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Commonwealth Act passes Congress, The Nina Islands becomes an independent nation
April 6th, 2018, Harley Suss, Editor of the Nina Islands Telegraph
After barely passed the Senate and the House of Representatives in Layfet, today Executive Minister Susan Polster signed the Commonwealth Act, which today created the newly independent nation - the Commonwealth of the Nina Islands. The new Prime Minister and former governor - Akaysha Maria Parker and Polster worked out the deals of the Treaty of Establishment, which converts the Commonwealth into a treaty between the two nations.
In this treaty, the Nina Islands has become an independent sovereign entity apart from the Democratic Republic of Layfet. While the original bill required that they remain Layfetian, It has now been amended that Nina Islands will still be bound to Layfet until it drafts a new constitution, which will be drafted by the end of July. The Nina Islands will use the Layfetian/Libriran/Kohharuese currency of the Libfray and recognize Layfet's Executive Minister as its head of state, but once the new constitution is established, Layfet will no longer hold any influence over the island group. Layfet and the Nina Islands also worked out that anyone who is currently a citizen of Layfet is also a citizen of the Nina Islands and vice versa, however anyone born after April 6th, 2018 will only retain the citizenship of their respective country.
Layfet also holds rights to use the Nina Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone until the end of 2025 and rights to station the Layfetian National Guard in the Nina Islands until 2035. Visa Free Travel, a Free-Trade Agreement, a Space and Research Agreement and a Deceleration of Friendship have also been signed to help prop up the nation. The Nina Islands is also required to apply to join the Rhodeve Commonwealth by the end of the month. The last item was the Willow Rose Launch Center, which was built by the USJR in the 1980s, will remain as a jointly held special administrative zone of Layfet and the Nina Islands until 2025, by then it will be re-negotiated what its status will be. The WRLC is also still open to Commonwealth use.
Prime Minister Parker is set to give a speech the following week on the nation's newfound independence, having not doing so yet due to working with Polster and the Layfetian Government with the transition as well as setting up meetings with foreign ambassadors.
IN OTHER NEWS:
-International
List of future Commonwealth Space Station (CSS) missions for late 2018 now available on the CSS website
Layfet-Rhodevus-Pantorrum nuclear missile trade deal concluded
Nina is projected to make $L550 Million on opening night worldwide
East Ventismar Alliance formed
-Domestic
Constitutional Committee begins in Solomon
Port Hoggan closed for reconstruction
70% of Nina Islanders approve of Parker's leadership, survey says
Nina Islands to choose new capital in upcoming vote
Nina Islands to kept Layfetian jack on its flag