot own any legal liabilities belonging to member states, and may not bail any member state out unless upon unanimous agreement of all other member states.

South Tarsis Banking and Capital Authority (STBCA)
The South Tarsis Banking and Capital Authority works with the Joint Council on Technical Standards in Goods, Services, and Capital to help set standards for banking and capital markets for member states, as well as regulating and enforcing said regulations on inter-member trade on capital. Members of the STBCA are made up of members from each member state’s financial regulator’s representatives.

South Tarsis Secretariat (STS)
The South Tarsis Secretariat helps coordinate and fosters communication between the different parts of the wider STO, as well as acting as the voice of the organization internationally. The head of the secretariat is also the nominal head of the STO, and is elected by the STC.

South Tarsis Council (STC)
The South Tarsis Council is the final authority on all matters within the organization, consisting of two representatives from each member state. Only the STC may create, merge, or disband Joint Councils, as well as changing any treaty text signed by member states. They are also responsible for appointing members to the board of the STBCA and STB, and the members of the various Joint Council Groups. They are also responsible for reviewing, and then either granting or rejecting exceptions stipulated to treaties signed by members.

Influence and reception
The STO has been credited by many as among the world’s most influential organizations and a global powerhouse. It plays a prominent role in regional and international diplomacy, politics, economics, and trade. It also stands as one of the largest and most important free trade areas in the world, and together with its network of dialogue partners, drives several other multilateral forums and blocs. Being one of the world’s forefront economic meets, the STO Summit serves as a prominent regional and international conference, with world leaders attending its related summits and meetings to discuss various issues as well as strengthening cooperation and making collective decisions.

Critics have sometimes charged the STO with being indifferent to human rights and democracy, believing that non-interference has hindered efforts to handle environmental and human rights issues in the region, notably in Dhamila prior to the restoration of democracy there. Some international observers view STO as a “coffee shop,” stating that it is “big on words, but small on action.”