Victoria HeraldKonetyan ElectionsThe Konetyan Election process is in full swing now, with the State Department declining to impose any sort of diplomatic sanctions against the Union for their assassination of Candidate Petrov. The Secretary of State did, though, release a statement this morning as the government finally prepared to respond. She would go on to talk about how fragile peace is in Azovskaya, and the risk diplomatic sanctions would create.
“Azovskaya is at peace, a rocky and uneasy peace. But Peace, regardless of the stability of its foundation, is something that we must strive for. We should work towards maintaining long lasting stability in Azovskaya and in turn, most of Northern Ophion. These are good people, people who are wary and knowledgeable on the perils of war. Most of us in the Western World have little knowledge of the hardships a people endure in a war among their own homes and on their own streets. It would be wrong and irresponsible of us to take such measures as would compromise the peace that everyone in Azovskaya deserves. Despite this, we cannot let this assassination go without ridicule. Without reprimand. We are shocked and disturbed that Azovskayan Union Troops would cross into sovereign Konetyan Territory and assassinate a potential leader of a nation. They have done this with the hopes of destabilizing Konetya and undermining the integrity of the elections. They seek to destroy what fragile peace we have built, and to arouse a violent and powerful response from the Pantorran Military. But a say resoundingly that no action, short of an invasion of Konetya, will arouse such a response. We will not give up peace. The death of candidate Petrov has not, and will not be forgotten. We have taken measures to ensure the protection of all Konetyan Presidential Candidates, with each remaining candidate now under the protection of their own Company of military personnel. They will travel in military escorts and under heavily armed guard. To the Union I say this. If you dare attack these troops, then that is an attack on Pantorrum. And you may get the response you’re looking for.”
The Secretary of State has said many times that the President is interested in building a firmer peace in Konetya after elections take place. The plan was for State Department Diplomats to attempt and negotiate an official Treaty with the Union. We do not know for certain whether these plans are still in action, or if the assassination has changed the administrations agenda. One thing is clear, though. The President is already getting tired of the Union.
Deal with Belantica Reached, Capsland next?Last week the President negotiated a rather well received trade agreement with the Belantican government, opening their market to Pantorran Vehicle manufacturers and Fruit Farmers. The deal is expected to help generate thousands of jobs in Pantorrum with the expansion of the automotive and fruit sectors into yet another major global economy. The Deal won’t officially take effect until Congress approves, and if they do this will be the first commerce agreements between Pantorrum and Belantica.
Already the President has negotiated two rather popular trade agreements with major international powers. Which raises the question, who’s next? Well, you might not be surprised to hear that the President is now on his way to Capsland, one of Pantorrum’s closest trade partners. He won’t be there to discuss trade, though. He will be there to negotiate a defense agreement between Pantorrum and the major VU member. As usual, the State Department refused to share any preconceived notions as to what the deal might contain, saying little more than other than the President is going there with open ears and an open mind.
PNS Resolute Deployed near BohinYesterday afternoon, the newly finished Zumwalt Destroyer
PNS Resolute set sail for international waters 200 miles from Bohin. The vessel is there to observe any military actions taken by the increasingly hostile government of Bohin, and to project Pantorran Naval Power in the region. The warship, upon completing its Sea trials last week, is now one of the largest and most advanced Destroyer’s in the entire world. The stealth vessel has advanced communication and weapons systems, and appears as little more than a Fishing Boat on Radar even though the immense ship is 600 feet long.
The Destroyer, should it be switched into a combat role, would be able to deliver over 70 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles into the heart of Bohin, striking major targets and softening the countries defenses in preparation for an allied invasion. The hypothetical scenario is unlikely, per the Secretary of Defense, who said the deployment is just to keep watch and deter any threats against Pantorrum itself. The Vice President re-iterated the same thing just an hour ago, clearly stating that we do not want to get involved in the war in Bohin unless circumstances demand us to.
Regardless, by next week the Destroyer will have reached its position in international waters where it will stay for the next 2 months. The deployment will, per the Vice President, remind the world that we are serious about international stability, and we’ll go anywhere and risk anything for the safety of people around the globe.
Rezua, what now?Once again, the Rezuan Foreign ministry has been at work to undermine the President’s foreign policy. The country has endeavored on yet another peace brigade, utilizing diplomacy to work with the Tao to end their development of EMP weapons and to deter an invasion of Divergia. The move comes after the USA rejected a Resolution to outlaw EMP weapons. The Vice President has voiced criticism of the Rezuan plan for peace, stating that the Tao cannot be trusted to uphold their end of the bargain.
