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by **Azura** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:55 pm

THE HAUNTING LEGACY OF THE SUMMER OF SORROWS
Two Months On, Images From the July Coup d'état Still Burn Brightly in the Public Conscience

— An Official Wire of the National Gazette of the Evenguard (NGE) —
Tuesday, September 23^rd, 2014 | Sanctum Maior, Evenguard of Azura | (English Version Formatting)
This article may not be republished or retransmitted!

Sanctum Maior, The Sunderlands+

The consciousness of the Azuran state has long been in a state of flux. Despite the progressive attitude of past leadership and the fluttering of a flag with symbolism rented by the harshness of reality, the true visage of the Evenguard as a political entity has long been an anomaly in the geopolitical spectrum of Pardesian politics. An economic power in a corner of the world rife with socioeconomic diversity and competitive markets, the Evenguard's legacy as a perennial imperial and manufacturing power should have been long-secured by the principles upon which the Praetors of Sanctum Maior stood. Instead, the instability of the once-mighty Evenguard have wrought tremendous diplomatic and economic consequences, whose scars shall run deep in the collective psyche of the Children of Azura long after the present generation have faded into memory.

Though just two months have passed since the infamous start of our Summer of Sorrows, to the people walking in this new and uncharted world, events that transpired in July must feel like a lifetime ago. With the sudden coup d'état attempt launched by rogue military elements severing the continuance of governance and all chains of custody, the materiel damage to the Evenguard far surpassed the physical damage wrought by the grievous assault on Sanctum Maior and the deliberate targeting of Azuran diplomats in a suicide bombing in Belfras. Let it not be said that the wounds caused by the bombing and gunfire in the capital were not painful, for they strike deep in the heart of Azurans two months on. Those men and women charged with our defense engaged in a variety of acts that stained our national reputation moving forward.

That pain shall pass, however, as the glory of our national pride and the institutions upon which our faith now rests reassert themselves in the grandeur and pomp of a new political age in the Evenguard. What shall remain is the scar tissue, both emotional and mental in capacity, that will forever haunt the Azuran people over their great season of discontent, a sorrowful chapter in an inglorious tome of Azuran history. For by the capacity of a few to bring so much death and destruction upon the Children of Azura, an unconscionable degradation of our standing in regional affairs was brought to bear upon our collective soul. Such wounds never fully heal, despite the saving grace of messianic heroes and gallant souls that try to undo the insipid acts of the barbarous and macabre. The casualties of the coup will cry out forevermore in anguish.

More than ten thousand casualties have been recorded in the assault on Sanctum Maior, with more than five thousand still unaccounted for—lost souls whose hope of being found alive has long since vanished under the painful acceptance of our changed reality. The assassination of our Praetor, Her Graceful Eminence Calixte brought about the sad end of a sorrowful episode; a leader trying in vain to overcome the forces moving betwixt the shadows, undermining her progressive reforms. The economic contraction and market crash that stymied four years of sustained growth have brought even more economic turmoil, even as Praetor Baelfire begins to assert his new brand of leadership upon a leaderless government desperate for direction. Whispers of fires that continue to smolder in cordoned-off areas of the desecrated capital still haunt world-weary souls two months on.

For the Children of Azura, their Summer of Sorrows have yielded to an Autumn of Uncertainty, clouded by the lingering questions that remain from this unsettling period of transition. As the Praetorship of Lord Baelfire asserts itself, a new generation of leaders will emerge to begin consecrating the restored Evenguard, and a desperate people will cling to their one beacon of hope as we prepare to enter the long, dark night. Disgraced Premier Nathanael Falco continues his convalescence-cum-exile in Rodarion, while the whereabouts of former Nera Strega commandant John Cailean draw more questions than answers. Though darkness besets the grandeur of an Azura that is no more, the rugged spirit of the Lost Children will continue to echo through time immemorial, as a formerly great power of Pardes begins the slow process of recapturing that which it once longed for dearly so: respect. Without which, the dream of the late Calixte Vardanyan and those who came before her will have died in vain.

RELATED TOPICS OF DISCUSSION IN AZUR GOVERNMENT NEWS

Financial analysts consider the prospect of prolonged economic contraction.
Capital Redevelopment Committee meets to determine location for a Saeculum.
Nathanael Falco continues his exile in Rodarion, pledges support for Azurans.

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^{© N.G.E. Sanctum Bureau — Foreign Edition 2014 (Credit to Virana)}

by **Central Prestonia** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:53 pm

Amid Pomp and Piety, Pope Laid to Rest

Romula, Papal Republic Pope Pius III was laid to rest in solemn ceremony in the Vatican this Sunday, following his unexpected illness and death late last week.

Thousands packed into Saint Peter's Square for one final glimpse of the Pontiff before his interment in the Saint Lucius Tombs, where popes since the 1900s have traditionally been laid to rest. The guest list ranged from the great and good to the meek and humble; alongside heads of state and government from some twenty nations were countless orders of monks, nuns and the students of an orphanage school--one of Pius' many pet projects throughout his reign--from a working-class suburb of Romula. Outside the Square, thousands gathered, some clutching candles, rosaries and portraits of the late Pope, tears flowing freely as they mourned a man many described as like a national father figure.

"I always drew strength from him," said 68 year old Maria Dragescu, who traveled to the capital from Rovinari to witness the procession. Dragescu told PBC reporters that she still found it hard to believe.

"He always seemed so strong, so full of energy," she said, wiping away tears. "To see him taken from his Church like this, it has made me question what the purpose could be, but it has also strengthened my faith. When God calls, we must answer, and I will continue to pray for his intercession as I prayed for his health in his lifetime." When asked if she thought Pius would be canonised, she replied "absolutely."

Inside the Square, that faith was on display in a ceremony ancient in origin yet tailored to the preference of the departed, with Pius' favorite Scriptures being highlighted throughout homilies and eulogies delivered by the assembled Cardinals. Here, too, the emotion was apparent, with Cardinal Draganescu, a close friend of the Pope throughout their respective ministries, becoming visibly shaken at parts of his eulogy. In it, he described the Pope's "unshakable will...to serve the Gospel" even as his health faded.

"He would read aloud the Gospel and Lessons of the day, each day for as long as I knew him," the Cardinal said. "And when the Lord saw to take his voice, I would still see him following along, reading intently with his finger, through shaking hand and dim sight, and falling into a deep meditation and prayer afterword, mouthing the words of the Ave Maria. And I knew, in those moments, that he was in his heart with the Lord, as he dwells now in spirit."

The conclusion of the Mass brought with it a tolling of bells, one ring for each year of Pius' life, from the Basilica of Saint Peter and the numerous other churches throughout the capital and Papal Republic. After attending the ceremony Sunday morning with the Imperial Family, the Emperor held a brief reception for Prestonian nationals at the Prestonian Embassy in Romula, joined by Cardinal Paul Fishbourne, the highest-ranking Catholic cleric from Prestonia. Together, they spoke to the future of the Papal Republic and its relation with Prestonia and the world. In his homily to the assembled crowd of about 100, Fishbourne spoke to the need to define the Church outside of national boundaries.

"When I was a boy, for those of you who remember back then, we had troubles with religion, Episcopal versus Catholic, the Romulan Question, all those sorts of things," the Cardinal said. "So to adhere to my faith, a faith shared by many of you here, was a leap of faith in itself in a time when being Romulan Catholic made you a traitor in the eyes of certain folk. But I have always said that Prestonia is the country of my birth and the Church the country of my calling...it is the same for all the faithful, whatever country the Lord has seen to place them in. The Church is not Rodarion alone, and Rodarion alone is not the Church...we are a country, a Kingdom of God, which exists beyond the temporal and fleeting borders of man, and we must dwell across those borders as brothers within our heavenly country."

Emperor Albert Francis, meanwhile, addressed what he called "a pivotal moment" in Church and region affairs, while praising the "incredible outpouring of support and solidarity across faiths," from his country.

"It is heartening to see that even we who do not break bread together in the most literal sense may do so in the memory and legacy of a man who dedicated his vocation to bridging the gap of understanding between peoples," the Emperor said. "History and the Lord will each judge Pius III, in vastly different ways and by vastly different criterion, but today we reflect on his life and the magnitude of his Christian spirit as we look to the future of the Church and of Rodarion." His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty's speech was notably absent any political content, a consideration the Imperial Press Office said was undertaken out of respect for the solemnity of the occasion. A separate statement released this afternoon conveyed His Majesty's wishes for "a swift and prayerful Conclave" and the health and long reign of the newly-elected Pope.

Up Next: Election Steeped in Ancient, Sacred Tradition

So how will the next Pope be chosen? The answer, says PBC Senior Vatican Affairs Correspondent Donald Clark, is the Conclave, an ancient and one-of-a-kind ceremony of election and coronation essentially unchanged in seven centuries.

"In earlier days, the Popes were appointed by acclamation, basically all the Cardinals unanimously deciding upon a candidate, declaring God's will as it were," Clark said. "But for the majority of the Church's history, it's been done by the Conclave. Basically, all the College of Cardinals will be locked away in the Vatican and vote in rounds until one of their number gets a majority of votes. If he accepts, he will be proclaimed the next Pope."

If it sounds simple, Clark says it's anything but. "The politicking and factoring into the election is unlike anything we see in the secular world," Clark told PBC Morning Breakfast reporter Lisa McDowell. "And to a large degree, what goes on behind those doors is unknowable, because of stiff penalties imposed for anyone who breaks the confidence of the Conclave." Still, he says, there are some factors to look for, especially in the few days before Conclave begins.

"Some early predictions for the Conclave can be made by observing some subtle interactions of the Cardinals in the coming days, who sits with whom, who talks to whom and things like that. A lot of these men will have only met each other for the second or third time, so a lot of these few days will be spent researching as best they can, finding out what so-and-so's position on this or that might be, and so on." But Clark stresses that overt campaigning is unlikely in any case.

"There is a saying in the Vatican circles that he who enters as Pope leaves as a Cardinal," Clark said. "So although some might guess themselves favorites, they're unlikely to be stumping for votes as-such, and more likely to be building consensus on things like the direction of the Church and its relation to the world around it." Major issues, Clark says, are likely to be dominated by the ongoing war in Itailia, which could swing the College toward a conservative, traditionalist bent.

"The Itailia situation will no doubt be on every Cardinal's mind, since as head of state upon election the future Pope will be responsible for it. Beyond that, typical factors are usually age--whether the College wants a Pope who can conceivably reign for awhile, or a shorter reign--as well as theological positions on issues such as ecumenism and social issues." Ultimately, Clark says, Vatican watchers shouldn't expect a radical departure from Pius III in the next Pontiff.

"If I had to guess the next Pope, I'd say middle-aged in Cardinal years, probably conservative theologically, and almost definitely Rodarian by birth. But of course, anything can happen."

by **Rodarion** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:17 am

Conclave begins, nation awaits the election of a new Pope

The doors to the Sistine Chapel were shut and locked at 07.50am this morning

September 23, 2014| 09.30 AM PCT | înregistrate| By: Atticus Namarescu

Cardinals have entered the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, where they will begin voting to elect a new pope. The 115 cardinal-electors were locked in the chapel after swearing an oath of secrecy. How long this Conclave will last is unknow, as the Vatican does not openly state the contenders, in 1284, Conclave lasted three years, Pope Pius III's election lasted three days, the length of time depends upon the contenders and the level of support they have among the electors. Whoever replaces Pius III, will become head of the largest faith in Pardes, supreme leader of the Papal Republic of Rodarion and by rights one of the most powerful leadrs in Pardes.

They will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a candidate. The election was prompted by the death of Pius III, who passed away last week from heart failure. There is no clear frontrunner to take over from him as head of the Roman Catholic Church, as his sudden illness denied him the chance to make preparations, especially his right to recommend a successor. Whoever is to succeed Pius III, will face numerous issues including the war in Drakkar its resulting tensions between Itailia and the Papal Republic, various crises across the region and growing concern over the economy and the shadow credit issue. Many commentators in Rodarion and across Pardes have been debating whether the Church will choose a non-Rodarion Pope for the first time since 1871, when Pope St. Lucius X was elected, St. Lucius X was Itailian.

