CHARTER OF THE SOUTHERN COOPERATION GROUP
In order to promote the common interests, hopes, and aspirations of the peoples and nationstates of the southern hemisphere of Enkon, and to provide for their security against common external threats, instability and disruption, that they may develop in peace and prosper, the Government of the United Technocratic Realms proposes the establishment of a Southern Cooperation Group.
1: MISSION OBJECTIVE - The Southern Cooperation Group (SCG) will act as a dedicated forum for the nationstates of the southern hemisphere to raise and address issues of common interest and concern.
2: PRINCIPLE AREAS OF COOPERATION - The members and organization of the SCG agree to cooperate to promote and support the development of commerce and trade, promote and support the existence of stable responsible governments within the members, to discourage external threats to the southern hemisphere, to promote and support the general development of each member, to mediate disputes between members and between members and non-members, and to address any other issue that is of common or mutual concern or interest to the members.
3: MEMBERSHIP - Non-voting observer membership in the SCG is open to all nationstates of Enkon. Full voting membership in the SCG is open to all nationstates in the southern hemisphere of Enkon that subsequently ratify and agree to observe the Charter of the SCG, and maintain good standing within the organization thereafter.
4: GOVERNING ORGANIZATION - The principal governing body of the SCG is a Council of Heads of Government, which shall elect a different one of their own to be president of the Council every 2 RL-months. The principal policy-making body is a Committee of National Ministers, that shall be composed of relevent ministers from each member nationstate expert in the subject before the committee, and chaired by the minister from the nationstate then holding the presidency. The principal administrative body is a Secretariat led and managed by the president with the consent and advice of the Council.
5: VOTING - Each full voting member of the SCG shall have one vote in the decisions of any of its bodies.
6: RELATIONS BETWEEN MEMBER NATIONSTATES - All member nationstates agree to maintain open and direct diplomatic communications bilaterally and via the SCG, to cooperate toward the development of good and peaceful relations between them, and coordinate activities of common interest within the international arena.
7: NON-AGRESSION AGREEMENT - No member nationstate of the SCG will act with military aggression toward another, nor allow acts of military aggression toward another member by a third party from any part of their territories. No member nationstate of the SCG will enter into an alliance against the SCG. All member nationstates of the SCG agree that in the unfortunate event of war involving any of them, no member nationstate of the SCG shall be the first to use nuclear weapons, nor use other weapons of mass destruction upon civilian populations of an enemy.
8: SECURITY COOPERATION IN THE SOUTHERN SEAS AND SKIES - All member nationstates of the SCG commit to cooperate in maritime and aviation issues, specifically on enforcement of peace and international law & order in the all the waters of the southern hemisphere, and in so doing establishing a secure maritime and aviation area for the development of international commerce and trade.
9: IMPROVING COMMERCE, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT - All member nationstates of the SCG agree to maintain equal and reciprocal commerce, trade, and investment regulations, and to work toward achieving zero taxes on exports and imports of goods and services traded between them. All member nationstates of the SCG agree that the private corporations of each nation shall be allowed to invest and conduct commerce including exporting and importing of goods and services, as if they were domestic corporations, conditional that they also adhere to all local laws and pay all local taxes for business conducted locally. All member nationstates of the SCG agree that the citizens of the other shall be permitted to travel to and from all other member nationstates of the SCG for the purposes of conducting business or promoting commerce and trade. All member nationstates of the SCG agree that each maintains the right to reject entry by persons they deem undesirable.
10: JOINT PLANETARY DEFENSE - All member nationstates of the SCG, seeking to guarantee the defense of the whole world from extraenkonian threats, do commit to the formation of a joint planetary defense space task force (JPD-STF) composed of forces volunteered by full voting members wishing to participate in the JPD-STF. All JPD-STF participating member nationstates of the SCG agree to consult on the exact commitments in manpower and hardware that each decides to volunteer toward the JPD-STF, and with respect to its joint command structure. (This proposal is also open toward the development of a joint surface stability and humanitarian rapid response task force for planetside missions.)
11: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF BILATERAL TIES - All member nationstates of the SCG agree to promote cultural and educational exchanges and programs with each other, including recognition of each member nationstate’s educational degrees and the issuance of long-term student and tourist visas.
