Oceanic Defense Coalition (MT)

[Leistung]

*tl;dr at bottom

Oceanic Defense Coalition (ODECON) Charter

Preamble

The Parties to this Coalition reaffirm their desire to live in peace and prosperity with their neighbors and all peoples and governments of the world. They are determined to safeguard the freedom of their people, the principals of democracy, and the rule of law. In doing this, they seek to provide security and stability to their fellow members and themselves.

They are resolved to unite themselves in this common purpose and therefore agree to abide by a singular document in addition to their own Constitutions and Charters, to which the right of members to possess shall not be infringed.

Economic Articles

Article I
Whenever possible, tariffs between member-states should be abolished entirely. Members of ODECON shall not levy tariffs exceeding more than 3% against fellow member states.

Article II
This Charter shall not infringe upon the right of member states to engage in trade with non-ODECON states.

Article III
Trade between member states shall be free of quotas, regulatory legislation (except where mentioned in Sec 1, Art 1), and subsidies which seek to give certain factors of production an advantage over others.

Article IV
Member states shall have free access to market information.

Article V
Member states shall endeavor to keep sea lanes free of piracy, and neutral merchant shipping shall not be subject to boarding or interception unless a credible threat to life or property, public or private, exists.

Article VI
Investments made by an investor from a member state into another are granted a number of guarantees, including fair and equitable treatment, protection from expropriation, and free transfer of means.

Article VII
Laborers and professionals from an ODECON member state shall have the right to immigrate to another member state temporarily for purposes of employment. The time in question shall be decided by the individual state, but must exceed six months and cannot exceed two years.

Article VIII
Unemployed or employed workers from an ODECON state have the express right to seek employment permanently in another member state free of hindrance, as long as the immigration process is legal by the state’s laws.

Administrative Articles

Article I
Each member state shall send two representatives to serve in the ODECON Regulatory Congress. The Congress has the express power to propose new legislation related to ODECON functions to be vetoed or accepted into international law by the President. All votes are by a simple majority.

Article II
The Multilateral Authority (henceforth to be known as the MA) is the de jure ruling body of ODECON. The members each have specific administrative or political duties. The MA shall be made up of the following titled individuals, voted in by the Regulatory Congress in majority votes:

President of the Coalition
Undersecretary to the President
Chief Director of ODESTAR
Chief Director of ODEPOL
Head of Financial Affairs
Foreign Affairs Secretary
Military Overseer

Article III
The Regulatory Congress shall be housed in ODECON Headquarters in Osterwieck. The Multilateral Authority will be based out of the same building.

Article IV
By a simple majority vote, the RC may form new organizations within the Coalition that draw upon ODECON resources, including tax revenue from member states, in order to serve the Coalition as a whole. Any nation may opt out of these child organizations, but doing so will not affect funding for said agency. The addition of a new child agency will be accompanied by a new MA position pertaining to the agency.

Article V
Amendments to the Coalition charter require the support of at least two-thirds of respondents in the Regulatory Congress in order to be enacted.

Article VI
Elections for Congressmen shall be a simple majority vote conducted in the member state. A majority of voters must select the two representatives before they are legally declared members of the Regulatory Congress.

Article VII
Member states are expected to comply with extradition requests by fellow ODECON members. Should a dispute arise surrounding extradition, the case must be brought before the Regulatory Congress, where a simple majority will settle the case.

Article VIII
Contributions to the ODECON treasury by member nations in the form of the required 1% tax shall be stripped of all nationality upon being transferred to the Coalition, and will be allocated by the Head of Financial Affairs.

Article IX
No agency may be allocated more than 15% of the Coalition budget without a specific mandate in the charter or by the RC to do so.

Military Articles

Article I
The primary goal of the Coalition being to protect the territorial sovereignty and freedom of her member’s citizens, ODECON member states shall maintain the ability to protect themselves from armed attack.

Article II
The Regulatory Congress has the authority to declare a state of conflict in line with the articles laid down in the ODECON Charter. The MA can check this power by overturning the decision in a 2/3 majority vote, and the decision is subject to veto by the President as a normal proposal would be.