Yet Church experts in the Papal Republic have stated the era of multinational Popes has come to an end, with the Church being the supreme political entity in the Papal Republic, the Church has been forced to allocate alot of political capital into leading the Papal Republic, as a result of the politicisation of the Church, it is highly unlikely a foreign Cardinal would be elected political leader of the Papal Republic. Despite this, several foreign Cardinals have been earmarked as possible 'Papabili' or 'frontrunners', at least by experts. There are currently eight Papabili listed, six of whom are Rodarian, two are from New Belhavia and Prestonia.

Octavian Enescu, 79 years old; Archbishop of Livada and Trudorii, ordained Cardinal in 1978
Gheorge Marius Apostu, 81 years old; Archbishop of Roşorii de Vede, ordained Cardinal in 1975
Ciprian Ionita , 81 years old; Archbishop of Vusadești, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ordained Cardinal in 1975
Florian Draganescu, 77 years old; Archbishop Copșa Mică, Dean of the College of Cardinals, ordained Cardinal in 2001
Lucian Eliade, 80 years old; Archbishop of Livada and Caspari, Cordinator of Council for the Economy, ordained Cardinal in 1972
Nicolae Bănică, 79 years old; Titular Archbishop of Rovinari, ordained Cardinal in 1988
Richard Gurion, 75 years old; Archbishop of Dakos, ordained Cardinal in 1993
Paul Fishbourne, 56 years old; Archbishop of Hamilton, ordained Cardinal in 2002

At 07:50am local time on Tuesday, 115 cardinal-electors - all under 80, as those over 80 are excluded - entered the Sistine Chapel for the secret conclave to select Benedict's successor, chanting the traditional Litany of the Saints. Each man in turn stepped up and placed his hands on the Gospel to swear an oath in Latin. Afterwards Monsignor Alberto Marini, papal master of ceremonies, called out the words "Extra omnes" - "Everybody out" - and the chapel doors were locked to outsiders. From now on the cardinals will eat, vote and sleep in closed-off areas until a new pope is chosen. Jamming devices in the Sistine Chapel should block all electronic communication and anyone tweeting would in any case risk being excommunicated, last night the world famous paintings upon the Sistine Chapel ceiling and walls were covered in plastic sheeting, this to protect the paintings from Cardinals who smoke, in 1997, Pope Benedict XII decreed that smoking would be allowed during Conclave due to pressure on Cardinals to channel the will of God through their decision making.

Cardinals were now expected listen to a meditation by elderly Belfrasian Cardinal Prosper Draden before holding a first vote, after which their ballot papers will be burned. The smoke that will drift out of the chapel's chimney early in the evening is likely to be black - meaning no pope has been elected. Already mass crowds have began to form in Saint Peter's Square, yet the Vatican confirmed that it would announce that a new Pope has been chosen an hour before the announcement ceremony begins, allowing Catholics to travel to the Vatican to greet the 265th Pope of the Romulan Catholic Church. Following the funeral of Pius III on Sunday, over 100,000 Catholics from across Pardes have travelled to Romula for the ceremony after Conclave. Security has been increased following tips that Pagan terrorists from Itailia had intentions to attack the Vatican, however the Rodarian intelligence service, the ISI has rejected these reports as 'scandalous overestimations of their abilities', however police in Romula have been reinforced and several buildings surrounded Saint Peter's Square have been closed to the public and their occupants.

Consul Octavian Ceaușescu and his government are expected to present at the Vatican when the Pope is revealed to the public, for the first time in Rodarian history, the Consul will present on the balcony with the Pope. This is something Pius III declared in 2009, would take effect upon his death and the deaths of all future Popes.

From today, two votes will be held each morning and afternoon - with ballots burned after each session - until one candidate attains a two-thirds majority (77 votes). Then the smoke will be white, meaning the 265th bishop of Romula will have been chosen. Earlier on Monday the cardinals attended a "Mass for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff" in St Peter's Basilica.

In his homily, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Florian Draganescu, praised the "brilliant pontificate" of Pope Pius and implored God to grant another "Good Shepherd" to lead the church. He outlined the mission Catholics believe was given by Jesus Christ to St Peter - the first Pope - emphasising love and sacrifice, evangelisation and the unity of the church. The speech was more measured in tone than the address given in 2005 by Cardinal Emilio Draghi before Pope Pius was elected, which featured a fiery attack on the "dictatorship of relativism".

On Tuesday morning several cardinals took to Metsins and Twitter to say goodbye to their followers before being cut off from the outside world. "Last tweet before the conclave: May Our Father hear and answer with love and mercy all prayers and sacrifices offered for a fruitful outcome," Arthuristan Cardinal Alfred Draper tweeted.

Pius III, as Cardinal Lucian Florescu in 2005, he was the marked favourite ahead of the conclave and was elected pope after just four rounds of voting. The vote for his successor is expected to take much longer. After 10 general congregations open to all cardinals, regardless of age - at which 233 cardinals spoke of the issues facing the Church and the qualities needed by its next leader - no clear frontrunner has emerged.

"Last time around there was a man of stature, three or four times that of any other cardinal," French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin told reporters.
"That is not the case this time around. Therefore, the choice has to be made among one, two, three, four... a dozen candidates. We still don't really know anything. We will have to wait for the results of the first ballot."

Chalure Archbishop Cardinal Johnathan Hawkins told his priests there was hope that a new pope could be chosen by Thursday. However his optimism was rejected by Cardinal Archbishop Drazan Mirovic who told reporters, "it may take a while, perhaps five days for God to find us a man worthy of the task of leading his Church and lead the Papal Republic, it is a major responsibility, only a man of true unrequited faith can hold."

PRRB's Atticus Namarescu contributed to this report.

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by **Rodarion** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 4:46 pm

Pope Constantine XIV elected

Pope Constantine XIV formerly Cardinal Florian Draganescu appeard upon the balcony to address thousands in Saint Peter's Square

September 24, 2014| 22.56 PM PCT | înregistrate| By: Atticus Namarescu

The Archbishop Copșa Mică and the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Florian Draganescu has been elected the 265th Pope, he has taken the name Constatine in honour of Saint Constantine, who was martyred defending the sick and frail in 222 AD. Over 200,000 people were present in Saint Peter's Square when the smoke turned white, indicating a Pope had been elected through Conclave, the number rose to 300,000 by the time the Proto-Deacon of the Papacy emerged to announce the name of the new Pope. It took Cardinals just a over a day and half to elect a new Pope and five ballots, according to Vatican statements, the closest runner up was Archbishop Nicolae Bănică, however he failed to recieve the two-thirds vote. He is the third youngest Pope to ever be elected and the seventh Rodarian born Pope since 1871.

Pope Constantine XIV's first words uttered to the crowd, where "Brothers and sisters, good evening." He then went on to ask the crowd to pray for his predecessor Pius III who died last week and then to pray to God for himself, he also asked the crowd to bless him as their new pontiff. He thanked the people of Romula for their warm welcome and their determination to wait out to see him, he also stated that he would serve the Papal Republic without rest and would dedicate himself to the Lord, the Church and to the Papal Republic and its 1.4 billion citizens. Pope Constantine XIV is now the leader of 2.4 billion Catholics across Pardes and one of the most powerful political leaders in Pardes as the supereme leader of the Papal Republic of Rodarion.

At 21.44pm, the white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, and the Vatican announced to the world through Metsins, Twitter and Facebook, "HABEMUS PAPAM CONSTANTINUS". At 22.44pm, with hundreds of thousands in Saint Peter's Square and millions watcing on television, the Proto-Deacon, Cardinal Jean-Paul Coûteaux emerged, welcomed with a raptorous roar from the crowd, which went on for two minutes, upon silence, the Proto-Deacon read out the latin words used to declare a pope, before he did so he said "Dear brothers and sisters" in Rodarian, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Latin. Then he said the all important words, "Annucio vobis, gaudium mangnum, habemus papam" to which the crowd went made with euphoria, cheering out at the Basilica for over three minutes. "Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Florianus Marium, Sanctae Romulae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Draganescu" the crowd again went wild as they recognised the name, of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Coûteaux then went onto announce the new Pope's name, "qui sibi nomen imposuit Constantinus."

Several minutes later, the newly elected Pope emerged onto the balcony, before him the entire crowd greeted him with a thunderous applause and defeaning cheers. Several news reporters down in the Square had to cover their ears and their microphones because of the sound, eslewhere across the Papal Republic firework shows began following the Pope's emergence and hundreds of thousands of people in Voluntari and Videle cheered as they watched the announcement from parks and squares.

Pope Constantine addressing the masses
upon his appointent as Pope

Pope Constantine emerged, waved to the massive crowd, smiling throughout. A priest, passed him a microphone and he spoke for the first time as the leader of 2.4 billion Catholics, "Brothers and sisters, good evening" he said in Rodarian, the crowd replied 'Good evening your Holiness', to which the new Pope laughed and waved again.

"By the will of God I have been elected the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of the Papal Republic of Rodarion, both are joyous positions, of which I will serve without rest or weakness, by the grace of God I shall serve you all humbly and with upmost focus" Pope Constantine continued.

"I ask you first of all, to offer prayer to my predecessor, my friend who is now in the House of God, no doubt smiling down upon us this night, knowing full well that you, the proud people of Romula, the proud people of Christendom will guide me and aid me in my papacy" Pope Constantine smiled and bowed his head for a minute's silent prayer for Pius III. He then asked the crowd to pray to God so that he could bless him as the Pope, he then spoke to the crowd directly about his aims for the Church and the Papal Republic.

"The people of the Church, I ask you to boldly wake up the world, remind the world that God is there, with them at all times. Remind them that there good choices to be made in the world, remind them that there is a heaven, a bright and warm place for all those who live good, honourable and kind lives, remind them that this Church is their guiding light to such a beautiful place" he smiled.

"Together we can build an inclusive Church, an inclusive family. Together we can build a Church based upon the teaching God and the expectations of God to reach out and spread the gospel and aid those in help, be they poor, sick or lonely, we are to aid them. We are to help those who are dispossessed, those without freedom and those who are being denied a home that is their own, we are the successors to Christ's first flock, we are the now the guardians of the Gospel and let us protect the gospel by spreading it" Pope Constantine said further, many already have noted that this statement shows the new Pope is going to maintain current Church policy and stand by the Drakkarian people's right to freedom, albeit through peaceful matters, the same policy applies to the Rodarian government.

In regards to his role as the supreme political figure in the Papal Republic, Pope Constantine said, "this country has the most potential of all, yet I fear it has not yet fully discovered its potential for a nation of social justice and care for its most deprived and sick, many in the world of economics say it is time to transfer the economy into one based upon the people's willingness to buy goods, I disagree, there are those in this country who simply lack the means to support such a venture, we are not ready nor are we helping those as much as we can. A stronger society, a more financially capable society is one that God cares for, for people to live by their means and enjoy the wonders of the world he created. I pray that I am successful in leading this great nation, this nation of God towards peace and prosperity and it begins tonight, thank you dear people of Romula, I shall pray for you as I hope you shall pray for me, god bless you all and have a good night's rest" Pope Constantine concluded before turning around back into the Basilica to begin his time as Pope, the crowd sent him off with another large cheer.

Pope Constantine: the humble servant

Archbishop Florian Draganescu, has always been a humble man, throughout his time as Dean of the College of Cardinals he has serve within the Vatican, travelling between Churches of Romula by public transport, be it bus, taxi or even the metro. Many in the Sacred College welcomed his humble image, Cardinal Bishop Radu Văduva said, "in a time of growing greed and decadence, I believe and clearly many of my fellow Cardinals believe that a Pope who is willing to live a frugal life in service to God, will be an inspiration to many in Rodarion and indeed Pardes to remind themselves that money does not make a good person, faith in the Lord is key to a good soul."

Some critics outside the Papal Republic regard Cardinal Draganescu's humble image as 'populist' with one Emmerian political commentor saying, "Pope Constantine has just unleashed a new form of Rodarian religious-nationalism, populist driven anti-capitalism. He will have a dramatic affect on the political and economic nature of the Papal Republic and many in Rodarian society and government will cherish him for it." However these comments are rare and are clearly driven themselves by anti-Papist ideals and themes, not suited for the loyal spirits of Rodarian citizens.

Consul Octavian Ceaușescu was present on the balcony with Pope Constantine XIV when he spoke to the crowds, according to some sources both men have found great commonalities in their plans for the Papal Republic, especially with the upcoming general election in October. Other sources have also stated that the Pope and the Consul have found a friendly and warm relationship between the two of them already, a great sign for the future of Rodarion politically and socially. The Vatican has also announced that Pope Constantine will also meet various heads of state by next week, with Ulthrannia's Vicar being the first visitor, the Vatican also stated that Pope Constantine will begin his annual right to ordain new Cardinals next weekend.

