APwire ~ Affiliated Press News Agency

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We don't have a problem with Serenierre fortifying itself, as long as the Serenien armed forces stay in the fort.

Rüdiger Zimmermann, Minister for Foreign Affars and Vice-Chancellor

EXCLUSIVE - Trivodnian military: Occitania a "strategic risk"
AP Amstov

A leaked report by the Trivodnian armed forces has warned the Kingdom of Occitania joining the Trier Concord poses a "strategic risk" to the Free State thanks to the heightened chance of a 'two-front war' with the Rurikgrad Pact, stretching the alliance's resources to breaking point.

In its assessment for the Trivodnian National Security Council, the Free State Self-Defence Forces warn Occitania's reliance on 19th century technology would likely see the Long Sea kingdom "quickly overwhelmed" by Communist forces.

"Due to their relative weakness against their neughneigh, both Occitania and Trivodnia are liabilities for the Trier Concord, though the rejection of modern armaments by Occitania means allied forces have a near-zero possibility of successfully defending Occitania," concludes the document.

While Trivodnia is not a member of the Trier Concord, both Eiffelland and Retalia have vowed to protect the Free State in the case of a Kadikistani invasion.

Kadikistan recently mobilised its Western Direction in response to Occitania joining the Trier Concord - the first time since the Christmas Crisis - while Affiliated Press reported yesterday Serenierre was preparing for war in response, sparking fears of a regional conflict.

Rumours indicate Altburg not quite happy with latest Trier moves
AP Altburg

Rumours and internal sources indicate many within the Retalian political establishment are a bit unhappy at the snub from Trier with the joining of the Kingdom of Occitania to the Trier Concord. Whilst the Grand Duchy itself was clearly interested in closer relations with the Kingdom and its eventual accession to the Concord, the speed with which the Kingdom of Eiffelland and the Kingdom of Occitania conducted deeper negotiations took many by surprise.

This split the Retalian establishment into those who believe things should have been done at a steadier pace, and those who think that there is never any time to waste and matters must be achieved quickly.

The Retalian Prime Minister, Walther Grauholzer, has so far made no comments.

Yi'an Announces Sanctions Against Trier Concord Following Betrayal of Occitania, Implements Travel Restrictions on Nationals Citing Security Concerns
AP Ostrograd

At an address delivered to the Standing Committee of the People's Congress, Madame Zhao decried the betrayal of Occitania as the ultimate act of hypocrisy in the West. The head of government of the People's Republic recalled the infamous "Red Line" drawn by the Engellexien Republic, denying popular solidarity among likeminded nations, and undue demands by the Gunnish for the withdrawal of Xinhese forces from the Gallian sphere. In this light the expansion of the Trier Concord further into Gallia, and in direct confrontation with Serennierre stands in direct contrast with the restrictions and threats made against the People's Republic, and further made against the self-determination of a united working class. Madame Zhao declared that this would be considered by the People's Republic of Xinhai to be an unforgivable act of aggression against the proletariat.

Zhao enumerated a number of harsh economic actions, of which she promised were but the first wave of what she promised would be increasingly tough responses against Trier. These include:

• The suspension of operation of all businesses headquartered in a Trier Concord member state.
• Travel bans on all Trier Concord nationals, including the immediate expulsion of any non-resident national.
• The freezing of assets of all Trier Concord heads of government and their immediate subordinates.
• Trier Concord manufactured products will face new import tariffs.

The initial battery of sanctions will not impact businesses which relocate their headquarters out of Trier Concord member states, nor will it impact the value of raw materials and steel imported into Xinhai.

President Zhao also cautioned that, should Occitania not reconsider it's decision, nor the Trier Concord relent its unwarranted expansion and aggression, that a security dilemma would be unavoidable, and that the People's Republic would do everything necessary to ensure its security.