Article III
Should a state of conflict be declared, it is the duty of every ODECON member state to comply with the order and treat the foreign threat as it was a threat against their own nation. No nation may choose to ignore the threat lest they risk expulsion from ODECON. If a nation is for any reason physically unable to come to the assistance of an ally, they may be exempt from this rule.

Article IV
The ODECON defense structure is triple-tiered. National militaries maintain unilateral independence from the alliance, but may be called upon as per Article IV. For situations where total war may not be the proper course of action, ORRF (ODECON Rapid Reaction Force) will be comprised of volunteer soldiers and will be placed under the command of the Supreme Military Overseer. Finally, ODECON installations (as explained in Article VII) will be established in areas deemed by the Supreme Military Overseer to be unstable or susceptible to attack by foreign threats. This is to allow for quick alliance reaction to potential attacks on member-states.

Article V
National militaries will gradually adopt the standard ODECON round for assault rifles. This is to ease logistical troubles inherent in separate militaries fighting together.

Article VI
A series of ODEFOR-run installations will be established in select ODECON member states. The staff will be made up of international soldiers, fighting under the ODECON flag as well as their own. This is made possible by quasi-integration of national militaries, as outlined below.

Article VII
Militaries from ODECON member states should be comfortable with each others organization and customs on a basic level. It should be noted that English is the language of ODEFOR, and ODECON in general when two or more nations are concerned, as well.

Article VIII
ODEFLEET shall be established as a term encompassing all alliance naval assets from individual member-states. During times of war, assets in ODEFLEET may be called upon by the Military Overseer.

Article IX
The official ODECON brevity code will be used in wartime situations involving the alliance. Individual brevity codes may still be used in non-alliance situations, and during peacetime.

Article X
No two nations in ODECON may engage in hostilities with each other under any circumstances. If they do, the aggressor nation shall be expelled and treated as any other foreign power would be.

Application Process

Article I
In order to be considered for ODECON membership, a nation must first undergo a screening process, ensuring that they have shown a determination to safeguard freedom and democracy, protect the weak, and live in peace with their neighbors.

Article II
The ability to pay a flat tax in the order of one percent of the nation's budget to the ODECON treasury is required.

Article III
Nations must prove that they are able and willing to defend their fellow member states.

Article IV
Prospective members shall have their applications reviewed by the Regulatory Congress and a simple majority shall be used to decide on application. A tie always goes to the negative in the application process.

Article V
There is no provision for observers under the ODECON charter, nor will there ever be. Nations may not apply for observer status.

*tl;dr: Just read the damn thing, ffs.
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ODECON Forums

Signatories (20):

• Federal Republic of Leistung
• Federated Empire of Akimonad
• Kiravian Empire
• Holy Empire of Stevid
• Commonwealth of Brittanican Adenia
• Imperial Republic of Greal
• United States of Sur Abruzzi
• Holy Empire of Lord Sumguy
• Republic of Zinaire
• Allied States of New Kereptica
• Most Serene Noble Republic of Santheres
• Armed Republic of Salzland
• Holy Empire of Anemos Major
• Commonwealth of Whiskeasy
• Sovereign Republic of Stabistan
• Republic of Parilisa
• Empire of New Chalcedon
• Commonwealth of Valipac
• Federal Union of Barrettstia
• Unitary Technocracy of Etoile Arcture
• Soviet Socialist Republic of Osea
• Republic of Reijvajik

Activity on the ODECON Forums is ESSENTIAL to the alliance.

[Qingzi]

To: ODECON Headquarters.
From: Qingzi Ministry of The Exterior.

The Republic of Qingzi is very interested in becoming a member of this organization. Qingzi will also offer up one of her many functioning port cities as a center for ODECON operations in The Far East.

Signed,
Han Lee-Chin, Minister of Foreign Affairs for The Republic of Qingzi.

[Takaram]

To: ODECON
From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Takaram

Takaram has always placed great interest in the security of her ships, and we would like to join your organization.

Cynthia Rose, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takaram

[Lizardiar]

To: ODECON Headquarters.
From: The Confederacy of Lizardiar

The Confederacy is seeking to join this organization. Lizardiar does not have significantly powerful warships or many port cities that are highly modern, but we could offer you a city as a staging point for land operations.