PRRB's Atticus Namarescu contributed to this report.

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by **Geanna** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 11:26 pm

Opinion: Parliamentary Elections - Families of Power

^{SHARE THIS:}

Melanie Laveau (@MelveauGBC) and Harrison Konstantinous (@KonstantHarris) (GBC)
^{09/23/2014 | Saxonople, CoG}

_{S T O R Y H E A D L I N E S}
:· NEW:Saxonople slams
the Ankaran Union, ''Misinformed''

:· Geannese Nationalism
on the rise says Think Tank

:·Ankaran Union provocative
'A threat to regional sovereignty'

:·Rebuilding the economy
RTC and SelCorp settle several multi-billion dollar deals

CoG, Pardes (GBC) — Parliament has agreed to hold new elections for the Prime Minister and other top positions within the Ministry following the last phase of the reformation of government structure. Despite this coming as no surprise to the public, GBC decided to take a look at the most likely candidates. It isn't unknown that Geanna has some very prominent families, the Reinhardts for example, the owners of the same Reinhardt Steelworks - arguably the largest steel refinery and industry in the region who despite taking a small hit by the economic crisis, remained afloat thanks to extensive foreign contracts that promoted more business outside of Geanna.

In fact, it wouldn't be too far to say that Geannese politics isn't so much as dominated by political parties as more by politically dominant families. Either way, this election should become the most interesting one yet as these families fight for control of certain positions and others slide off into oblivion.

The Reinhardts

Excluding the Alestei family who retired from political life as of late, the Reinhardts would have to be the strongest political family on the stage of this year's elections. [Providing no one from the Alestei family decides to enter the elections] - Eva and Andrew Reinhardt who were married in 2007 and inherited the reigns of Reinhardt Steelworks from Andrew's father, Sebastian Reinhardt Sr.; quickly climbed the political ladder in Parliament - in 2012 they were rated as the most influential family and by 2013 garnered numerous state contracts that accumulated to a further 438 billion pound deal.

The Reinhardts revolutionized the steelwork industry providing over 80,000 jobs and creating a specialized work force that expanded the reach of Reinhardt Steel. During the 1984 Saint Pellos Strikes - Sebastian Sr. won the hearts of the public calling for tighter federal regulation on companies in providing fair and equal wages for minority workers - he also went so far as to begin a period of increasing benefits within Reinhardt Steelworks that surpasses what many would consider normal - as a result however, Reinhardt Steelworks saw efficiency skyrocket as its workforce became the pinnacle of industry and ingenuity. The city of Hart Grove, a port city of almost 130,000 inhabitants was practically built overnight by the Reinhardt Steelworks and within 10 years had attracted over 70,000 people becoming one of the richest planned cities in the nation.

Andrew's brother - Sebastian Jr. Reinhardt has also become quite the celebrity himself starting his own investment firm known as ''Reinhardt-Pratt Trusts'' who helped orchestrate numerous buy-outs for other companies and subsidiaries such as the Royal Trading Company and SelCorp during the economic crisis. It's been a long suspected maneuver however - the Reinhardts finally tackling over a position in the Ministry. They have the influence, the money and the power to be able to push themselves into the light of these coming elections and with a company that employs over 80,000 workers - of whom most back the Reinhardts - it wouldn't be further surprising to see them secure the position of Prime Minister - sometimes being a populist pays off.

Pratts

The Pratt family is another political family who during the reign of King Julius Alestei II through out the early 20th century, retained a grip on the Ministry of Interior seat for almost twenty straight years before losing it to the 1973 elections in which the Solistair family secured the seat. The Pratt's have long been in the political light serving in several positions since Henry J. Pratt was elected as Prime Minister in 1948. They've become celebrities amid the public - from the Bridgewright Scandal (1976) to the assassination of Louis Arnee Pratt in 1992.

Pratt Oil was a major oil company through out the 70s until the Petrol Crisis of 1971 following one of Geanna's worst oil disasters when a Pratt Oil Offshore Drilling Platform caught fire and collapsed into the ocean spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Bay of Ailbhe and killing over 135 members of the paltform's crew - the disaster caused the crashing of Pratt Oil stocks that resulted in the ''Oil Crisis of 1972'' in which Pratt neared bankruptcy and a crippling federal and collective lawsuit following an investigation that proved safety regulations were not being followed by the platform warden. By 1973 - production and refinement of oil was signed off under Government control via the Royal Trading Company officially ending the Pratt Oil industry.

The Pratt's disappeared from political life following the Bridgewright Scandal until public favor was regained when Thomas Gaillie Pratt managed to take the position of Ministry of Public Utility and proved to be a major proponent of reorganizing and revolutionizing the utility grid of Geanna and personally signed off on several land contracts that built numerous power plants and reorganized the electrical grid following the ''Pratt Mechanic'' that saved the Southern Seaboard following the ''Great Blackout'' (1983) caused by a catastrophic plant failure that nearly wiped out the entire grid. Power was restored within days by switching over to a different line using Thomas' design and avoided a catastrophic state of emergency.

Renfords

Much like the Pratts - the Renfords are another powerful political family that fell on misfortune following the Oil Crisis of 1972. That same year, several banks were discovered to have been illegally printing money to try and pay off federal loans and debts they owed - the result was one of the biggest financial scandals in Geannese history with the Renfords losing millions after the collapse of these banks. Renford Financial was hit hard after employing one of the fraudulent banks - becoming the subject of a massive federal investigation that resulted in three years of picking and prodding and over three thousand federal agents digging into Renford Financial - though no evidence was found of Renford Financial being apart of the scandal their credibility was destroyed having lost over 60% of their investors due to the investigation and the collapse of their partner 'Union Banking' .

What saved Renford Financial was their push to try and lobby the government to apply stricter regulations on the banking institutions of the country that had become decentralized over the past decade. The result caused the re-establishment of the Federal Reserve's dominance over the financial sectors of the economy and thanks to aid by the Renfords saw the closing of over 38 banks across the country and over 400 arrests. The Renford's became the ''Saviors of the Roaring 70s'' as 'Breasal Times' headlined during the scandal.

The Renfords never held a political office but became increasingly active in politics in some form promoting federal intervention in certain government sectors to protect business. Maxfield Renford, the then CEO of Renford Financial stated in 1977, ''They say that if you let the Federal government intervene - you destroy business - you destroy the economy; This is not the case - We need them to ensure our businesses are safe so we can run the economy''

Looking at all three families - My best opinion lies upon the Reinhardts securing a stronger political position within the Government. Running a powerful corporation however has its cons - federal laws are inplace that strictly regulates a person's ability to manage their power once joining public office - as their prominence regardless can not be manipulated. So far Liam Solistair is holding firm in running for this year's elections as Prime Minister again - however Andrew Reinhardt has stated his intentions to run as well providing a very interesting race.

By GBC's Melanie Laveau as Lead Reporter and Investigative Reporter Harrison Konstantinous

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by **Western Confederation** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 3:26 pm

The West retires?

Despite the effort to prevent the ever-closing fiscal cliff, it is understood by economists that the West may roam into economic recession followed by a dormant depression.
Frank Port, fport@en.wst — (Eagle News)
^{September 27, 2014 | Viridian City, State of the Capitol, Western Confederal States}

Viridian City, State of the Capitol, Western Confederal States - It's been three months and 25 days since the last legislature passed the two chambers of congress - being a small amendment to the Confederalization of Taxes, which according to various analysts is but a mere splinter of a reform. Hardline disagreements within the two-party system are displayed in the Viridian political arena and there is no consensus on any economic issue. Despite the effort to prevent the ever-closing fiscal cliff, it is understood by economists that the West may roam into economic recession followed by a dormant depression.

Congressmen George Penning and Hebron Zikudski of the Unionist and Confederate party respectively had an argument over the budgetary reform that involved a constant stream of accusations. Penning blaming Zikudski for his ‘diminishing approach on the labor-class’ and Zikudski blaming Penning for his fiscal mismanagement. After 15 minutes of mishmash, the speaker of the House Peter Stark dismissed both gentlemen from the house of representatives. With the fiscal cliff near and the issues still visible, various economic experts question the outcome of this conundrum.

What is the Western fiscal cliff?

The old Fiscal Management bill was signed into law in the late 19th century, a few months before the civil war broke out, when the Western Confederation was under a strict leisez-faire administration. It entailed the closing of all government institutions must there be an expiration of budgetary acts. This was implemented as a back-up to shake-off the thought that the government remains without a policy.

The current situation is as follows: a combination of expiring tax cuts and across-the-board government spending cuts scheduled to become effective on Oct. 5, 2014. The idea behind the Western fiscal cliff was that if the confederal government allowed these two events to proceed as planned, they would have a detrimental effect on a fragile economy that is just showing its first signs of recovery since the stock market crash in August 2013. What exactly will happen if no agreement is met remains a big question mark, however various experts have given their thoughts of what the repercussions might bring about.

Possible Scenarios

Economist and member of the Treasury department Freddie Chi Mong suggests that without a unified stance on the matter the Confederation may wander back into an official recession as per Mr. Mong, “household incomes will be cut, employment will go down the drain and consumer and investor confidence will be undermined in a stateless society."

From another perspective it is believed that going over the fiscal cliff would significantly reduce the confederal budget deficit and would get rid of the Confederal Reserve Board. Prominent member of the Unionist Party and libertarian offshoot Thorvald Zuckerman thinks that with the the fiscal cliff, the subsequent abolishment of the Confederal Reserve is a ‘favourable step toward full economic liberalisation’. As it would prevent “stacking debt on debt with printing money and lowering the value of the Western Dollar due to inflation”, says Zuckerman.

As a replacement Zuckerman suggests that the money supply was to be centrally controlled (as by the Confederal Reserve System) that the preferable way to do it would be with a mechanical system that would keep the quantity of money increasing at a steady rate. However, instead of government involvement at all, he was open to a real, non-government, gold standard where money is produced by the private market. According to a recent survey held by Televized.wst, 53% of the Unionists and 23% of the Confederates are in agreement.

Nonetheless it would come as a colossal impact for the people of all seven states of the Confederation as it is in fact an 'unwanted revolution'.

The fact is that the government is withdrawn from the theater, completely, creating a no-man’s land where the free market and big businesses are granted a certain ‘supervision’. The term Market State was tossed yesterday by TV host Hilary Vance, said to describe such a system.

Nine more days are given to the two parties, if no agreement is met within that timeframe one of these scenarios--or perhaps a totally different one--will come to realization. If that happens everything the Western Confederation stood and fought for will be in vain. From its military achievements in Talibastain to the founding of the Central Defense Initiative, from running Pardesi organizations to leading the neo-liberal world of Pardes.

by **Hellenic Eagleland** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 11:41 am

BREAKING: Ankaran Union Attacks New Pontus.
War declared between the Eagleland and the Ankaran Union.
^{24 September 2014 | By Maria Anastasiadi (@mar_anast) (ENT)}

Eagleland Army soldiers transitioning to final combat positions, New Pontus mountains.

Constantinople, KCT — Reports by the Pontus Defence Force indicate that, as of Tuesday, September 24th, 2014 at 04:21 AM, warplanes from the Ankaran Union have illegally penetrated Eagleland Airspace and the Pontus Defence Force have activated air defence batteries. Reports are unclear as to what the situation entails, but the military have been activated and the 500,000-strong reserve component of the PDF has been fully mobilised, it's readiness state heightened several weeks ago when the crisis was first declared. This marks the complete dissipation of diplomatic relations between the Orthodox Federation of the Eagleland and the Ankaran Union, when the latter closed their embassy to the Eagleland last week, followed by the Federal Government's equivalent response.

"As of today, September the 24th, 2014, the Orthodox Federation of the Eagleland declares war on the Ankaran Union over the blatant disregard for our national sovereignty. Apart from their state-sponsored attacks on our population, which are illegitimate, there is also a government in place with delusions of grandeur. Their genocide of our people who have been living for centuries in these lands will not be tolerated; our people are suffering from these monstrous attacks. I call the international community to condemn this crime which is unfolding before our eyes.", stated the President in his declaration of war to the Senate.

