Eästernjeärd presents government's new Karaman plan
New multilateral mission, roadmap to reunited Karaman in reconciliation plan drafted by cabinet
19 July 2014
Asteriopol — The Foreign Ministry today released a white paper, drafted by Special Minister for Maredoratic League Affairs and SFRIMKA Birgjidä Eästernjeärd, detailing a new government proposal for achieving a resolution to the Karaman Confict, now well into it's second year.
The report raises several key points on the continued presence of foreign troops and humanitarian workers from nearly a dozen nations, the present division of Karaman into three de facto sovereign states, the condition of communal relations, and the present instruments of government in place in Karaman.
The Eästernjeärd white paper proposes multilateral negotiations to create a national unity government in Karaman to supersede the Provisional People's Government, National Republic, and the Prekovi-backed Vyzantini Republic on "mutually agreeable terms". While stating that a new national constitution would be drafted and approved by the Karamish people and their representatives, the white paper stresses as "fundamental" robust protections for human rights and religious liberties and outlines a range of measures intended to reconcile Karaman's varied ethno-religious communities.
The paper proposes a federal state with "official recognition" for the Catholic and Orthodox churches, Sunni and Shia Islam, and Judaism and minority language protections for Greek and Karamanite Latin speakers. As well as recognition on federal government level for the five main religious communities in the country the paper suggests that the government not "take a hard-line stance" on religious observation, noting that the National Republic's proposed constitution draws on Morivaine laicity just as the previous secular government had. The report further notes that restrictions on free practice of Islam was among the grievances expressed by the rebels who overthrew General Mehmet Pasha.
Finally Eästernjeärd proposes that as part of a reconciliation deal, MASTAMIK's mandate be revoked and replaced by a successor force which the paper refers to as MARECMIK (Maredoratic Reconstruction Mission in Karaman). MARECMIK would have a mandate encompassing the entirety of Karaman and would, "ideally" incorporate existing MASTAMIK contributors as well as Morieux, Prekonate, and Questers. The paper does not fully address objections those countries would likely have to a joint command or the potential complications of attempting to manage the mission while four independent commands remain in place.
According to political analyst Mihäel Cederkwist at the Sondsteadish Maredoratic Institute, such a white paper would have taken some time to draft, but the timing could nevertheless indicate serious negotiations on the future of the Maredoratic League mission and the Provisional Government could be afoot.
"This isn't something that comes out of the blue. Sondstead and other contributors to MASTAMIK have I am sure recognized for some time that the Provisional Government's position untenable and they must come to the table. Given the government has released the paper now they may have been involved in preliminary discussions with Morieux or the National Republic about starting formal negotiations."
The Foreign Ministry released a follow-up statement confirming Sondstead continues to recognize the Provisional Government and will do so until such time as a "new permanent settlement" is reached.
