The Realm of Balder: Announcements and News

[The North Polish Union]

Disappointing, we should've condemned Thaecia when we had the opportunity. This only offers more material for the inevitable resolution though.

[Comfed]

Disappointing, we should've condemned Thaecia when we had the opportunity. This only offers more material for the inevitable resolution though.

What?

[RiderSyl]

Disappointing, we should've condemned Thaecia when we had the opportunity. This only offers more material for the inevitable resolution though.

What?

Damn it Comfed, don't you understand? They're trying to kill our narratives about Balder! OUR INNOCENT NARRATIVES!~
"Balder inactive lol" is a timeless treasure and we cannot let Thaecia destroy it!

[Unibot III]

I assume planners are aware, but Balder & Osiris turn ten next Monday. I’m old, yikes.

[Lord Dominator]

If anyone wants to write a short history of Balder and/or Osiris, whether of the full 10 years or the events around their founding, then I can potentially get it into a site News post.

“The leading defenders of the time successfully flubbed their control of the regions, and now one is nominally raider and the other is Independent.”

“Osiris chose the interesting route and got couped several times, Balder decided to be boring and safe and didn’t.”

[Robin Hood]

With a bit of luck I was able to find the old flag.

[Weed]

With a bit of luck I was able to find the old flag.

I don't know whether it warms my heart more to think of Unibot as a capitalist paradise or Robin Hood. Both pretty good.

[Kazaman]

The sea creatures of the South
Pacific didn't react well at first
to the delegation from Balder...

⠀
inally! Cried the representative from Balder, gasping for air while several sailors held him up. "I thought the beast would never relinquish me."

The old sea Captain laughed, exposing the gaps between his front teeth. "That's just the grabbers!" he chuckled. "Don't worry none about it, son, they don't mean you no harm."

Standing up, Mr. Kazaman wiped a barnacle from his pants and regained his composure, nearly slipping on the deck as he did so. "I do say, Captain Roavin, the fauna of the South Pacific made for me nearly as unpleasant a welcome as that which your beef stew gave me some nights ago. If you can even call it beef!"

"Tar, you old dog!" roared the Captain, saltwater dripping from his long beard. "You just wait until we get beneath the ground, young feller! No axe can save ye from the clutches of what lurks down there. Now say you like me cookin', or I'll toss ye right back to Ol Briney's embrace!"

The Balder delegation were amazed by the many sights
found below the seas of the South Pacific.

Kazaman gulped. He couldn't decide what was worse: a suffocating end in a watery grave, or another night in the privy after dinner with Captain Roavin. He quickly resolved that though the stew may be unpleasant, the ocean is eternal, and he would rather find himself on the right side of the porthole when the time came to go submarining. Later that night, he scribbled wildly in his journal of all the sights and sounds of the South Pacific. The King of Balder would surely be stupefied by his recounting the many creatures of the depths which came to greet him that week.

Your Royal Highness, he began his letter. It has been a most wondrous few weeks aboard the Lady Meridiem. I have no doubt in my mind that my mission here will be fortuitous. I have become companion to the rollicking Captain Roavin and his crew of tarpaulins on a tour of the vast ocean these folk call home. Soon, I am told, we are to begin our voyage beneath the sea in a novel invention they call a sub-marine. We are then to make an expedition to the centre of the Earth, whereupon I will tunnel with these good people back to Balder for the planned festivities. The people of the South Pacific are warm and kind, with a fondness for drink and socialization. The same cannot be said, however, for the creatures of their waters...

Joint Statement on the New Treaty

The Coalition of the South Pacific and the Realm of Balder have the pleasure to announce the ratification of the Pact of the Centre of the Earth. The Pact was officially approved by both Legislatures in the past few days, bringing into force a pact of non-aggression between our two regions. If one were to dig a hole roughly from Scandinavia through to the other side, they would emerge in the South Pacific -- thus, it is only fitting that we style our agreement in reference to this.

The Pact provides for mutual recognition between the Coalition and the Kingdom, prevention of hostile acts against each other, and the construction of embassies to further interregional ties. The vote was passed with an overwhelming majority of support in both regions.

The South Pacific would like to thank the government of Balder, particularly Kazaman and Fuzzy, for their cordiality during negotiations, and toast to the success of our two great regions. Today we herald a renewed era of good relations for Balder and the South Pacific, and invite any interested Balderans to visit our warms sands -- cocktails and beach chairs (and protection from sea creatures) are on the house.

Balder likewise would like to thank Prime Minister HumanSanity and Minister of Foreign Affairs Roavin from the South Pacific for their enthusiasm during negotiations, and to the people of the South Pacific for putting their trust that we can renew ties and find friendship again.

Signed,

HumanSanity, Prime Minister of the South Pacific
Roavin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the South Pacific
Dragonian Kazaman, Statsminister of Balder
Fooooooooo, Crown Prince of Balder

PACT OF THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH

Article I. Mutual Recognition of Government Legitimacy

Section 1. The signatories to this treaty recognize as legitimate governments that government espoused by the authoritative representatives of each region, and will not extend that recognition to any government otherwise represented.

Section 2. Balder shall be authoritatively represented by the Monarch, or the heir apparent in case of an absence, as well as the Statsminister or a substitute duly appointed by the monarch.

