News, Tids and Bits from Remuria

[Pelasgia]

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Α/Σ 2023-11-03/001 | Χαρακτηρισμός:
Δημόσιον: ■ │ Ἐμπιστευτικόν: ■ │ Ἀπόρρητον: □

Public Statement:

The Tiburan Empire's continued use of its official name is not a signal of our designs upon any sovereign territory of any other nation. It is merely a natural result of our State's continuity as the lawful Tiburan State, which, despite the loss of significant territories, including Tibur itself, through the centuries, never ceased to legally exist.

Tiburia respects the territorial integrity of all states in accordance with international law and has no active designs on the lawful territory of other states. After all, Tibur ceased being the capital of the Empire long before the Empire lost control of Tibur.

Signed,

Theophrastos Phokas
Secretary of the Exterior
Senator ex officio​

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH READY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LEAVING RIO DE ORO FOR EBRIA

The Commonwealth is ready to provide layover and transit facilities for those seeking to depart Rio de Oro for Ebria, with Remurian military and civilian facilities being among the closest Meridian Union assets to the troubled region, which includes airports, military airfields and seaports.

However, the Commonwealth has at this stage advised that it would not be sending out any naval elements to facilitate the evacuation. The number of officially registered Remurian and Retalian expats in the territory is considered manageable by the Commonwealth Government and they have been recommended to evacuate via available commerial means, including regular air and naval routes, as well as through the facilitation of assistance and security companies booking chartered flights and ships out of the territory.

Should such not be sufficient, the Commonwealth will consider a mission by the Commonwealth Navy to facilitate an evacuation of those wishing to depart.

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH HAS NO COG IN FRESCANIA FIGHT

The Commonwealth shall maintain neutrality and uninvolvement in the escalation between Tianlong and Angliarique ovet the latter's chaotic antics around Frescania. The Commonwealth has never been a member of the European Forum and shall most definetely not be joining any time soon.

Analysts still debate whether the Tianese reaction was appropriate, yet many Remurians remember when Angliarique nearly sailed their entire Armada to the Commonwealth over a stray dog found in a port, the stray dog later disproven as the Angliarique's monarch's pet dog, rather an animal that looked very much alike. And many do agree that the Commonwealth would have engaged and sunk the museum armada as well, had Angliarique not admitted to a slight overzeal on their part and stood down. In the Commonwealth's case, everything was resolved amicably.

Most Remurians are somewhat unimpressed with the Tianese action, though, and many indicate that the whole political and diplomatic drama around the whole Frescanian affair was far more entertaining than images of ships of the line on fire off the shoulder of Frescania.

Surely enough, some other politically diplomatic drama will arise sooner than later.

 

[Remuria]

REMURIAN CHURCH TO HOLD PRAYERS FOR TARUSA UPON THE CORONATION OF EMPEROR CONSTANTINE

The Metropolitan Alessandro of Aurelia, Hierarch of the Remuro-Retalian Church, has confirmed that prayers and vigils shall be served across the Commonwealth to celebrate the advent of Emperor Constantine to the Tarusan throne and, as the Remurian Church hopes, peace and calm across Tarusa. The Remuro-Retalian Church is the Commonwealth's autocephalous orthodox denomination, which is followed by a majority of the Commonwealth's population and considers itself in ecclesiastical communion with the churches in Pelasgia and Tarusa.

Unlike these churches, however, the Commonwealth does not have its own Patriarch, as the Remuro-Retalian Church considers itself within the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchal See of Tibur, which is "temporarily in Schism" until the "Patriarch of Tibur", whom the rest of the world knows as the Tiburan Catholic Pope, renounces "the error of his ways and returns to the light of the True Church". Still hasn't happened after more than 500 years of waiting, but no rush, can wait, we got time, until then the temporary administration is doing just fine.

The Commonwealth Government has advised that ecclesiastical matters are fully within the remit of the Church, regardless of how impressed or unimpressed official Augusta might be at any given point in time.

 

[Remuria]

FRESCANIA RISKS BECOMING A FREE FOR ALL IN A BATTLE ROYALE IF THINGS GO AS THEY ARE

The Commonwealth has expressed an official concern around Frescania risking becoming a free for all as all actors from every corner of the world are acting in an uncoordinated manner.

The crisis, sparked by the kindergarten antics of Angliarique, led to the Tianese burning the whole kindergarten boat sortie down to the sea floor and Tarusa sending in boots on the ground on the island. Any respect for the neutrality of Frescania seems to be gone. The Commonwealth puts the lion's share of the blame upon Angliarique for upsetting a status quo that had endured through decades by unilaterally sending in much more than what any sensible person can claim as a diplomatic escort. The drop that spilled the vase came from the Tianese throwing a rock down from the top splashing water everywhere. And Tarusa seems to have just thrown the vase off a cliff like a cat.

All these metaphorical niceties aside, the Commonwealth has encouraged those active members of the European Forum that still stand to take matters in their hands, carry out immediate cleanup and recovery operations, and reimpose the respect for neutrality that is being spread thinly through the air at this moment.

Moreover, given the chaotic vagaries of foreign politics that go way beyond the usual acceptable median of craziness, the Commonwealth is seriously considering options to expand her military ties from complete isolation to bilateral or Meridian Union-led initiatives.