Xinhai move forces Altburg to close ranks
AP Altburg

The economic sanctions and blocking of trade by Xinhai has been met with consternation and surprise by the political establishment in Altburg. Xinhai has never been a prime destination for Retalian investments, as even Serenierre attracts more manufacturing outsourcing than Xinhai, yet the very notion of banning businesses owned by Retalians has shocked many as an affront to the principle of good faith in private commerce so far maintained by Altburg towards even hostile nations' investors.

"It's a matter of principle," a source with the Northwind Palace stated. "You cannot just at a whim ban all business because of someone's nationality. We never did this to Serenierre, for example, not even in the worst of days. I mean, tariffs are a stretch, yet it's something to be expected, but outright ban on business? This sets a dangerous precedent. It will definetely not help Xinhai's investment rankings, but it is a much worse precedent to the world and the fact that nations could follow this at their own whim."

Pundits, however, recall the moves to limit Serenien economic activity during the worst days when Serenierre imposed a complete economic blockade on Eiffelland, yet this did not go as far as to ban all economic activity.

The Government is expected to convene to decide the potential ramifications to international trade, to Retalian businesses and worst case scenarios should Serenierre decide to close down the joint Retalian-Serenien businesses in Ardèche, which have survived countless spats between the two national governments.

"This cannot sink us," an economist said. "However, the more barriers there are around the world, the worse it is for everyone in the world. It's pure economic logic. Nobody sinks, everybody floats instead of sailing. Not the best solution, is it?"

On a related note, Ascona External Insurance Ltd has confirmed that it has already received the first claims for compensation from Retalian businessmen operating in Xinhai. The underwriter has refused to provide any further comments, citing commercial secrecy.

Serenierre imposes punitive sanctions on Trier Concord
AP Villesen

The Villesen Government has announced that it would be imposing a tough line of sanctions against the member states of the Trier Concord, echoing similar sanctions imposed by Xinhai on the alliance. The Government also announced that Trier Concord nationals had 12 hours to leave the country and that they could only leave with one suitcase. Further, in a move much harsher than that of the Xinhese sanctions, the Government has announced that it would hold all assets and accounts of Trier Concord member-states "in trust" until such a time that these assets can be returned safely. The Government also announced that the ambassadors of all Trier Concord member states were to be expelled from Serenierre and that all joint businesses between Trier Concord member-states and Serenien companies would be regulated and that all foreign owned shares in such businesses would be held "in trust" by the Serenien partners of the said companies, until such a time that situations improve.

Premier Elisabeth Martinique stated that the harshness of the policy, while regrettable was the need of the hour to send a signal to the irresponsible foreign policy being conducted by the Eiffelland based Trier Concord. If they were to spread deeper into Gallia, they had to expect a strong response from Serenierre. She said that the People's Republic would hold the sanctions in place until Occitania was not ejected from the Trier Concord and the status quo in Gallia was not restored. Further, she went on to say that, the Trier Concord was an alliance designed to weaken the Serenien state by enforcing the illegal Altburger claims to the Retalian Sea. The Premier stated that Villesen would utilize its Embassy in Chagny to handle affairs with the Trier Concord states. In her closing remarks, the Premier stated that Occitanian exclusion from the Concord and the withdrawal of illegal claims on the Retalian Sea by the Altburg Government could yet save the day.

Disruptions expected in Ardeche as Retalian businesses leave
AP Altburg

As Serenierre joins the "least attractable investment opportunities" index, Retalian management and businesses left the country within the imparted 12 hours following the ultimatum by Premier Martinique. Disruptions are expected as factories come to a stand still in absence of operating software, management and skilled specialist workforce. Retalian companies retained intellectual property and information technology rights while investing in Serenierre, stored cloud-wise on Retalian servers. Without access to Serenierre, the machinery will become useless.

The future of the local workforce shall remain unclear as Retalian companies may no longer vouch for anything in Serenierre.

Most companies shall see their cashflow operational accounts frozen. Those that maintained their operational cashflow outside of Serenierre and those that maintained cash reserves outside of Serenierre shall be the least impacted, yet such are considered a minority.

Retalian reinsurance companies will already be counting losses as they will begin risk payouts. The bill shall most likely be very unpleasant.