Section 3. The South Pacific shall be authoritatively represented by the government of the Coalition of the South Pacific, embodied principally for these purposes jointly by the Prime Minister as head of government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, unless the Council of Regional Security, as the Coalition’s security institution, lawfully declares a state of emergency, in which case it shall be authoritative for the duration of the state of emergency.

Section 4. Should the government of either signatory change, authoritative representation will be performed by the corresponding functionally equivalent positions or institutions.

Article II. Security.

Section 1. The signatories shall respect the sovereignty of the other, encourage that respect amongst their partners and allies, and acknowledge that with sovereignty comes the right to govern themselves in the way of their choosing.

Section 2. The signatories shall not attack the home region or any territory of the other signatory.

Section 3. The signatories shall not seek to destabilize or overthrow, either directly or through a third party, the governance of the home region or any territory of the other signatory.

Section 4. The signatories shall not conduct clandestine operations, espionage, or other forms of spying against the other signatory.

Section 5. The signatories shall not conspire to violate any of the acts described herein.

Section 6. The signatories shall, in good faith, report any known threat or concern related to the other signatory’s security, to the other signatory.

Article III. Cooperation.

Section 1. The signatories shall share in-game and off-site embassies in order to allow cross-posting. If an illegal delegate of a signatory region closes the in-game embassy with the signatory region's counterpart, embassies shall be restored immediately following the restoration of the legitimate delegate.


Article IV. Deposit and Clarification.

Section 1. This treaty shall be deposited in the community forums of each signatory such that the authoritative representatives can access it.

Section 2. The signatories to this treaty shall undertake to settle any and all disputes between them through peaceful means and to refrain from using the threat of force or sanction against one another while this treaty is in force.

Section 3. At any time, the signatories may meet to clarify the terms of this treaty through memorandums of understanding, which shall be posted alongside the treaty.

Article V. Suspension of Terms and Termination of the Treaty.

Section 1. Either signatory may suspend the terms of the treaty if the other signatory has materially breached its terms, until such a time that both signatories peacefully settle the dispute and adopt a memorandum of understanding that the treaty is again in force.

Section 2. Either signatory may terminate the treaty with a public notice to the other signatory, effective after five days.

[RiderSyl]

[hr][hr]

FIX IT, FIX IT, FIX IT, FIX IT

[Grea Kriopia]

Congrats Balder and TSP! Y'all are putting us to shame with how pretty this announcement is

[Guess and Check]

this is amazing!

and congrats on the pact ovo

[Les Claypool]

Aside from some of the formatting, the presentation of this is nice.

[HumanSanity]

Thank you to the team from Balder for their professionalism and good will during these negotiations. I look forward to a bright future of amicable relations. Cheers!

[Andusre]

Congrats to Balder & TSP!

[Madjack]

Congratulations.

[Sincluda]

Grats!

[Lord Dominator]

Nice, nice

[The Church of Satan]

Am I the only one surprised to see Balder signing a treaty with a defender region?
That aside, nice to see them put some creativity into the announcement for a change. It's a good one too. ^_^

[Tim-Opolis]

Congratulations to Balder and The South Pacific for this exciting development!

It's great to continue extending FA partnerships to new connections, and Balder has been absolutely professional and a pleasure to cooperate with as of late.

[Kazaman]

10000 Islands and the Realm of Balder are proud to jointly announce the ratification of the Pact of Runes and Tacos. The Pact was officially approved by both the Council of Nine and the Storting respectively with overwhelming majorities, and came into effect yesterday.

This marks a new era in relations between our two regions, and is a historic moment for us both. Although we have been concurrently present on the global stage for over 10 years, previous relations between our regions have been marked by indifference at best. 10000 Islands played no role in the early history of Balder, unlike its contemporaneous sinker, but nonetheless this has not put us off forging relations between our regions, looking forwards rather than backwards. The recent shift towards formalising ties between our entities marks the culmination of a period of modernisation and adaption in both our regions, and is a reflection of the open-minded and forward looking agenda that permeates both our regional cultures.

The Pact provides for mutual recognition and protection between both 10000 Islands and Balder, prevention of hostile acts against each of us, and ensures the construction and maintenance of embassies to further interregional ties and provide a framework for future relations.

10000 Islands would like to thank Balder for their support, advice and goodwill throughout the negotiations. And Balder would also like to thank 10000 Islands for their enthusiasm and cooperation during negotiations, which demonstrates the potential of this pact between our regions.

The Pact will be the foundation upon which both nations will build a prosperous future, based in mutual co-operation, openness and friendship.

Signed,

Kazaman, Statsminister of Balder
North East Somerset, Delegate and King of Balder

Hakketomat, Chief Executive of 10000 Islands
Markanite, Delegate and Chief Executive Emeritus of 10000 Islands

[Quebecshire]

Unfathomably based. Congratulations to our friends in XKI and Balder!

[Slowest Moon Around 79]

Congratulations to both XKI and Balder!

- Moon

[Frenchy II]

Unbased, but negotiating anything is no easy task. Congrats!

[Eunopiar]

Ooh! Congratulations to both parties on the new treaty!

[Writinglegend]

Congratulations to both regions on this incredible accomplishment!