“Sure, the Rezuan Government has its heart in the right place. But they’re missing a key component. The honor of the country their negotiating with. A country that has developed a WMD and which has taken an aggressive stance against Divergia. We will not accept any deal that does not allow for observes to oversee the end of the EMP program and the destruction of any that currently exist. We never have trusted the Tao, and until these EMP’s are gone for certain, we will not back down. Should these EMP weapons remain and development continue, let this serve as a solemn warning. We will do everything we must for the security of Divergia and for the world. Disarm these weapons and allow for observers to oversee, or face devastating sanctions.”
Elections Closing InThe SenateThe Senate contains 52 seats, of which 44 Senators are likely safe from being defeated. Political Analysts predict that Liberals will take 2 seats from Conservatives, and lose 5 of their own. They also anticipate that the Nationalist Alliance Senator will lose his seat to a Conservatives. The Conservatives are also expected to take 5 seats from Liberals, giving them a net change of +4. The Liberals will have a net loss of -3, while the Nationalist Alliance has a net loss of -1. Conservatives may even take enough seats to obtain an outright majority without forming a coalition with the Nationalist Alliance.
The HouseThe House of Representatives and its 446 seats are all up for election, with a huge number being in serious contention. 49 seats are set to change parties should circumstances dictate it. In total, Conservatives are set to gain an amazing 42 seats and lose 7. Liberals are posed to lose 40 seats and gain 4. The Social Union is posed to lose 2 and gain 3, while the Nationalist Alliance is likely going to neither lose nor gain any seats.
The PresidencyPresident Pearce leads in the polls with 48%, compared to 22% for his Liberal Challenger, 12% for the Nationalist Alliance Candidate, and 5% for the Social Union nominee. The remaining 15% are undecided. If all 15% side with Liberal’s, the President would still win a commanding victory, with over an 11-point margin to the nearest competitor. Analysts expect at least 7% of undecided voters to vote with the President, giving him 55% of all votes cast.
The incredibly strong showing by Conservative Candidates, especially the President, comes amid growing support for the party. After the victory in Konetya and the now recovered Pantorran Economy, many voters pin both successes to the President and by extension his party. Polling finds that 76% of Pantorran’s are happy with president’s Domestic Policies, while 66% approve of his Foreign Policies. Among registered voters, his approval rating has peaked at 60%.
Aznazia vs. Sunrisia: Where do we stand?Aznazia and Sunrisia have been engaged in what some would describe as a “Tariff War”. Both sides have raised tariff’s against the other, increasing the price of trade between the two nations and creating potential for a major crisis. The Vice President laid out our government’s position on the trade conflict today.
“We aren’t ‘chosing a side’. Sunrisia is one of our closest allies, and so is Aznazia. We are friends with each of them, and excuse ourselves from any quarrels that they might have with one another. Many of our allies are at odds with our other allies, this is a reality that we in Pantorrum have faced for decades. It is the official policy of the Federal Government to refrain from involvement in disputes among our allies. I would, however, caution both the Aznazian and Sunrisian Governments. Raising Tariff’s on one another will only result in escalation by the opposing side, and thus trade will become so heavily burdened that it can no longer exist on any considerable scale. And withdrawing diplomatic staff from a country over such menial things is far from helping the cause of peace. If you continue down this road, you will destroy any economic agreements you share. This would not be beneficial to either of you, and we do not want to see either of our allies compromise their economy for the sake of petty disagreements. I would advise Sunrisia and Aznazia to mutually agree upon A rate that both countries would need to stick to for a defined time before they are allowed to change the tariff. Otherwise, this trade dispute will lead to other disputes, which lead to increasingly worse disputes. Aznazian withdrawl of Diplomatic Personnel is only the beginning of what might be a slippery and deadly slope. This escalation will continue, until eventually, peaceful coexistence is no longer a viable option. Let’s reverse course now, as obviously neither of you have anything to gain by tariff hikes on the other, even if only to keep balance. Not to mention that we, here in Pantorrum, stand to lose a great deal as well. When our allies fight, we feel the backlash. We feel it in all the goods we trade, and in all the commerce we do together. For the betterment of the world, I encourage you to be civil and reasonable.”
The State Department said it is committed to maintaining a Tariff rate equal to whatever tariff is imposed on Pantorran Imports to the receiving country, something Aznazia was trying to do in response to the raising of Tariff's by Sunrisia. The Vice President has high hopes that both sides will reduce tariff's to prior rates, and put this issue to bed.