The Ministry of National Defence stated that forces Stationed at MB "Spartacus", Itailia, have been activated and are preparing to move to New Pontus, but have refused to release the timeline nor the composition of it's deployment. Metropolitan-stationed forces are also on standby. Relations with the Ankaran Union are permanently frozen and terminated as of today, with borders closing for all Ankaran Nationals. Naturalisation requests by Ankaran Nationals are to be rejected outright, and non-resident Ankarans will be deported to their country of origin.

The New Pontus curfew has been extended to a 23 and a half-hour long curfew; citizens and residents are urged to remain indoors at all times and only those who were called up for military service, as well as those working in emergency services and other military or paramilitary units are exempt from the rule. Foreign nationals apart from Ankarans are advised to leave the country if they do not have plausible means of defending themselves, and are asked to refer to their consulates for assistance.

The Federal Emergency Warning has been raised to Level A1, Wartime Status. A readiness order has been issues for units stationed along the West and South-West coasts for immediate preparation for deployment.

Maria Anastasiadi reported from Constantinople, KCT. Konstantinos Irakeides contributed to the article from Constantinople, KCT.

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by **Central Prestonia** » Sun Sep 28, 2014 9:24 pm

Close Fight Expected in Embrean Elections as Campaign Season Nears

Colchester, Embrea, Prestonian Empire With election season two days away, early analysis suggests that Embrea's National Assembly and Imperial Diet elections will be knife-edged, with deep implications for the national government whichever way the chips fall.

Embrean Minister-President Phil Hamilton, currently serving as President of the Council of Ministers, will retire at the expiry of his five-year cycle on the Council and is not expected to stand for a seat in the Assembly, which his Alliance for Social Democracy dominated in the 2009 election. Since then, though, the left-center ASD has seen its hold slip as by-elections and an embarrassing financial expenditures scandal in 2012 were seen to weaken the party. Into the gap has stepped the National Democratic Front, a local merger of the right-wing National Front and right-center Christian Democratic Party. Running on a broad coalition of conservative moralism, libertarian economics and an emphasis on what Front spokesperson Henry Marcus calls "the promotion of national and cultural unity."

It's an unorthodox message in traditionally working-class, left-leaning Embrea, where the ASD and predecessors have been the dominant word since the 1960s. But supporters and neutral observers alike say it seems to be working; while no campaigning is permitted before October 1 by law, the Front seems to carry a certain buzz around it that resonates with young and old alike. For 17 year old Derek Shea, the Front represents a hope for the future.

"I just think, you know, the ASD has been running things for fifty years and we've not got any better now than our dads did, so why not give someone else a try," Shea told PBC. "These guys seem to have a pretty solid idea what they want the country to be like, and I like that. It's time we had some pride to be Embreans again." Coal miner Gordon Hough, 47, concurred with the assessment, saying that he felt "betrayed" by the party he'd grown up under.

"Me dad was a union leader, back in t'day," Hough said. "The ASD took care of us back then. When the Diet wanted to cut our subsidies our MDs said 'we'll stand in the doorway to stop that if we have to.' Now they sell us down the river and go cash out in their boardrooms. The ASD doesn't care about us, about the economy, about people who have to live and work here, not as long as they get paid. Well it's about time they stopped getting paid on my Crown if you ask me."

The incumbent party will have to contend with a declining economy wracked with post-industrial slump and a diminishing population, issues which have long been contentious in Embrean politics. Earlier this year Embrean Minister-President Hamilton said that the population shift had approached "crisis level," calling upon the Assembly and Diet to pass legislation aimed at "growing families and encouraging immigration and development." While the legislation passed, returns have been slow in coming, leading some to characterise it as wasteful. Hamilton, however, took the defensive earlier this afternoon, addressing a media conference ahead of sanctioned campaigning.

"These are serious issues, long-term issues that we're not going to be able to fix with a stroke of the pen, and that's true whether its my pen or anyone else's," Hamilton told reporters. "But," he stressed, "we [Embrea] are laying the foundation for a better tomorrow here in Embrea for our youth, as we have done and will continue to do."

Religion, Foreign Affairs Play Unlikely Role

As election season nears, battle-lines are being drawn with an unusual eye to happenings halfway around the world, where the death of Pope Pius III and subsequent election of Constantine XIV have drawn headlines and renewed a long-dormant discussion about religion in the Empire. In particular, both sides have been accused of being anti-Catholic, with the head of the Catholic Anti-Defamation Alliance condemning recent remarks made by Minister-President Hamilton in which he described the late Pope as "a god-King."

"Mr. Hamilton's remarks are blasphemous, hurtful and deeply insensitive to the Catholic community and a man admired by many of all faiths," the statement read. "We sincerely hope he will recognize the hatefulness of his rhetoric and make appropriate amends." While Hamilton has not apologized, he did concede that the remark was made "in haste and a bit of excess fervor." Hamilton, an open atheist, has a history of stringent attacks on religion, once famously proclaiming the Church of Prestonia "the national disease."

These latest remarks, however, come in a time of heightened religious tensions around the world and an uptick in what the National Investigative Service calls "religiously-motivated acts of violence" in the past year. The arrest of 14 Catholic seminarians in connection with the proscribed terror group Exercitus Christii earlier this year has sparked renewed fears of a "second Unrest," echoing the sectarian violence of the 1970s and 1980s. Those fears were stoked yesterday afternoon by an opinion piece written by NDF Chairman Brian Anderson in which he calls to question the loyalties of Romulan Catholics.

"Forty years, and the Romulan Question remains unanswered," the piece opens, referencing a famous question posed by National Front MD Uriel Holmes about dual-nationality law for Catholic clerics. The Question soon became a byline for a wave of anti-Catholic violence, prompting waves of reprisals and counter-reprisals before the 1991 Hudson Accord put an end to the unrest. Even still, the period carries deep scars in Embrea, which is approximately 60 percent Protestant.

In Diet, Major Reshuffle Possible

Perhaps a bigger prize than the Minister-Presidency and Assembly control is control of Embrea's 90 seats in the 645 member Imperial Diet, considered a key bloc to control of the Diet. In particular, the NDF merger has analysts watching with interest, with some saying it could be a test-bed for a wider party merger to come.

"The left bloc, the ASD, Labour, Greens, and the like, have largely never had an impetus to merge as their existence has always been governed by unspoken rules of engagement with each other and coalition building," PBC Senior Political Analyst Paul Kemp said. "On the right, you've not seen as much emphasis on coalition, and in fact there's been some pretty serious doctrinal infighting between, for example, the Liberals in Prestica and the Christian Democrats in Saria and Embrea. So this sort of big-tent rightism is something we're not used to seeing and it will be very interesting to see, if it wins in Embrea, whether it will survive."

A good showing by the ASD, or a breakup of the NDF coalition, would bode well for incumbent Speaker Mary Cullen's tenure, Kemp said. It would also likely mean continued left-bloc control of the Diet, which is likely to translate to increased funding for alternative energy and social programming and possible cutbacks in the military.

Election campaign season opens October 1, with elections scheduled for December 1. Newly elected officials will be sworn to office during the Opening of the Diet on New Year's Day, following the Emperor's New Year's Address.

by **Tarsas** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:03 am

Tarsan Empire Declares Neutrality In Ankaran-Eagleland Conflict

Civitas Tarsae, Tarsas - The Ivory Palace has released a statement following the declaration of war and the subsequent conflict that has broken out between its close neighbor and the Federation of Eagleland. The regular Tarsan policy of strict neutrality for non RCO matters has been enacted. Under the Neutrality Code passed in 1987 by the Imperial Senate, Tarsas has several key points differing from regular internationally accepted neutrality codes. These were specifically designed to protect Tarsan trade and its people.

The terms of Tarsan neutrality were specifically outlined in a later statement released by the Foreign Ministry. A fifty nautical mile exclusion zone has been declared around Tarsan territory, where warships of both Eagleland and Ankara and those of other nations involved with the struggle, are prohibited from entering. Any enemy combat vessel caught within this zone will be intercepted and escorted back into international waters. Warships that refuse to comply will be sunk. To prevent the exclusion zone from covering the accepted international waters of any other nation, the zone reduces to only twenty five nautical miles around the border regions and does not extend into any zones of control of other nations.

Under the Neutrality Codes, a warship may only request asylum in Tarsan ports if 60% or more of the crew is injured and the ship does not possess medical facilities to adequately treat them. If less than 60% of the crew is injured, the vessel may turn over wounded sailors to the Imperial Sea Legion to be treated in a Tarsan hospital and returned once the conflict is over. The remainder of the crew must remain and the warship must leave the exclusion zone.

Should a sinking warship proceed into the zone, the survivors can be rescued and returned to the Tarsan mainland, but may not return to their nation of origin during the conflict. Closed off living communities set up by the Legion will be utilized for those in Tarsan custody. This was designed to guarantee that impartial treatment was given to both sides. The policy does not extend to civilians that are in merchant vessels, as civilians are to be rescued over soldiers.

The Foreign Ministry has also said it will be closing the border with the Ankaran Union entirely for the duration of the conflict. Only two hundred people per day will be allowed to pass over the border as refugees, should a refugee problem arise later in the war. Additional people will be detained and deported by the Imperial Legion. Refugee camps will be established in the border region, should they become necessary. Those who are allowed over will be confined to refugee camps until they can be processed and determined if they are eligible for citizenship or a permit.

A Worrisome Refugee Issue

Speaking on possible responses to the declaration of neutrality, a spokesperson for Legionary Command stated that the military has full intentions to deploy its forces and enforce its policies. The Baracus Legion, stationed in Baharaq, will also be put on full alert. The Baharaqi government has given full permission for the Legion to work with their own forces and close off the border with Ankara completely. They have allegedly determined to reject all refugees, citing lack of resources to care for them.

Naval and air forces will be deployed in full readiness to secure the Exclusion Zone and to escort and protect Tarsan trade through the war zone. Destroyers and frigates will be deployed to escort convoys of merchant vessels past Ankara and into the central ocean, where the convoys may split up and go to their own destinations.

A Tarsan charity known as Welfare International has been given full authority to oversee the refugee camps with access to a pool of public funding. Speaking on the decision, Director Caius Remulus Devera of Welfare International in Vinovia has declared that his organization will do everything in its power to run effective and safe refugee camps. "With the lack of a large, comprehensive welfare net that we see in other more liberal nations, Welfare International provides supplementary income to millions. We are pleased we were appointed the task of running these camps. We intend to do everything in our power to make them as safe as possible and we thank the taxpayer for their contribution.

Professor Alrec Haem of the Imperial Demographics Institute in Marvius spoke on the growing issue in the region. "Displaced peoples are a problem in the entire region. With the fighting in Talibanistain, thousands of refugees have flooded the Baharaqi border. At first, they were let through until the problem became too much and the Baharaqi government sealed its border with that nation. The refugee camps in Baharaq have been standing for a long while now and nothing has been done to integrate refugees. The only money that is being spent is enough to maintain the camp. That could become an even larger issue here should the war go badly for Ankara. We must be prepared."

At this time, the Interior Ministry has said it does not plan to host more than a few thousand refugees before the border is completely sealed. The possibility of an Ankaran defeat is very real with Eagleland beginning to allign itself with the CDI. Should that happen, the Ministry has said it will not burden the Empire with non productive people.

Zendar Refugee Camp in Southern Baharaq

by **Rodarion** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:31 pm

Pope Constantine XIV addresses the Senate

Pope Constantine XIV addressed the Senate of the Papal Republic for the first time

September 24, 2014| 22.56 PM PCT | înregistrate| By: Atticus Namarescu

Today, his Holiness Pope Constantine addressed the Senate of the Papal Republic for the first time as the supreme leader of the country. In his address he praised the efforts of all elected Rodarian officials in their dedication to serving the Rodarian people. He also praised the current government for their determination to improve the lives of Rodarian citizens. He also stated several of his own wishes for reform and government policies aimed at improving the lives the country's most deprived, offering sufficient help to those in desperate need through welfare, a commitment to the current economic system and the importance of the Papal Republic's principles for peaceful co-existance with fellow Pardesi nations. Pope Constantine also declared Rodarion a 'rising star among the risen', thank God for the blessings of economic prosperity and success he has granted the Papal Republic.