[Leistung]

OOC: Qing, would you mind me asking whose puppet you are?

[Qingzi]

OOC: Qing, would you mind me asking whose puppet you are?

OOC: Id rather not say. I made this nation as a fresh start.

[New Navaska]

To: ODECON
From: The Republic of New Navaska

The Republic of New Navaska is keen to join the Oceanic Defense Coalition as an obeserver status. Also, we would like inform the Coalition that the Republic is offering its capital, Vladimir, to be the host of future meetings in the Coalition. Due to the Neutral stand, we cannot be a full pledge member of the Coaliton.


SGN : Juan Carlos Tirol
Minister of State

[New Navaska]

To: President of the Coalition
From: The Republic of New Navaska

Sire:

The Republic of New Navaska, a new established nation, has a massive upgrading of the Armed Forces inorder to preserve our territorial integrity againts external threats. In this connection we would like to ask the coalition to provide a shopping list of the following:

Airforce
Budget: $3.5B
Navy
Budget: $4.0B
Army
Budget: $8.0B
Marine
Budget: $2.0B

Our Defense Minister will be visiting your HQ soon after you received this letter.

Thank you.


(SGN) Juan Gabriel Ledesma
President of the Republic of Navaska

[Valipac]

Official Response of the Commonwealth of Valipac


Libertas inaestimabilis res est

---

Greetings ODECON Regulatory Congress members and Multilateral Authority members. I am pleased to introduce myself to you as the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Valipac. As time has progressed during my tenure as Prime Minister of Valipac, I have seen the stated goals of ODECON and the goals of my beloved Commonwealth grow closer and closer. As a result, I asked my cabinet of advisers to look into pursuing membership with ODECON, but the response was less than anticipated. Unfortunately, we can not at this time apply for full membership. To do so would require us by constitutional laws to hold another general election, but we are forbidden from holding two general elections within the same calender year. This means that we are not allowed to hold another election for nearly six months. Furthermore, were we to hold an election, I am unsure as to whether the public would favor such a move, despite it obviously being in our national benefits. As it stands, we have only a slim parliamentary margin over the Conservatives.

However, I am still interested in pursuing relations with ODECON. Perhaps the nations of ODECON would be willing to grant Valipac the status of a limited member, with the intent on becoming a full member at a future date. We intend to follow Article II of the Application Process, all of the Military Articles, all of the Administrative Articles, as well as the following Economic Articles: Article II, Article IV, Article V, Article VI, Article VIII, and Article IX. Pursuant to Valipacian laws, we can not follow all of the other Economic Articles at this time, but we are working on reducing and in many cases negating the trade barriers left by the former Conservative administrations. At this time, however, we are simply unable to rid the nation of all of them. As a partial member, we would aid any ODECON state that was attacked, and would expect the same were we to fall under attack. That being said, Valipac has always pursued quite a sane foreign policy, and we do not plan on changing that anytime soon. As a result, it is doubtful that we will be attacked, but you never know. Rest assured that we will do the best we can to uphold our nation to this charter, and that we will attempt to pass policy allowing for the full membership of Valipac into ODECON in the current future if accepted.

Please respond with due haste about the possibility that sits before us. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

65th Prime Minister
The Commonwealth of Valipac

[Leistung]

OOC: Jolt is being annoying, so I can't get the header back yet...

To: [Applicants]
From: Office of the President
Subj: Admission into ODECON

While my heartfelt thanks go out to all applicants for their interest in the Coalition, only the Commonwealth of Valipac has been accepted in its bid for membership. I offer my personal congratulations to the Prime Minister and people of the great nation of Valipac.

Sincerely,

Evan Bachmeier
President of the Coalition

[Valipac]

OOC: Awesome! I applied to join the forums, can't see anything though.

[Leistung]

OOC: You should be good now...just ignore the scores of old threads revolving around older conflicts.