Direct and indirect losses to Serenierre hard to estimate as private investors might or might not consider their options in a country where economic opportunities depend on the whim of its leader. In a country where everything is tightly censored and only the most propagandistic optimism is allowed, real economic figures shall be impossible to ascertain.

Foreign Minister Lavertezzo announced that there shall be no Interests Sections with the Retalian Embassy in Chagny and that no relations would proceed. Whatever interests sections the Serenien government may attempt to establish on the base of its own embassy in Chagny shall be up to the Serenien government.

He confirmed that Serenien nationals on valid stay in Retalia shall not be impacted and may continue their stay within the limits of their visas or permits.

The Retalian Government would be introducing a facilitated way to obtain residency permits for those Serenien nationals that would seek to obtain such, removing the need for a return to a Retalian embassy for a visa prolongation.

Panic spreads as Trier Concord citizens in Ardeche discover flights suspended
AP Ardeche

Prior to announcing the imposition of extreme sanctions, the Villesen Government has announced in state news reports that flights from Ardeche to Retalia and Eiffelland would be suspended on account of certain vague security issues. With the ultimatum and the severance of diplomatic ties with all the Trier Concord nations, citizens from Retalia in particular are adversely affected by the suspension of flights as it has caused delays and prolonged departure times.

The Government of Serenierre has announced that it would in due course deport any Trier Concord citizen remaining in Serenierre after the ultimatum expires and that the Government would not allow bilateral state-level tensions to filter down to the individual level, assuring all that the violation of the ultimatum by Ardeche based citizens of Retalia and Eiffelland would be mitigated if the citizens were to present themselves within time at the international airport of Ardeche.

OOC: The suspension was in my news yesterday

BREAKING: Trivodnian President will veto Trier Concord 'associate membership'
AP Amstov

The President of the Free State of Trivodnia has vowed to veto any attempt to bring the small Gallo-Germanian country into the Trier Concord as an associate member in a last minute bid to defuse tensions with Kadikistan.

In a televised address, President Meier Lauterpacht called on the Communist superpower to restore diplomatic relations with Trivodnia and halt the remobilisation of the Kadikistani military's Western Direction. "In war there is no winner, only losers," he declared.

Fears of a regional conflict have been growing ever since the Kingdom of Occitania joined the Trier Concord in a surprise move that upset the Rurikgrad Pact, which counts Kadikistan, Serenierre and Xinhai as members, who have imposed economic sanctions in response and ramped up their rhetoric.

Trivodnian media reports that the Trivodnian government was seeking some kind of associate membership of the Trier Concord, which would allow the Free State to enjoy the economic benefits without the mutual defence obligations, only provoked Kadikistan further.

The Morning Journal, the Trivodnian newspaper that broke the story on Amstov pushing for associate membership in the Trier Concord, originally reporting the plans had the President's backing. However, this was denied by the President's office, who said Lauterpacht had not been privy to any conversations on the Trier Concord with Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann and External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski, the other two politicians named in the article.

Both have yet to comment.

Commissariat for External Relations

The Republique Populaire is not a member of the Ruriksgrad Pact.

People's Republic Announces Partial Mobilization of Armed Forces
AP Ostrograd

A spokesman for the People's Republic Armed Forces announced that the Xinhese military would be mobilizing units throughout the Western Military Region, bordering Kashtan and Kadikistan, and activating naval reservists for deployment at sea. This follows the imposition of sanctions on the Trier Concord and growing tensions between the Rurikgrad Pact and Trier Concord over the swift accession of Occitania to the alliance.

The PRAF spokesman further stated that Xinhese units would once against be deployed West of the 80th Meridian as called for by the Unified Command of the Rurikgrad Pact following the mobilization of the Western Direction. No mention of deployments of long-range anti-ship ballistic missiles to Calidia were made, as such deployments in the past had caused great consternation among regional powers.