In his first address to the Senate, Pope Constantine said, "May the Lord and the Mother of God bless this honourable chamber and all of you who represent the most pious people within it. You're service to the people of this great nation under God has been exceptional, you have upheld the principles of our constituion, the principles of Pope Saint Julius II, you are an institution in your own right, together Senate and Church, we have produced a power in Pardes, a beacon of religious life, dedicated to family, to church and to Christ. We in the Mother Church owe much to you dear friends, as does the Rodarian people, be proud in that knowledge and be blessed by the Lord."

Yesterday, Pope Constantine and Consul Ceaușescu met formally and discussed the manifesto being announced tomorrow by the National Catholic Party. According to the Vatican website, both the Pope and Consul 'found strong political commonalities, greatly enhancing their personal relationship'. Pope Constantine has praised the NCP in the past for its 'excellent record in serving every Rrodarian citizen regardless of social class'. Many NCP Senators are excited at the prospect of a politically active Pope, as Pius III's regin (2005-2014) saw him mostly absent from the political office of the Pope, instead he focused on reforming the Church itself for the 1 billion Catholics outside Rodarion. Yet some unconfirmed comments made by both NLP and RSP Senators have shown concern that the Pope's natural support for the NCP, may result in Church influence in the October Election, however legislation last year provided firewalls aimed at stopping Priests and other local Church orders from involving themselves in the election on behalf of any political party.

Regarding the economy Pope Constantine said, "the Papal Republic must recognise the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the state, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society as a means to finish off our war against poverty. Since 1989 we have strived to lift millions out of humiliating deprivation, since 1989, 89.5 million citizens have been saved from lives of dispossession, humiliation and temptation to take to sinful means of ensuring an income, yet more can be done. In light of our success and prosperity, we have lost our sense of purpose, once our cause for economic modernisation was to turn this nation away from soil driven poverty towards a modern industrious means of financial stability. Now, our cause is for the continuation of what we have, no longer a drive towards what we can have. I reject this call for economic reform, to turn this country away from the current system towards a consumer led system, such systems as present across the region, are the catalysts for morally and social decay of socities, the rise of greed and the idolation of money and the worship of the self."

Speaking further, he advocated assistance for the most deprived, yet touched by Rodarion's unrivalled economic success, "yet I speak for the 32.4 million Rodarians who still remain untouched by the blessings of our great nation today, those who live in poverty still, those who live on the most shameful of incomes, the ones who live outside our community of compassion and companionship blessed by God himself. They face all forms of injustices and resisting the economy of exclusion, the throwaway culture and the culture of death which nowadays sadly risk becoming passively accepted. We must strive to rescue this last segment of society, we must not become content with the success we enjoy, we must never cease in our cause to better the Papal Republic."

He urged for the government to pursue reforms and legislation that would those in need of assistance, he marked an example from his Archdiocease in Copsa Mica, in which a woman caring for her husband of 55 years, who suffers from dementia, cannot afford to place him in a care home because she cannot work full time, the Pope urged the government to offer the carers of terminally ill family members financial support, which goes beyond the offerings by popular Church services and national charities.

In terms of social policies, Pope Constantine heralded the NCP's efforts to destroy what he called 'the self-corrupting poisons of modern society, including homosexuality, over sexuality, adultery and common crime'. "The government of Rodarion, the National Catholic Party has been successful in the upmost manner in defending the Papal Republic from the threat of modern vices, the self corrupting poisons, the dangers of vainity driven idolation of phornocation. We have here in a Rodarion, a society that has become near immune to the epidemic of moral decay that has become prevelant in this century, we have remained steadfast in our resistance of homosexuality, the normalisation of attitudes towards sodomy and adultery, we remain free from self inflicted sin. We place upon the judgement of our mortal justice system, the right to dispatch those most heinous sinners to God's eternal judgement, we have secured strict sentences for those who would undo our efforts to create a truly pious yet modern society and we are united in our fight against anti-social behaviour, we are a beacon of justice."

Pope Constantine for his part heralded the 'Rodarian Age' across Pardes, saying, "the Papal Republic is a rising star among the risen, our influence, our soft touch has extended across all four corners of Pardes, though I fear our soft touch has turned hard and we have harmed and damaged relations with numerous nations in Pardes. We have in this time the chance to renew our efforts to enforce the principles of peaceful co-existance, an acceptance of nations for what they are, accepting of cultures and respectible faiths. Rodarion is a unique nation, we can off the poorest of the world such assistance, through christian charity, through genuine assistance. Let us pursue our interests through help and care, let us aid the most vunerable in the region through compassion and charitable notions.

Yet I say this, we have here in the Papal Republic a state within a state, a state of patriotic service, a state of militarymen dedicated to their home, to their family, to their church and to the nation. Let no one in Pardes be in doubt that the Papal military would be shy to do what is right, a just war is a righteous war, no matter who it is against, if it is name of the oppressed and the dispossessed, it is righteous. I look to Drakkar and I see a righteous cause, yet violence never begets violence. I wish to see the proud Catholics of Drakkar secure their right to determination, no nation has the right to utilise double standards over self determination and the right to liberty, no nation should pick or choose the people who have access to such basic rights. Yet I pray that independence for the Drakkarian people maybe attained through diplomacy, I pray that the two sides recognise the need for peaceful negotiations that aim to secure the freedom of a determined people.

I look across Pardes and I see what we all see, numerous hotspots and tensions. Even today, hostilities between the Ankaran Union and Eagleland broke out, I urge, I urge and I pray for both sides to cease such actions and persue a peaceful means to an end, do not fall into the chasm of death, pain and hatred."

In his final statement, Pope Constantine thanked the Senate for its attention and stated he would pray for the institution's continue success, he also stated his excitment in working with all elected Senators for the prosperity and religious security of the Papal Republic. He then led the Senate in a prayer for Drakkar and for Rodarion, he recieved a 5 minute standing ovation.

PRRB's Atticus Namarescu contributed to this report.

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by **Ankaran Union** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:08 pm

Ankaran Union is now at war with Eagleland, victory shall not be long away

Smoke was seen rising in Oinoe, the largest majority ethnic Ankaran urban area in New Pontus.

September 24, 2014| 20.00 PM PCT |Sertifikalı| By: Abdullah Ali Tariqi

The Union is now officially at war with the Orthodox Federation of Eagleland, hostilities began after the Eaglelander occupation forces began aggressive operations against the Ankaran minority living in small confined ghettoes across the territory. Yesterday, Eaglelander fascist bands and soldiers brutally began exterminating all forms of resistance in the large town of Oinoe, reports indicate that the Yevi Pontus Bozkurtlar (New Pontus Grey Wolves) have resisted the Eaglelander invasion, inflicting heavy losses on their fascist death squads known as the Eaglelander Golden Dawn. Kılavuz Kenan Evren has stated that the Ankaran National Armed Forces will pursue victory with complete and total zeal, vowing 'to drive the occupiers into the Central Ocean and drown them alive'. Anti-Eaglelander rallies have sprung up all across the Union has millions voice their support for the government and the armed forces.

In the early hours of the morning, Ankaran aircraft valiantly crossed into New Pontus airspace and successfully cleared the skies of all Eaglelander warplanes tasked with bombing the people of Oinoe. Artillery guns of the Ankaran National Army (ANA) began their operation, bombarding the territory's main air force base and its support fields with highly accurate laser guided shells. The bombardment was a success and the air field has been knocked out of commission indefinitely, since then, the Air Force and the ANA have focused on taking out enemy air defences. There are also reports that the Navy and Air Force successfuly took on the small number of ships operating in New Pontus, the ANA has also vowed to ensure that the enemy's assault on the Ankaran minority will be met with 'steely determination and unrivalled fury'. The government has stated that it began operations against the Eaglelander military in face of the 'genocidal actions taken by the said military'. Deputy Kılavuz Tarık Peynirci stated to reporters, "Let this situation in Oinoe, Komana and East Kerasounta be a fine example of Eaglelander racialism and its intent on the destruction of 855,000 innocent ethnic Ankarans. We reserve the right to defend our countrymen and women, we reserve the right to stop genocide, as does any sovereign nation in Pardes, we shall not stop until all of Erdine is free from racialist oppression, we shall free Erdine from its occupiers, no matter how long it takes, no matter the cost."

The ANA has deployed over 730,000 soldiers to the border with New Pontus, 1,200 tanks have also been sent in support of the operation which if successful, which no one doubts it shall, will become the day that Muslim honour has been returned and the imperialist powers dealt a decisive humililating blow. Kılavuz Kenan Evren has stated in a speech live to the nation, "we have before us a valiant task, a task sent to us by Allah himself, to free Erdine, to free the innocent people of Erdine who are suffering under foreign racialist oppression. We have an inherent duty not just to fellow Ankaran bretheren or sisters in Erdine, but to every Muslim in all of Akkadiya, let this event be a sign of our determination to ensure the freedom and liberty of all Muslism, be they Sunni or Shia.

The Eaglelanders should not kid themselves in feeling positive or cocky, they do not face a collection of militant groups armed with the most rudimentary and basic weapons, they do not face an enemy who's only vehicle is a pickup truck with a machine gun bolted to the back, they face a nation full of fury and hatred, they face a nation who's armed forces would tear the earth part if it must, they face an enemy they have never seen before. I say this to Konstantinople, fight if you wish, but you will be defeated, you and your forces in Erdine will be crushed, any force you send to retake Erdine will be burnt to ash upon the seas and torn from the skies. We shall fight you, without fear and without remorse, our path has been laid out to us and we travel it, with Imam Hussein guiding our way to Karbala we shall not fail, we shall not relent, we shall not stop.

And I shall this to Arthurista or any other state that would throw themselves into a war that does not concern them, we will fight you as we fight the occupiers of Erdine, we will no quarter and no mercy. Should any foreign state reinforce the illegal occupation of Erdine, the Union has the right to meet such actions with our own actions against the interests of those states in Akkadiya. The Ankaran Union never backs down against aggression nor we will back down against forces of the status quo, no government in Pardes should be in doubt of our resolve and no government in Pardes should believe that adding to the Eaglelander's war of genocide, will result in the Union backing down or surrendering, we shall never surrender, we shall fight until there is fight left to be had."

Several days ago the Ankaran National Navy authorised two Rodarian destroyers to enter the blockade zone and evacuate all 2,000 Rodarian nationals in New Pontus, the government has urged other governments to do so, before the entire zone becomes too dangerous for foreign vessels. Anger has spread amongst the numerous foreign minorities in New Pontus who claim that their governments have abandoned them to the violence instigated by the occupation authorities, the Union urges all those who leave do so, the ANA has announced that a corridor will be opened along the border located at the Sampsounta Border Crossing, there foreign nations will be driven to an air force base and flown to their respective home nations.

The government also announced that NP's territorial waters will be excluded from all vessels not of Ankaran ownership.

The Ministry of Defence and released a public report to all citizens of the Union, in which they state the current number of enemy forces and the situation within New Pontus itself. The report states that victory maybe two-three weeks away with the Union enjoying air superiority, the situation on the ground for the Eaglelanders will worsen within hours, the ANA also operates an order to destroy any group that is armed, be it the army, Pontus Civil Guard, the Fascist Eaglelander Golden Dawn or groups of ultranationalist Eaglelanders armed with weapons. The ANAF is to drop leaflets in coming days urging the Eaglelander population to lay down their arms so that their families will not come in harms way and to remain inside their homes as long as possible.

All Ankaran civilians living within 50km of the border with New Pontus are being evacuated to areas 80km away from the border, the people of Erkmentepe, a city of some 580,000 people just 32km north of New Pontus are being advised to evacuate, however due to the sheer number the government has stepped up anti-air and anti-missile defences around the city. The ANA did not state when it would be begin official operations against the city, but said it would likely begin in two or three days.

ARTN's Abdullah Ali Tariqi contributed to this report.

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by **Chyeknovostan Republic** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:11 pm

Chyekish ships steam towards New Pontus amid slam by the CSU
Premier Zelenov demands Eaglelander withdraw of New Pontus

^{SHARE THIS:}

Ita Nashumi (@KamidaCSU) and Boris Macheyev (@BorisMacheyev) (CSU)
^{09/30/2014 | Polana, CSU}

Premier Zelenov looks on during a convention with the Soviets

_{S T O R Y H E A D L I N E S}
:· NEW:Geanna withdraws
from the OPA

:· The Supreme Soviet rallies
behind Ankaran Union

:·New tank factory
opens up in Rechelovsk, creates jobs

:·Revolutionary Tribunal
convicts Dmitri Amsen for Conspiracy

CSU, Pardes(CSM) — At 7:30PM this evening Premier Zelenov announced that the Chyekish 2nd Fleet would be steaming towards the AU fully armed. Zelenov slammed the Eaglelanders stating that they were ''warmongers'' for invading sovereign airspace and withholding territory amid the AU's boundaries illegally. ''It shall be our duty and one of the highest honours to rush to the aid of the Ankaran government and oust the Eagleland aggressors from the AU's sovereign territory.'' Zelenov stated - this comes after the state of war began between Eagleland and the AU following an escalation of tensions particularly by Eagleland.

