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THE END OF 2018
What does the new year hold for Cuirpthe and its people?
In just a few hours, 2018 will come to a close and the new year will begin. Celebration has begun across the country, with many hoping for a new and prosperous year to follow the absolute train wreck that was 2018. But what exactly does 2019 hold in store for Cuirpthe, her citizens and her allies? The past year has been one of controversy, war and tragedy. Will this continue, or will Asura maintain peace for the next year? Many across the country are uneasy, as issues such as the Folksland Crisis and CDN controversy will continue into January and possibly further into the year.
It is expected for the Folksland Crisis to end some time next week or the week after. Newrey issued a surrender ultimatum just a week and a half ago, calling for surrender in two weeks or the absolute destruction of the Folkslanders in Cyningburgh. Cuirpthe backed up these threats, having halted their advance in the west to await the rebellion's response. If Folksland surrenders, the war will end and Cuirpthe's provinces will be returned. If they don't, the two armies will close in on either side and take Folksland, ending the war by force. Most citizens and politicians are relieved that the war is ending and Cuirpthean troops can return home. But others fear controversy, primarily with the Newreyan government. Newrey explicitly stated its refusal to accept aid from fellow CDN nations, and was opposed to Cuirpthe joining the war. Relations between the two nations may be further strained by Cuirpthe's inclusion and the joining of fellow CDN members. The Eallsabh Border Dispute, ongoing since the late 1980s, will also be a point of contention. Will Newrey respect Cuirpthe's border and put forth a treaty stipulating the return of out land, or will they continue their claim and make any agreement unattainable?
The controversy in the Drago Entente is also a concern to all of Cuirpthe. Conservatives were happy when parliament decided against leaving the Commonwealth, but others are still outraged by the violation of the treaty. Rumors of plans by the government to participate in a joint exit with Aquidneck and Sarpory & Vemnia have spread throughout, fueling controversy between the conservatives who want to stay and their opponents, who want to leave. Cuirpthe is guaranteed to stay until at least February 14th(halfway through the month), unless the vote shifts in parliament, but what lies beyond remains to be seen, especially with the government's dissatisfaction with the Entente and its proposed reformation. Some have proposed joining the International Popular Front, or forming a West Asuran Pact, though parliament has as of yet not acknowledged these propositions. Leiden has possibly set a president, and 2019 may be the year that the Drago Entente collapses. Prime Minister Wilson spoke shortly at the New Years celebration in Ballinluska today, giving his personal thoughts on these matters.
Citizens of Cuirpthe, people of this great and glorious nation, I would like to offer my gratitude for the opportunity to speak here today. 2018 is ending, in just 5 hours. Finally, we can cast away the horrible, controversy and atrocity fueled year of 2018, and enter into a new, prosperous, peaceful 2019. And the coming months are important to us here, both to us in government and you, the voters, the citizens. We are at the end of a great struggle against enemies of the state, and the beginning of an even greater struggle with those we thought to be our allies.
With the end of the war in Folksland, soldiers, both living and fallen, will return to their families to celebrate the holidays at the beginning of the year. Peace in western Asura, at least in the military sense, will soon be restored. But what of diplomatic peace? We hope to continue our Entente membership for at least the next month and a half, in hopes that the organization can reform itself, commit itself and function the way it was supposed to. If not, Cuirpthe will pursue independent ventures with its other, non-aligned allies. But, let us not speak of the what ifs and instead, talk about what will happen. New advances in scientific research await. Our first mission to the Moon in almost 35 years will happen in April, and we hope regular missions can occur for the next few years in preparation for the journey to Minerva. The Trans-Asuran Railway Network nears completion, and soon, travel across the nation and into other nations will be revolutionized. I sincerely hope that with all the controversy we have faced, we can finally come out on top and celebrate a peaceful, safe and prosperous Cuirpthe.
The New Years address is a highly anticipated speech given by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor every year. This is Prime Minister Wilson's first since his inauguration in August of this year and appears to have been a success, with most response to it being fairly positive.
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