Reports, which could not be independently verified, also suggest that the framework for the formation of additional military units is being made. The peacetime manpower of the Xinhese ground forces amounts to just over half a million men operating 30 division and 24 independent brigades, all fully mechanized. Experts acknowledge, however, the capacity for the Xinhese military to greatly expand those forces if placed on a war footing.

State television in Xinhai has made note that a General Mobilization is not in effect, but has also begun broadcasting informative programming directing citizens on the proper actions to take during chemical or biological attacks, how to respond to air raids, and other emergency precautions.

Xinhai To Deploy Forces to Kadikistan, Formation of New Units
AP Ostrograd

The People's Republic of Xinhai Ministry of Defense today announced the deployment of the Central Military Regions 1st Group Army to southern Kadikistan. The 1st Group Army comprises the most elite units of the People's Republic, including the 1st Armored and 8th Motor Rifle Divisions. Together, these two units bring to bear more than 25,000 soldiers, 500 tanks and 1,000 armored fighting vehicles. The 1st Group Army is estimated to account for 20% of Xinhese standing forces, or roughly 100,000 soldiers.

The announcement also called for the creation of a special military region in southern Kadikistan, including the formation of two artillery divisions, a surface-to-surface missile brigade, SAM brigade, two Coastal Defense Brigades, an additional armored and motor rifle division, and eight infantry divisions. The announcement did not make mention of where these units would be deployed.

The 1st Group Army joins the 21st, 32nd, and 54th Motor Rifle Brigades, the 143rd Rocket Artillery Brigade and 168th ADA Brigade, all deployed to Kadikistan last year.

The deployment of Xinhese forces to southern Kadikistan comes amid a mounting crisis as relations between the Rurikgrad Pact and Trier Concordat plummet to an all time low. Peripheral states closely associated with these alliances, specifically Trivodnia and Serenierre, are scrambling to maintain regional security while Rurikgrad Pact nations have given no signal that they are prepared to back down.

Legialle

BREAKING: People's Republic of Xinhai Declares War on Trivodnia, Trier Concordat

More information to follow.

BREAKING: Missile strikes rain across Trivodnia
AP Amstov

Moments after Rurikgrad Pact members Kadikistan and Xinhai declared war on the Free State of Trivodnia, explosions were reported at major military bases and key pieces of infrastructure in the early hours of the morning, marking the first phase of the world's first major conflict in decades.

Both the Trivodnian Ministry of National Defence or Free State Self-Defence Free States refused to comment on the extent of damage caused or the suspected number of casualties from the Rurikgrad bombardment. Trivodnian military sources claim many missiles malfunctioned and missed their targets or were intercepted, though the number of dead is still believed to be in the hundreds and the cost of repairs in the millions.

Senior Trivodnian government officials have reportedly moved to a secure unknown location -potentially abroad to Eiffelland and Retalia - while ordinary Trivodnians had to conduct the first air raid drills since the Christmas Crisis.

Trivodnian President Meier Lauterpacht, who is also supreme commander of the Free State Self Defence Forces, is expected to make a statement shortly. Many are predicting he will reuse his emergency powers, last deployed during the Christmas Crisis, to declare a state of emergency and impose martial law.

Appeals for military and humanitarian aid from friendly will also be front and centre if the President's speech, as will calls for national unity after months of ethnic tension.

Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann will make a speech shortly after outlining his priorities.

Street fights ensue in Imavere after statue unveiling
AP Kuressaare

Scandal and violence erupted in the capital city of the State of Pohjamaad today after the unveiling of two statues in the city's Tammsaare Park. The two statues were made of bronze, one showing three partisans from the 1957 Northern War raising the communist flag and another was presenting General Roman Becker. The company which won the bids for the statues has won it by promising to present two statutes of "showing significant elements or characters from the recent history of Pohjamaad", is Pohja Stiilis, a state owned company which administers the parks and public leisure venues in the state of Pohjamaad.

After the ceremony ended, gangs of right-wing and nationalists have stormed the park and started vandalising the two statues. The violence escalated when left-wing gangs entered the fray and started fighting in the park against the right-wingers. After two hours the police intervened and managed to pacify the zone. More than 200 people have been taken to the hospital with all sorts of injuries and 15 died in the fight.