With Zelenov's announcement of support for the AU in the conflict - the Chyekish Premier further followed with an ultimatum. ''Eagleland must fully withdraw its military assets from New Pontus and the greater AU boundary by October 2nd. If there is a failure to comply with these demands than an official state of war shall exist between the Orthodox Federation and the Chyekish Soviet Union.'' Zelenov declared on state television.

The Chyekish 2nd fleet composes of the CSF Gao Shin Se, an aircraft carrier believed to be outfitted with an air wing of fighters or strategic naval bombers. The rest of the composition of the fleet is believed to be that of several destroyers, frigates, and other support ships. The Military Soviet has stated they will not further comment on the fleet's substance leaving the rest to speculation.

The CSU has remained at DEFCON 3 with its airforce on standby following the minor nuclear crisis earlier this year after the CSU conducted several nuclear detonations along with Sutadotazu in pre-planned tests. In another turn Zelenov also condemned Ulthrannia and Geanna for their ''illegal and barbaric invasion of Albiya'' stating that the situation would be watched closely and a police further developed in the future to deal with the issue.

By The Soviet's Ita Nashumi as Lead Reporter and Investigative Reporter Boris Macheyev

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by **Rodarion** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 5:40 pm

FM Basescu: New Pontus Crisis is not a proving ground for gun-ho governments

Foreign Minister Mircea Basescu was engulfed with fury over the escalation in New Pontus

October 1, 2014| 22.56 PM PCT | înregistrate| By: Traian Proca

Foreign Minister Mircea Basescu has denounced recent announcements or actions by other Pardes states in support of either side in the New Pontus Crisis. Speaking to reporters in his annual 'Foreign Minister's Question Hour'. He stated his personal anger at the growing situation over New Pontus and the anger of the Rodarian government at the blatant inconsideration of certain states in Pardes over their direct intervention against the Ankaran Union, aswell as the Cheykish Soviet Union's threats as it moves to support the AU. The Foreign Minister urged Pardesi states, to "cease its naivety towards war and recognise its implications for the responsible actors of the region, cease this selfish pursuit for glory and honour and enter the world of reality." Open hostilities between the Ankaran Union and Eagleland began several days ago as a result of heighten tensions between both states over violent ethnic fighting within the small territory of New Pontus which is bordered by the AU on three sides and claimed by the AU.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Foreign Minister Basescu also stated, "Nations of Pardes must define the boundaries and differences between isolated and select crises and crises that inflict serious threats upon regional stability from the outset, the current crisis in Akkadiya, however does not warrant the chance for states to prove national might or the willingness of governments to throw their nations into conflicts on the basis of rudimentary promises of support or the archaic notions of collective responsibility of ensuring the territorial integrity of another state, even that state can ensure its own intgerity. The situation in New Pontus is exclusive and secluded to Eagleland and the Ankaran Union, albeit diplomacy is out of reach, there is no need for outside states to exercise their ability to escalate an already dangerous situation simply for national glory or honour."

Anger has been growing within the Senate as both Arthurista and Belhavia appear to be moving towards outright intervention and the communist regime of the CSU has also vowed to involve itself although on the side of the Ankaran Union. NCP Senators have urged the government to demand that situation be de-escalated and the conflict remain between Eagleland and the AU for the sake of regional stability. Pope Constantine has also denounced the recent relevations of support for Eagleland, saying "I find it deeply troubling that numerous states across Pardes see it fit to fuel the flames of war in Akkadiya beyond necessary limits. I pray that governments across Pardes recognise that their actions are not aiding this situation but worsening it, how long and how many lives must be lost before governments realise this."

Speaking further, Minister Basescu said, "I urge governments seeking naive aims of honour and glory out of this situation to cease such moves. Mass involvement or interventions and last minute humanitarian missions will not aid this situation, it will worsen it, simple as that. I question any decision to rescue nationals from the conflict at this time, governments have been aware for weeks of the situation in New Pontus, yet they chose the moment shells begin to fall to rescue their nations, I question the morality and motives for such a move, the risk of accidental fire and a resulting official intervention are clear to be seen.

"The escalation and expansion of the conflict in New Pontus will not be in any nation's interest. The Ankaran Union is a capable state and its threats to expand the war to the Middle East in general are credible, it is important to remind governments in Pardes that Akkadiya is home to some of the most vital economic areas and resources in Pardes and the threat of damage or destruction to these assets would effect every nation in Pardes including those who remain neutral, such as the Papal Republic. As a result, the Papal Republic will not tolerate baseless and unjustifiable acts of intervention in support of either side by any state in Pardes. We can not tolerate selfish acts that threaten the wellbeing of nations who respect that there are wars we should not fight, wars we have no role in, wars we have no relation to. I say this now officially, I say to Arthurista and Belhavia and the CSU, we are not impressed, the region is not impressed by your gun-ho, naive and inconsiderate action on the basis of mandatory assistance to Eagleland. You may have defence agreements, but how they you decided that they should be activated for a territory 600km2 and without any discernable natural resources, shall be an enigma. But your actions are harmful, dangerous and irresponsible, you are agents of regional instability and you must cease such foolishness, before the region disintergrates."

Consul Octavian Ceaușescu said this evening, "it's madness, such chaos and arrogant policies and moves over a territory smaller than the entire municipality of Romula, I find it mind-blowing that the governments of Goldman and Whittaker are willing to send husbands, brothers, sons and fathers to a war that will surely claim thousands of lives for no real reason other than 'we promised Eagleland', I pray that the Belhavian and Arthuristan electorates have more commonsense than their bullish leaders."

Foreign Minister Basescu stated that Eagleland has the right to self defence but also remarked that the Ankaran Union has the right to intervene due to the violence engulfing the Ankaran ethnic minority, in what is a situation highly reminiscent of the Drakkar War. However he restated the Papal Republic's neutrality in the matter, stating that the New Pontus conflict has the nature to remain isolated and restricted in scope, however that depended upon the actions of those becoming involved despite the lack of reason or cassus belli.

"The Cheykish Soviet Union, yet again has shown that is an irresponsible force in an already unstable region of Pardes, the CSU should remain in its part of Pardes and not venture out to cause further escalation or danger, the threats of serious regional economic woes are there and no nation has the right to commit to such ventures that will endanger the entire region. The CSU should backdown and remain out of this crisis, as much as any ally of Eagleland" Minister Basescu continued.

In his interview he also announced that in two weeks time the Papal Navy and the Estovakivan Navy would begin joint exercises in the Central Ocean, aimed at improving and expanding cooperation betwen both Navies, enabling both to launch joint-security operations in the sea in the event of a crisis. He also confirmed reports that the Papal Navy and the Imperial Ulthrannic Navy would also be conducting joint naval exercises in the Sea of Livirica.

PRRB's Traian Proca contributed to this report.

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by **Geanna** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:55 pm

CSU announces support for the AU; Polls are in for elections; Groundbreaking announcement made

^{SHARE THIS:}

Melanie Laveau (@MelveauGBC) and Harrison Konstantinous (@KonstantHarris) (GBC)
^{10/01/2014 | Saxonople, FoG}

_{S T O R Y H E A D L I N E S}
:· NEW:Geannese forces take Al-Kema
as ALF retreats

:· Geannese Nationalism
on the rise says Think Tank

:·Reinhardt wins election by staggering vote
Solistair says good-bye to politics

:·Rebuilding the economy
RTC and SelCorp settle several multi-billion dollar deals

FoG, Pardes (GBC) — With two wars already brewing in the region - one expecting to take a dire turn before getting better it only made sense for Parliament to hold elections for the Ministry officially ending the transitioning period. Voters flocked to the ballot boxes throughout Tuesday - results were in by that night, and by Wednesday morning the Ministry was quick in voting a new Prime Minister ending the seat held by Liam Solistair the former PM.

Paul DeCoup lost his seat as Jackson Renford replaced him as the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Defense. Despite predictions from earlier the Pratt family failed to succeed in obtaining any seats with the Unitary Federal Coalition retaining majority seats within Parliament and officially halting the advance of the Pratt led Republican Conservative Party. With Reinhardt becoming the new Prime Minister a major announcement was made that took the nation by storm late Wednesday as the public tuned in on the election results. A majority vote led by Reinhardt pushed for the reinstatement of the Crown Doctrine officially putting the Crown and therefore the Alestei family back into the political light. Dmitri Alestei - who had officially ''stepped down'' from the throne following the crisis as an act of good faith accepted the announcement.

''It is within our best judgement as the newly elected Ministers and representatives of the state to further urge Parliament to accept the proposal of the Crown Doctrine's reinstatement. The transitioning government en tempore failed to repeal the initial clause of the Crown Doctrine dictating the removal of Royal Right - in doing so despite the decision to step down from the throne without an official abdication having been signed or formulated - His Majesty Dmitri Alestei may be reinstated within the Crown. However, upon His Majesty's request power have been redistributed putting the Crown within a more neutral line of power - this'll essentially put the Crown within a ceremonial role outside of the need for a neutral guidance when necessary.'' Reinhardt stated.

Months earlier Dmitri Alestei had stepped down from the throne during the transition in hopes that the Crown was no longer needed - with the announcement Parliament officially reconciled with Isulia Anina the President in reinstating power. As a result the Presidency was officially dissolved - Isula Anina however was granted Lordship as Lady Anina by Dmitri Alestei late Wednesday and officially accepted into the Crown as a Chief Advisor of Crown Affairs essentially acting as a mediator.

''Transitioning of the Government and her powers have officially concluded may the sun forever shine on the Federacy'' Reinhardt stated - His Majesty however did not address the television though reports pointed that he was being flown back to Saxonople late Wednesday night to retake the 'Velvet Throne'.

With tensions mounting across the region following two wars that have now sparked - one involving Geanna and the other involving a long time rival the CSU the political balance of the region many political analysts say now hangs in the balance. ''You have the 'Old Guard' the CDI and RCO blocs - add the rising suns in the east - Sutadotazu and the CSU who have launched one of the largest military buildups we've ever seen. Then the Ankaran Union to the North-East - the geopolitical grid is shifting in an interesting manner that we couldn't have completely predicted'' Chief Minister Renford stated of the MoD.

Just yesterday the Federacy announced it would remain neutral in the conflict with Jollan and the AU but would watch the situation closely on further developments. The MoD classifies the conflict as a Class 3 conflict on the Bridgfield Scale - meaning that at current it poses no threat to regional stability nor Geanna. The MoD however did state that it had alerted both sides to security concerns involving a routine patrol down by the Royal Navy in the Central Ocean as well to the commercial shipping lanes that the Geannese merchant fleet operates within. ''We will enforce limited security measures on the merchant lanes to ensure their safety - the AU and Jollan have been notified to avoid any possibility of Geannese shipping being accidentally attacked.'' Reinhardt stated.

By GBC's Melanie Laveau as Lead Reporter and Investigative Reporter Harrison Konstantinous

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by **Valinor1** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 10:22 pm

Prime Minister Irenaeus Condemns Chyekish 'war mongering'
Irenaeus condemns the blatant war mongering by the CSU, threatens a 'proportionate' response

^{SHARE THIS:}

Niels S. Møller (@NielsMøller) (KH)
^{October 2, 2014 12:34 AM | Valkos, Kieva, Kingdom of Valinor}

Prime Minister Irenaeus at a release in Valkos Kavala Herald photo

Valtos, Valinor — Following yesterday's report from the Chyekish Union that it was deploying more then five warships towards New Pontus, the Eaglelander colony which was invaded by the Ankara Union two days ago, Prime Minister Irenaeus held a special closed session with both Houses of Parliament, emerging at just forty minutes into this new day with a new press release.