[Worplesdon]

The Kingdom of Worplesdon
HM Office

Dear ODECON,

I am writing this letter to show my nation's interest in joining ODECON. We see vast similarities between ODECON and us.
In the past month, we have held a nationwide referendum regarding an application. Several TV and Radio shows were played prioir to the vote, as well as newspaper articles. the shows we made were designedt be unbiased, to give a fair view on ODECON, whilst many newspaper articles were written for target audiences, and somewhat biased. The results, however, were pleasing to me and my cabinet. 60.5% voted in favour, 20% were unsure, and just 19.5% were against the move.
I see the move to apply for the alliance as 90% benificial to us, we get help in trade, and defence, though we may have to enter wars we do not believe in. Do not doubt us though, we fight for our allies, always. No backing out.
We are willing to follow all articles wholly, with government spending currently at 95.69% (the highest recorded) we can still afford the 1% of our GDP, which would contribute $2,510,000,000 to ODECON funds. The high spending that is going on is due to our rebuilding of the military. We are on phase II, which is the Navy, so we will soon be able to contribute the 100 ships to ODEFLE. Phase I was the army, phase II is the airforce. We can offer the North Legion for use by ODECON and ORRF at all times. the North Legion consists of 75 thousand men (26,250 foot soldiers), and about 1500 tanks, spread over 6 divisions. My Special Forces, KSA, Kingdoma Spaciel Argmi, will also be at ODECON's disposal.
Though Worplesdon hasn't been on the receiving end of any military aggresion since opening her borders, we are very loyal, and rest assured, we shall fight for all of ODECON's causes. We currently have our 9th and 10th Divisions stationed in Neo-Amalek, this is to aid defence whilst they train the newly formed country's military, and we are helping to build its infrastructure and education system. I hope that helps prove our worth in regards to helping the weak, and protecting freedom. Our lack of military action on anyone, I hope shows we can live at peace with neighbours.
Though we may not be as democratic as other nations, I hope it does not hinder our application. The monarch rules supreme, and chooses his/her cabinet from a list of applicants chosen by the population. Local elections are also held in order to elect local council leaders in the 12 counties of Worplesdon. We also provide referendums on most major decisions, i.e. Application to ODECON, though the cabinet is used to make more urgent decisions, i.e. how to respond to an attack.
Please take your time reviewing our apllication, and I hope you will see that we can become great allies within ODECON

King Benjamin Harwich
HRH of the Kingdom of Worplesdon

(ooc: used to play as Burtilana on the old forums, as many may know. If I have misunderstood anything in the charter, please let me know, and be kind, I'm tired due to the 1st day of work after a week long holiday!)

[Ursava]

To: ODECON Headquarters.
From: The Democratically Free Nation of Ursava.

The Democratically Free Nation of Ursava would be glad to join the Oceanic Defense Coalition in order to keep trade lanes free of piracy and defend fellow nations. We also acknowledge that we are capable of paying the tax for members to the ODECON treasury. We would also like to volunteer the city of Prokhor as the location for the ODECON meeting building. We wish for you to consider our application and accept us.

[Ostronopolis]

OFFICIAL FEDERAL DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATION

We of the Federal Republic of Ostronopolis would and hereby request admittance of membership into ODECON.

Please note that we are fully capable of paying the dues described in article II. We also qualify as we are willing and we have shown that we will defend other nations from improper invasions and annexations. We wait for the response of the proper authorities.

Signed, President William Dio

[Marnt]

The Federal Parliamentary Republic of Marnt
His Excellency's Government

---

The Federal Parliamentary Republic of Marnt wishes to request full membership of the Oceanic Defence Coalition and defend democracy, human rights and the rule of law. If full membership cannot be granted, the Federal Parliamentary Republic would request observer status, with interest being expressed in regards to gaining full membership of the coalition.