The tensions in Virumaa have began since the Great War has started, as the government started promoting a series of nationalist and traditionalist policies which the Party of the Left, of the Vasakpartei is naming a "rollback to the days of fascist dictatorship". Tensions are running high in the United Republic, maybe as high as they were in 1957.

The even has encouraged a series of questions from the government in regards to the administration of the State of Pohjamaad. Why has a company whose administration is known for having Marxist-Leninovist tendencies been given this contract? Why has a contract been won after such an ambiguous project was presented? To answer this question, the government has announced the creation of an investigative commission.

Around 500 to a thousand people in Imavere are currently organising a sit-in in the Park, demonstrating against the government's indulgence for the right-wing gangs, after the police has issued 15 arrest warrants for assault, all on the names of left-wingers and Vasak Party members.

Viru Army proclaims Pronunciamiento against the government
AP Kuressaare

The Declaration of the State of Emergency in Virumaa has been received poorly by the people and the army. Nearly half a million protested yesterday in Kuressaare against the government, many holding placards saying either "Vasak was right. Democracy is dead" or "We won't accept the return of RS", the letters RS representing the abbreviations in Viru language for National Syndicalism. While the government didn't budge on this, the general staff of the White Army decided to take matters into their own hands.

Early this morning, the General Staff of the Army of the South, based in Kuressaare, have signed the "Declaration for the Defence of Democracy" in which they ask for the collective resignation of the government led by Chancellor Koit Sisask and State Elder Laura Lepp. The declaration was received with support from units of the Ministry of Interior and by the general staff of the Army of the North, leaving the government with little to no support from the armed forces.

The armed forces of Virumaa are known for their political traditions since at least 1957. They have been the main revolutionary element in the society which brought forward the first republic, or the Roman Becker regime. When the National Syndicalists came to power in 1958, they tried to make the army lean to the right, but they failed and switched policies, trying to make the army apolitical. In 1985, there were the "Anti-Fascist Revolutionary Cells" from the army that attacked and destroyed the fascist regime. Today, from the looks of it, the White Army is filled with left-wing and Marxist-Leninovist officers and soldiers, with this continuing the militarist tradition of Roman Becker from the late 50s. The prevalent image of that period is for many Viru as a golden age of development and prosperity.

The military isn't calling their pronunciamiento a coup, but a counter coup in defence of democracy as they called the declaration of the emergency a masked way of rolling back the Viru democracy back to the days of the National Syndicalist Regime.

"It is our duty to defend the interests of the Viru people. Thus, we do not condone the recent actions taken by the government led by Koit Sisask and we believe that the recent adoption of the state of emergency is nothing but a masked way of returning the country to the days of fascist dictatorship. Let us not forget what all that meant: economical slavery in the hands of the corporations, fascists policies like the banning of divorce, adultery, abortion, pre-marital sex and making the Tiburan Catholic church the state religion, making only baptisms in this religion legal and making church attendance compulsory is what characterised the life of a Viru person in those dark days. Everything was done to keep the country's colonial empire alive under the famous motto "Virumaa must remain multinational and pluri-continetal", a motto which has started to be used again by the government. We cannot see the country and the people return to those dark ages. This is not a coup d'etat. This is exactly the opposite. The real coup has taken place a few days ago when the government proclaimed the state of emergency. The parliament has been left without powers to oppose the dealings of the cabinet, breaking the separation of powers. We ask for the resignation of the cabinet and the creation of a provisional government led by the Vasakpartei and Jaak Raud," stated General Alvar Tarvas, the commander of the Army of the South.

BREAKING: Kadikistan rejects peace offer
AP Amstov

Kadikistan has demanded the unconditional surrender of the Free State of Trivodnia and its armed forces revealed a private communiqué from the Kadikistani leader published by the Trivodnian President, reducing chances of a peaceful settlement to the escalating conflict.