The Prime Minister took a very bellicose turn stating that " the Chyekish Union is as usual committed more towards the arrogant war mongering that has become stereotypical of it's government then actually caring about the responsible duties of being a ruling faction of a soveriegn state; they are more anxious to expend their citizen's lives then provide sufficient needs for them, a gross breech of their duties. The Chyekish have about as much right to be in New Pontus as this government, which is to say they have no rights! This government demands the return of the imperialist task force or we will be forced to consider a proportionate response to the our barbaric northern neighbor"

The fiercely worded speech comes just months after the Astryia Pact committed itself to a series of high yield nuclear device tests, the fallout from at least one of those affecting the environment around the Art Callen colony and damaging it's fishing industry and food intake.

Many pundits and analysts have attempted to decipher the Prime Minister's statement, mostly by attempting to figure out what he means by a proportionate response. Analyst Phillip Green with the early morning news show Daily Greeter commented that the V.R.S. Rjal and it's attached battle group is still deployed just outside of Chyekish waters in the Channel, and there is not one but two air force bases containing strike fighters and bombers that are well within range to strike into the heart of the Socialistic Union. Green theorized that if the Chyek ships do not return, the Prime Minister may consider striking at one of the nation's nuclear enrichment facilities, damaging it's ability to weaponize uranium and produce more nuclear weapons.

Another move it may consider is asking the state of Anikatia, a new found friend of Valinor following massive Valinese purchases of Anikatian hardware, to enforce a new set of trade sanctions on the Union; both Valinor and Anikatia unveiled a series of sanctions aimed at top leading Chyekish officials and the Anikatians terminated leases on several military bombers that were on loan to the CSU or Sutadozau. Further sanctions might include a more broader set aimed at the general industry, but most pundits are ruling out a general embargo.

Niels S. Møller contributed to this report.

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by **New Belhavia** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:29 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Relations -- 7th Pontite War -- RCO Basing Initiatives -- Valinese Counter CSU Forces -- Ulthrannic Empire Expands

Rodar-Belhavian Trade Deal Prospects Imperiled With Rodarian Basing Deals: Sources

_{Pictured: Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa) addressing the Imperial Taxpayers Association in Provisa on Friday, as he struggles to pass the Goldman-endorsed bilateral deal.}

Rodarion Critics Pounce Amid Aggressive Rodarian Force Projection Initiatives In South, Central Pardes.
^{October 5th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 1:34pm EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — Rodar-Belhavian relations likely took another hit this weekend after reports surfaced of an recently-disclosed Rodarian-Estovakivan military basing agreement that puts offensive-oriented Rodarian military assets within striking range of the critical so-called "Havenwalder Corridor," a large interconnected body of water which has a large concentration of heavily-trafficked sea lanes that stretch from Dakos, Belhavia through the straits between Estovakivan-controlled Emsmomheden Island and Tippercommon, and filters out into the Central Ocean through the Havenwalder-Tippercommer Strait. The basing deal also puts Rodarian naval bombers within 80 km of the heavily-populated northern coast of the Empire, home to the country's only all-year-round ice-free sea routes to the rest of Pardes and home to two large Belhavian fleets, the Home Fleet and 1st Fleet, based in Dakos and Freeport, respectively.

The move has energized critics of the Papal Republic within the Imperial Senate, who were seething as it appeared likely that a controversial Rodar-Belhavian trade agreement would be narrowly passed later this month. The agreement was endorsed by President Goldman, major Tory leaders, and an influential swing bloc of moderate Liberal Democrats.

According to a whip count by several top aides to the agreement proponents, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, showed the bilateral trade deal would have passed by a narrow 37 - 33 margin in favor. The bill was scheduled for a vote next week. However, a key bipartisan swing block of two Conservatives and 4 moderate, pro-free trade Lib Dems told the Presidential Palace and Senate leadership they were defecting from "aye" to "nay" - leaving the bill dead in the water with a projected 39 - 31 vote margin against.

Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a key Goldman ally and likely 2016 presidential candidate charged by the administration with passing the trade agreement, has been unable to control the damage from the fallout of the Rodar-Estovakivan basing initiatives, which has raised the scorn of military hawks and anti-Rodarion activists.

Critics: Rodarian "Arrogance" a Threat To Belhavian Security

An uneasy alliance of Rodarian critics on the left and right has coalesced in wake of the reports of Rodarian military strike units near Belhavia proper, as well as another joint Rodarian-Estovakivan-Ulthrannic base that could threaten Belhavian colonial posessions such as the Ross Archipelago or Tobia.

Although the bipartisan bench of anti-Rodarion political actors seemed defeated in last month's Rodar-Belhavian foreign minister talks, the basing deals have injected new fervor into their cause. Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), a renown hawk and one of the right's leading Papal Republic critics, told PROVISAINSIDER.com that "these basing deals have shown what I and others pointed out multiple times: Rodarian arrogance. They claim to have 'commonalities' with us, yet team up with the likes of the Estovakivans to put offensive-oriented military assets within range of our homeland and overseas crown territories. This is dangerous to Belhavian national security and can't be tolerated. I'm glad some of my colleagues of awoken from their sleep to the Rodarian threat and will vote down this misguided 'trade deal.' "

Senate Minority Leader, John Fellan (LD-Merrina), hit the trade deal from the left, invoking human rights and national interests. "These shocking developments have put Rodarian soldiers on our doorstep, and threaten our country's political freedoms. Make no mistake: Rodarian and Estovakivan jackboots will be on our soil some day soon if we appease them with duplicitous trade agreements. Romula wants to isolate our nation's capability to project a force for good abroad, and we can't let these despots get away with it," adding, "this trade deal legitimizes a pariah, totalitarian regime abroad, harms domestic workers, and 'checkmates' our ability to use our unparalleled military force to incentivize these regimes to act responsibly. I'm glad this trade agreement is [dead on arrival]."

Administration Response: Public Silence, Private Harried Negotiations

A spokesman for the Presidential Palace refused to comment for this article, both other sources have come forward on a veil of anonymity to lay out a behind-the-scenes effort to reverse the bill's demise and secure its passage, even if its by bare minimums.

While President Goldman and leading Belhavian officials have not commented on the revealed basing deals, top aides at the last national security meeting allege Goldman was "enraged and felt betrayed by Romula," adding he "lashed out at the [Papal] Republic who he tried to make good-faith efforts to increase ties with, only for them to team up with the Estovakivans to threaten Belhavia itself, as well as its top overseas crown territory."

A senior Foreign Ministry posited he overheard Foreign Minister Daniel Nobelstein attempt to call his Rodarian counterpart, only for Rodarian Foreign Minister Mircea Basescu to not come to the phone or call him back. This incensed the president's inner circle, who hoped to persuade the Rodarians to withdrew the forces in exchange for other bilateral improvement items that Romula has been pushing for.

Still, Goldman would be politically vulnerable if his endorsed trade deal fails, and has redoubled his efforts in the background to win enough votes to secure the bill's passage. One pathway - dubbed by administration insiders as 'Plan Thin-Wire' - has been to peel off 4 of the 6 swing Senators to either vote aye or abstain, creating a tied vote where Vice-President Jacob Grossman could cast the tie-breaking vote. However, the plan is fraught with unlikely scenarios and is, at best, unlikely to be successful.

Reportedly, Goldman summoned Settas to the Presidential Palace, where Settas told the President, "I just don't have the votes," according to three separate sources who were in the room at the time of the rumored meeting. Neither the Senate Majority Leader's office nor the Office of the President responded for comment. If passed, the bill is estimated $5.4 billion in economic growth over the next five years, with increased access for Belhavian capital goods into the Rodarian economy in return for greater access of white and light goods into the Belhavian economy.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

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by **New Belhavia** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:10 pm

Trending Stories -- Rodar-Belhavian Relations -- 7th Pontite War -- RCO Basing Initiatives -- Tarsan Neutrality Pledge in Akkadiya Conflict -- Ulthrannic Empire Expands

Goldman: "We Are At War" Against Ankaran Union, Nation To Enter 7th Pontite War To Defend "Key Ally" Eagleland

_{Pictured: President Eli Goldman at an impromptu 9am national address.}

Goldman: Illegal Ankaran Attack on New Pntus Triggers Belhavian-Eaglelander Defense Pact, Nation at War.
^{September 24th, 2014 | By Elazar Cohen (ecohen@aij.org) (AIJ) | 9:37am EDT}

PROVISA, NEW BELHAVIA — At 9:15am this morning in a nationally-televised address, President Goldman declared that under the 1985 Mutual Defense Treaty, the Ankaran Union's illegal attack against the overseas Eaglelander possession of New Pontus "automatically triggers mutual defense obligations" and that Belhavia was officially at war with the Ankaran Union in defense of its "key ally," the Orthodox Federation of Eagleland. Goldman refused to remark on military deployments, simply concluding to reporters that "we are consulting with our Eaglelander allies and will be taking all necessary military force to defeat the illegal invasion by the [Ankaran Union] and ensure continued Eaglelander control of New Pontus."

He deflected on Rodarian criticisms, remarking, "The Papal Republic has stated its opinion on numerous occasions. It's entitled to offer an opinion, and as a major Pardesi geopolitical actor, I assume Romula will continue to declare its opinions on major issues of the day as it sees fit."

Although the War Ministry refused to answer inquiries on military strategy in light of the war declaration on national security grounds, it did note that "we have forces positioned in Talibistain and Itailia, and we will be aiding our besieged ally as it needs to be supported. We are consulting with allied counterparts as we speak." The Imperial Navy has the 5th Fleet - part of Northern Pardes Command (NPCOM) - headquartered at Naval Base Levy outside of Ebonaevron, Itailia. The 5th is 40 vessels-strong, and has a detached task force serving under joint Western-Belhavian operations in Talibistain, with is a nearby neighbor to Ankar in Akkadiya.

Crowds numbering over 10,000 rallied in the ethnic Eaglelander neighborhood of Little Konstantinople in Provisa, where activists condemned what they called "Ankaran Islamic aggression and brutality."

In an unusual bipartisan display, the Imperial Senate passed overwhelmingly a resolution supporting Goldman's decision to invoke the 1985 defense pact's "automatic trigger" clause.

Elazar Cohen reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

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by **Rodarion** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 6:52 am

Consul Ceasuescu slams Belhavia for 'chronic hypocrisy

He addressed the latest spat at an NCP rally in Bacau, where 85,000 people offered their support

October 5, 2014| 13.50 PM PCT | înregistrate| By: Miran Draganescu

Consul Octavian Ceasuescu has denounced the Belhavian political establishment of 'chronic hypocrisy, that no medical institution to could cure'. Saying that hypocrisy appears to be a 'national institution in itself', this comes after the Belhavian government officials and Imperial Senate members lashed out at the Papal Republic, in some cases launching liberal minded and delluded rants that took up the usual criticisms of the Papal Republic. Consul Ceausescu reminded the vocal hawks in the Belhavian senate that their own nation operates such policies but on a grander scale, yet the Papal Republic and other nations learn to accept this situations and still offer the hand of friendship. Senator Octavian Candreva (NCP) launched a major attack upon the Belhavian establishment, saying "let them slam down this trade agreement, let them, we don't need their filthy money produced off the backs of the poorest without a single regard of their humanity, if they're so horrified by the Ensmomheden Island Base, we should open two more bases on the Ulthrannic and Tarsan coastlines, put a little bit of pressure on Arthurista, then we can watch as Belhavian's dissolve into boiling goo."

Announcement of the Ensmomheden Island Base deal was made several months ago by the Estovakians, however announcement of the deployment of both naval and air assets was made yesterday as the Central Oceanic Peace exercises, between the Papal Navy and the Estovakivan Imperial Dominion Navy began. Ensmomheden Island is 80km north of Belhavia at some points and is the centre of Rodarian investment in Estovakivan oil production and is also the site of several oil and gas fields being developed by Rodarian, Estovakivan and Ulthrannian oil companies. The Papal Republic has invested $12.55 billion over the past ten years in Ensmomheden, the island is also home to 14,305 Rodarian oil workers aiding in the tri-owned fields.
The base is home to three destroyers, two frigates and three supply vessels and two squadrons of aircraft, including eight RE-H4 naval bombers and six RE-H3 multi-role fighters, as well as 3,300 Papal Army soldiers, technicians and engineers. The base has been heralded as the ‘Rodarian footstep in southern Pardes’. A poll conducted by the National Express this morning showed that 77% of Rodarians supported the base deal with 12% saying it was a bad decision and 11% saying don’t know.
Senator Octavian Candreva spoke on PRRB1’s CrossTalk chatshow, where he said, “the base on Ensmomheden Island is our sovereign right, if the Estovakivans invite us to ensure protection of $12.55 billion investments then how can we say no. I think the Belhavians are so paranoid because of they’re inherent addiction to liberalist nonsense and this delusion that any nation not considered similar politically is an evil expansionist foe, does Rodarion want territory? Does Rodarion want to seize Dakos and rape and pillage? I don’t think so, but the warmongering clique in the Belhavian senate appears to think so.”