The Federal Parliamentary Republic of Marnt was established in 1832, in a violent revolution which overthrew the ruling jingoistic monarchy and founded a democratic state, free elections and rule of law in Marnt. Marnt has long sought to protect democracy and human rights - while seeking friendships with all nations - through peaceful diplomacy, rather than the slaughters of war. Our foreign policy stresses the encouragement of democracy and the promotion of a free market, and the Federal Parliamentary Republic has proved many a time in her history that she will exercise her armed forces as a last resort to secure freedom and liberty for her allies, such as in 1951, when the FPR intervened in the breakaway state of North Auctia, in which a fascist coup d'etat killed many and established a fascist dictatorship. Peaceful discussions organised in an attempt to provide autonomy for N. Auctia never take place, mainly due to the North Auctian refusal of discussions. Thus, Marnt reunited the country with as little civilian casualties as possible and the leaders of the coup were executed promptly by firing squad. In 1861, a young Federal Parliamentary Republic engaged in war with the Kingdom of Sevlund, a small monarchist state which the remenets of the old Marntian monarchy had founded, following a Sevlunder invasion of the close Marntian ally, Caun. Two years after Sevlund invaded Caun it had been reunited with Marnt, as Sevlund was a breakaway state of Marnt. The Republic of Caun was soon applied for permission to become Marnt's thirtieth state out of its own free will, which was approved in 1865.

While Marnt’s military is small, her troops are established as a well-trained, resourceful force, determined to protect Marnt and her allies. The Marntian Navy is most focused on by the government, for Marnt is a large if under populated island state near in the South Atlantic, and recently the navy acquired her first aircraft carrier, the MNS Republic, and plans for many more aircraft carriers are being heavily debated in Parliament. The Marntian Armed Forces are keen to participate in ODECON military exercises and defending the member states of the coalition. A gradual change to ODECON standard bullets would be welcomed by the armed forces. Note statistics about the forces’ numbers are still being counted and will be made available soon enough.

Last week’s elections secured the position of President Alexander Joseph Michael Howell, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in for his second and last five-year term as President, winning in a landslide election against the Liberal Conservative Party (LCP), Marntian Socialist Party (MSP) and the Centrist Party (CP). Parliament’s five hundred seats are currently divided between three hundred social democrat seats, one hundred Liberal Conservative seats, sixty socialist seats and forty centrist seats. These results establish LICON as the main opposition once again. The next elections will take place in five years time, by which Howell would have become the first President to serve ten years in office since the 1950s, under Charles Attenburg’s socialist government if he serves the full term.

In our many port cities scattered across our country, we could offer ODECON major naval bases in the South Atlantic, and we would welcome ODECON land and air bases in our large nation.

The Federal Parliamentary Republic is a great nation, with a booming economy, a trusted military and a free democratic system with regular elections which values personal liberty and human rights in the upmost fashion and little crime. While our nation remains under populated, the populace is increasing in number swiftly. That is why our nation’s Parliament voted 379-121 on applying for membership of the Ocean Defence Coalition.

[Leistung]

OOC: Thanks for all your interest, people. I'm sorry we have to be so choosy (everyone's applications are so good!) and go through the whole voting process, but you should all hear the results soon.

[Worplesdon]

OOC: Did you get you logo from anywhere? I saw it (Or very similar) on the back of a lorry tonight here in li'l old Britain!

[New Chalcedon]

OOC: *Cough, cough* - Have I somehow been expelled from ODECON? My name isn't on the list of members.

[Whiskeasy]

OOC: Did you get you logo from anywhere? I saw it (Or very similar) on the back of a lorry tonight here in li'l old Britain!

Yup, somehow we have stolen a logo from a company that distributes drinks to clubs and bars.

Thanks BA!

[Santheres]

OOC: *Cough, cough* - Have I somehow been expelled from ODECON? My name isn't on the list of members.

Leis is just too lazy to add you.

[Leistung]

To: [Applicants]
From: Office of the President
Subj: Admission into ODECON

While my heartfelt thanks go out to all applicants for their interest in the Coalition, only the Federal Parliamentary Republic of Marnt has been accepted into the Coalition. I would invite all other applicants to try again in the future.

Sincerely,

Evan Bachmeier
President of the Coalition

[Brittanican Adenia]

OOC: Did you get you logo from anywhere? I saw it (Or very similar) on the back of a lorry tonight here in li'l old Britain!

>_> Quiet you. <_<

[Worplesdon]

HAH! And I thought I just had Nationstates on the brain!

[Santheres]

HAH! And I thought I just had Nationstates on the brain!

That trailer was actually part of our Nutritional On-site Management division, ODENOM.