The demands come not long after the Grand Duchy if Burgundy delivered a 48-hour ultimatum to Rurikgrad Pact nations to end all military operations and disband the alliance.

The Trivodnian President's office claims it was trying to negotiate a ceasefire with Kadikistan and Xinhai following the failure of Crotobaltislavonia's invasion and pushing for talks.

In response to the demands for unconditional surrender, President Meier Lauterpacht is believed to be lobbying Burgundy to intervene sooner, by targeting remaining Crotobaltislavonian military bases, including ones with Kadikistani forces, and launching a counter-attack on Serenierre.

Fierce fighting continues along the Kadiki-Trivodnian border, as Communist forces advance towards the cities of Brisk, Druznhia, Kremenetz and Slutsk.

Insisting Trivodnia is only fighting a defensive war, President Lauterpacht had vowed to not invade or occupy Crotobaltislavonia and started redeploying some units to the Kadikistani theatre. However sporadic fighting continues throughout eastern Crotobaltislavonia and western Trivodnia.

Reports of political purges in Virumaa
AP International

The vice-chairman of the now banned National Democratic Union of Virumaa, Alvar Sepp has managed to leave Virumaa in time and has arrived in Hallein, the capital of the Empire of Carinthia-Harkany. He has offered a series of interviews to Carinthian newspapers which present a bleak image of political violence that has gripped Virumaa since the coming to power of the Party of the Left.

Alvar Sepp has come with a report from Kuressaare which shows that more than a billion Virunian Krone have been put apart for the refurbishment and the reopening of the labour camps in the White Islands which functioned from the late 50s to the mid 80s. Anti-communistic newpapers from Carinthia have taken the story and decided to publish it, with Hallein Daily stating that "Over 10,000 people are put on the list to visit the far north" or "Raud's Red Notebook: the death of Virumaa's democratic elites" being seen as a title on Karcag Today. More moderate newspapers have recognised the existence of political refugees from Virumaa in the advent of the communist takeover, but they have also stated that many of the so-called reports are nothing but exaggerations. Left-wing newspapers have called all this being just right-wing propaganda designed to prop the Trier Concord and present the Marxist-Leninovists as monsters.

The credibility of Alvar Sepp is thrown into question, as he was known from his days in the Virunian politics as being an extremely boastful individual, not modest in the epithets he used and known for his exaggerations. He is also known as leading the far-right faction of the party and he was known for his radical anti-communism.

"I isn't excluded for him to be right and the reports to be genuine, but with the world knowing Alvar Sepp, many will see it as exaggerations and even anti-communist propaganda. I am not saying that there surely are victims of this communist takeover. Maybe even now there are ferries which transport doctors, professors, and even workers known to be ultra-religious or anti-communist to prison camps around Pohjalinn, in the White Islands, but out of everyone, Alvar Sepp is the worst person possible to become their advocate, as their credibility is zero," stated Olav Mark, a Virunian political analyst settled in New Cathay.

BREAKING: Slutsk encircled by Rurikgrad Pact forces
AP Amstov

The south-east Trivodnian city of Slutsk has been encircled by Kadikistani and Xinhese units as Trivodnia's military, the Free State Self-defence Force, withdraws to focus on securing Druzhnia, Proskerev and Tichin, which have been deemed strategically more important.

The FSSDF still has a presence in Slutsk, with local reservists and nearby formations defending the city.

Trivodnia's government is now facing its first major defeat in the war. Military sources say they fear a wholesale surrender or outright massacre, with Kadikistan or Xinhai bombarding the city with air and missile attacks, risking severe civilian casualties.

The Communist powers have so far largely avoiding targeting civilian areas, although aerial and artillery strikes have been reported in Brisk and Kremenetz in the north.

Trivodnia in turn has been accused of attacking Crotobaltislavonian fishing and commercial ports and using refugee camps along the border as cover for its forces.

In a speech earlier today, President Meier Lauterpacht insisted the Burgundian intervention in Crotobaltislavonia and arrival of Eiffellander air support would tilt the balance in the Free State's favour.