Consul Ceausescu for his part also denounced the spat developing over the base. He addressed the issue whilst speaking to 85,000 people in Bacau as he continues campaigning for this month’s General Election. At Saint Julius Park in Bacau, he said “When I awoke this morning and discovered the storm that had been born out of Ensmomheden Island Base, I was horrified. I was horrified to find that the Belhavian political establishment is suffering from chronic hypocrisy, that no medical institution can cure. We construct one base to ensure the protection of our economic interests in eastern Estovakiva and they cry havoc, claiming that we have plans to interdict trade to Belhavia and hinder their ability to project power, we don’t need to interdict that, they seem pretty content projecting power into warzones that not only are worlds away in relation to Belhavian interests, but also have the potential of inflict heavy losses on them” to which the crowd cheered and laughed.

“I will remind the Belhavian establishment, that they operate bases across Pardes, they have forces in Itailia, a nation dedicated to the eradication of Drakkarian independent minded idealists, they have forces on Laesico, a major facility dedicated to the interdiction of the Central Ocean trade routes, they have forces on the Ross islands, located within range of the eastern trade routes, same goes for Tobia, which can interdict trade between Rodarion and Ashizwe. Then there is Shelvoy, which can interdict trade between Rodarion and Valinor, Gratislavia. I will not have this nation lectured to us by a state that does the very same yet on a greater level. With all of that projection, do the nations of Pardes spit poison and hatred? Does Rodarion stamp its feet and throw its toys out of the pram like a spoilt child? No, we offer our hands in friendship, we offer once in a generation trade deals, we try to emphasise our commonalities, not our differences. But we did so, for a nation with a temperamental mind, a naive mind.”

Consul Ceausescu however stated that the Belhavians should have been aware of the base months ago, when both Rodarion and Estovakiva signed off on the deal as well as numerous deals covering the petrochemical industry in Ensmomheden. In support of the Consul, the Foreign Ministry released details of the base, showing that it is run by a rotation between it and Vespasius Island, naval bombers based in Vespasius require refuelling in Ensmomheden and repair. The schedule shows that the squadron of RE-H4 bombers being transferred to Vespasius in two weeks time.

Consul Ceausescu also said, “President Goldman, do not feel betrayed, do not feel enraged, we are exercising our right as a sovereign nation to ensure the protection of our very obvious interests in Ensmomheden island. I can vow to you, on God’s name that this nation has no hostile intentions aimed at Belhavia, just as I am sure you have no hostile intentions aimed at the Papal Republic through your use of a naval base outside Ebonaevron, considering the heightened tensions between the Papal Republic and Itailia” the crowd roared out ‘liars’ and ‘back-stabbers’ to Consul Ceausescu who stood solemnly upon the podium.

The situation has been unifying within the Senate itself, with pro-NB Senators in the NCP, NDP, NLP and RSP remaining silent over the latest disagreement, Senator Hadrian Tudor, a prominent pro-NB Senator and former Ambassador to the Empire, said this, “it is a difficult situation, should they decide to shoot down the trade deal through anger, that will silence a growing group of Senators here in Rodarion who wish to see stronger relations between Rodarion and some CDI states. If they shoot it down, that group will be destroyed by the hardliners, yet the Papal Republic has the right to improve protection of its interests, which dwarf anything the Belhavians have in Estovakiva financially.”

A disagreement also emerged out of Belhavia's military support for Eagleland over the situation in Akkadiya, again Rodarian senators and commentators have stressed that the Belhavians moves to become engaged in the conflict will be a major cause for a Pardesi energy crisis, should the Ankarans find the only way to secure their own protection is to attack the oil production facilities across Akkadiya, which they are highly capable through missiles and air strikes. The regional stock markets have become jittery with oil prices increasing by 0.44% this morning alone, the Voluntari Stock Exchange has also seen its stocks in various oil companies drop, as Rodarian shareholders drop their stakes.

PRRB's Miran Draganescu contributed to this report.

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by **Belfras** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 2:15 pm

BNN International
New Pontus Crisis

PM Sentar in public appeal for a cease-fire to New Pontus Crisis.
Royal Navy deployed to evacuate citizens from the war zone.
^{05/OCT/2014 | Nathaniel Ridgewood (@RidgewoodNate) (BNN)}

Prime Minister Sentar's popularity has only increased in his first week as Prime Minister.

Isn Deslen, Belfras - In what appeared to be both an urgent plea and a stark warning in one televised address, the newly minted Prime Minister Sentar appeared stoic as he appealed for calm in what he called a chaotic confrontation. Sentar has faced stark criticism from the formal opposition, who denounced the new Prime Minister's actions and words as warmongering and hypocritical.

During his address, he stated that he had sent Eagleland and Ankara a formal request to sign a cease fire agreement until non combatants were removed from the combat zone.

In his address, Prime Minister Sentar said that "Whilst the Kingdom of Belfras will not be deploying forces to the New Pontus operational area to combat either side, we will not stand idly by whilst citizens of this country are jeopardized by this conflict. To this end my fellow ministers and I have enacted a two phase plan to bring our countrymen and women home. We have sent a formal request to both the Orthodox Federation of the Eagleland and the Ankaran Union to establish a forty-eight hour cease fire in which time all efforts available will be put forward to humanitarian aid and evacuation. To supplement this and to facilitate safe and secure transport, a large task force has set sail from Laesico bound for New Pontus. This task force is headed by the HMS Victoria herself and has been augmented with six requisitioned cruise liners. These liners, along with certain room made aboard the naval vessels will hold these refugees and then return them to our sovereign territory."

Sentar continued his statement by pressing on the individual note of each Belfrasian in New Pontus. He stated: "I had the pleasure to speak to one of these displaced Belfrasians earlier today when he was able to acquire a signal on his cell phone. This man, a father of three, is staying in New Pontus on a business trip for a company in the vehicle industry. Where he was safe, harm, and content five weeks ago in his house in Nos Kenwadi, he now resides in a hole made from an exploded artillery round, fearing for his life. His family here in Belfras have only been able to speak with him once, but wish for me to state that they wish their father and husband a safe return. It is this, this simple but beautiful image of our national kin that we must do all we can possibly do to rescue this man. This man, and some twenty-three thousand eight hundred others live in terror in the face of this war.

But let us not forgot the lives of those who go to rescue them. Aboard one of the vessels being sent in the Task Force is an Third Rating. His father served aboard the HMS Broadsword at the same time as His Majesty King James in 1974. On that fateful day when Kunarii separatists attacked the Ronin-class Battleship as it sailed along the coast, Lieutenant Martin Donnell commanded the aft-most turret in engaging the enemy water-craft until the vessel was listing too heavily for the fight to continue. Lieutenant Donnell was granted the Victorian Cross for his most valiant efforts. When he evacuated the vessel, he took with him a small piece of fabric that had been stained with a mixture of motor oil, blood, and grease from the turret. Today, his son carries that exact same fabric aboard a Frederic Wellson class Destroyer whilst his girlfriend of three years stands guardian for their infant child. In war, we forget how human the soldiers that fight it are. For our own sakes, I give prayer that these brave men and women return home never having fired a shot and their mission completed."

Former PM Ian Davies, now the formal opposition, openly criticized the deployment of military forces, stating that "It's highly hypocritical and down-right ungentlemanly to deploy forces to a confrontation in another part of the world whilst appealing for the sides already involved to cease hostilities. They'll see this and only fight harder." Davies' words appeared to come before the formal announcement and didn't appear to be in full knowledge of the measures being taken.

Prime Minster Sentar is the first Prime Minister in nearly twenty years to have served in the military. His career with the First Infantry Division ended whilst on deployment overseas after being wounded by enemy fire whilst on patrol. In his own words, he described it: "It was a rookie mistake on my part. At the time I was a Second Lieutenant and it was my second tour and I knew what to do - I just happened to do the wrong thing at the wrong time." This was believed to have been one of Sentar's largest selling points in the election, with the Armed Forces almost entirely voting for the former military officer into office.

Nathaniel Ridgewood reported on this from Isn Deslen with the assistance of his junior correspondence team.
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© Belfrasian News Network 2014

by **Estovakiva** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 2:47 pm

TVNP Regional

Pardesian-regional news

Joint Rodarion-Estovakivan naval exersices off to a good start
Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Kherkov Slams New Belhavian "Concerns"
^{5-Oktober-2014 | Freja Olaffssen (@FrejaOlaffsen) (TVNP)}

Imperial Dominion Navy-ships of the 8th Surface Task Force that are currently deployed as a key element in the joint-naval exersices

Estovakivan Dominion Navy warships and Papal Navy warships have begun their joint exercises in the Central Ocean, named Central Oceanic Peace. 32 vessels from the Papal Navy jointly with a larger Estovakivan force comprising 46 ships, the largest joint-military exercise in both nations histories.

The Central Oceanic Peace wargames are to improve coordination, cooperation and comradeship between both navies according to the Ministry of Defence of both countries, says Warleader Vladimir Volostov, the current Estovakivan defence minister, it is near unparaleled.

He continued by confirming the sucess of the joint naval exersices so far. "Surface combatants of both the Imperial Dominion Navy and the Papal Navy has engaged four 'hostile targets' and has done sucesfull runs against them ending with the eliemination of those four targets. Both navies proved to be highly in sync and excellent comrades in seamanship as well as cordination, we are expecting to see highly qualified results at the end anything less is a embarssement to the Imperial Dominion and to our valued RCO-allies, I apploud Rodarion for being a persistant friend of the Domnion. Together we are titans of quality and quantity"

Tomorrow both forces will conduct joint anti-submarine operations, which is something Estovakiva has allways sought to enchance its capabilities in, as the Estovakivan islands and the Central Ocean is a prime location for submarines of various countries, RCO and CDI alike these submarines present a present and clear threat to any soveregin nation and its trade routes and sealanes. On the third day, both forces will conduct overall joint-naval operations including search and rescue, resupplying at sea, joint-air patrols and joint air attacks on major targets including carriers. The later being being a thing which Estovakiva has seen to perfect as it sees carriers as and surface ships as the prime threat to its territoral waters and wast island chains, it is imperative that they must be found as soon as possibly and tracked contiually to ensure peace and safety around Estovakiva and eliminated in times of war.

The Estovakivan Strategic bomber fleet is seen as a crucial element in this, it is perhaps the most publicly known Strategic bomber fleet in the region as their longrange patrols has been reported widely across Pardes in combination with maritime patrol planes it is perhaps the largest one in Pardes as well, but such remain disputed.

Belhavian hawks criticize-basing Deal

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Kherkov has slamed the Belhavian-hawk lobby "Concerns"

"I reman unsure why, this seems to have shocked the Belhavians as throughly as this has I belive we warned them months ago. We warned them about the military build up, one would think that Belhavians of all people would understand ones needs to protect ones financial investement and labor? Apparently not." This peculiar remark made most of the crowd to either laugh or cheer rather noticeably before the FM continued.

"I would like to make it clear to the Belhavian hawk-lobby, that seems to have pounced upon this eagerly, it is our legitimate right as a sovereign nation of this region to set up bases to our allies within our own territoral borders, no matter their location it is our undisputed right. Furthermore this base was constructed to aid in the defense of RCO economic interests on Ensmomheden Island which houses major oil-installations it also helps in defending the territorial integrity and territoral waters of Estovakiva. And yet this lobby cries out as if this is a step to interdict trade to Belhavia and hinder their ability to project power we find this quite profound. As this is like guarding a bank it is common and it is more then justifiable"

"This is coming from the hawk-lobby of a country that is sending its sons and daughters to fight over a 600km2 area which is called New Pontus through the use of its power projection, a tiny speck of land located thousands of miles away from New Belhavia, a country with a history of military interventions in countries across the region. With military baseses across the region as well, the hypocrisy rings in our very ears"

TVNP`s Oksana Ludiya contributed to this report.

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