The Ebrian Crown is expected to be approached with initial ideas and outlines between the two current neutrally aligned states of the Meridian Union.

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH AUTHORISES EMERGENCY AID DISBURSEMENT TO RIO DE ORO

The Commonwealth Council has approved an emergency aid package to Rio de Oro, in the aftermath of impressiveurban battles in the territory's capital city.

The aid will consist of medical equipment, supplies and foodstocks, as well as relief funds to launch emergency infrastructure reconstruction.

@Ebria

 

[Remuria]

MRCC Monteceretto activated following hostilities in the Norterranean Sea

An urgent statement said that assets within the operational remit of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Monteceretto have been activated to respond to the outburst of hostilities in the Norterranean Sea between the Tianese Navy and what are rumored to be Angliarique flagged cargo ships refitted for military purposes.

The Remurian side is ascertaining the safety of the area and have contacted the Rhenian and Tianese assets in the area to coordinate any response.

Further details to be released as the situation evolves.

@Tianlong @Rheinbund

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH TO REPLICATE SANCTIONS ON ANGLIARIQUE, HINTS AT MERIDIAN UNION COHESION

Remuria shall introduce sanctions on Angliarique for the weaponisation of civilian ships, similar to the ones introduced by Rheinbund and Ebria.

The Commonwealth has further hinted that it'd be great to maybe align within the Meridian Union, as that's sort of in place, before going ahead with unilateral economic moves. But as now a majority of memberstates seem to have introduced punitive measures against Angliarique, that alignment kind of happened by default.

 

[Remuria]

REMURIA WELCOMES THE NASCENT ECONOMIC COMMUNITY BETWEEN PELASGIA AND ARCADIA

The Commonwealth commends her direct neighbours on striving to settle old grievances and work together towards a prosperous and peaceful future. The advent of a community to the likes of the Meridian Union right on the Meridian Union's border is bound to increase trade, international cooperation and cultural exchanges, reduce the risk of escalations and create tangible mechanisms of intergovernmental interaction.

Some private Remuro-Retalian commentators have said that it'd be great to have some form of codified cooperation between the Meridian Union and the new Pelasgo-Arcadian community.

"That'd be a union with a union," one foreign affairs commentator said. "That'd be Unionception. Pretty cool, right?"

Officially, the Commonwealth has not expressed any ideas about a united union of unions.

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL ANNOUNCES CONDITIONAL EXTENSION OF DEFENSIVE OBLIGATIONS TO THE MERIDIAN UNION

The Commonwealth has confirmed the adhesion to the Meridian Security agreement, with a formulated condition that such adhesion shall hold fast for those Union members not bound by military alliances outside of the Meridian Union. The executive decision by the Commonwealth Council is to be confirmed by the Assembly Broad and Wide. The Assembly's vote is expected following deliberations in the Rheinbund on their own announced neutrality, as that might potentially remove the Rheinbund from the Meridian security arrangement.

The Commonwealth's policy of military uninvolvement (often taken as a position of neutrality, even if there are shades of nuanced differences) in overseas conflicts has come into a logical conflict with its membership in the Meridian Union. Whilst the Union is clearly positioned as a political and economic structure, not a military one, it does not take a quantum physicist to understand that a foreign power attacking one union member would cause economic effect in other union members. And not the good kind of effect.

Previously, the Commonwealth was in discussions with the United Kingdom of Ebria, Nuoria and Hamrun on closer military integration. Similar discussions with Radilo and the Rheinbund were not possible because of their military obligations outside of the Meridian Union. Now that such outside obligations have been voided, and the lower risk of Meridian Union members being dragged into far away conflicts, the Commonwealth is keen to lean on a defensive screen previously unseen.

The Commonwealth Council has affirmed that Remuro-Retalia has no interest in far away conflicts and shall seek to remain uninvolved from the ongoing tensions around the planet. And that the Commonwealth's interests lie solely within the prosperity and wellbeing of the Meridian Union.

 

[Remuria]

REMURO-RETALIAN CHURCH TO HOLD VIGILS FOR THE LATE PELASGIAN EMPEROR

The vigils in honour of the late Theodore IV Komnenopoulos, Emperor of Pelasgia (referred to within Pelasgia as the Tiburan Emperor), shall be held at cathedrals across the Commonwealth. The vigils follow not as a result of the Ecumenical Patriarch's directive to the Pelasgian Orthodox Church (somehow not called Tiburan in Pelasgia, go figure), as the Remuro-Retalian Church is fully independent and autocephalous, but as a recognition of the Emperor as an Orthodox monarch and leader of a nation that is brothers in faith with the Remurian and Retalian Nations.

The Commonwealth Council has also expressed the Commonwealth's secular this time condolences to the Pelasgian People, and expressed the Commonwealth's hope of a prosperous and peaceful future for Pelasgia once the new Emperor is enthroned, with Remuro-Retalia looking forward to continued good neighbourly and partnerlike relations with the Empire.

@Pelasgia

 

[Remuria]

EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE NOTICE

Following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in northern Ebria, aftershocks possible within the Norterranean Sea.

Resulting wave height not expected to threaten coastal communities in Remuria-Retalia.

Civil Protection in the northern coastal communities of Latium and Remuria Proconsularis put on high alert. All residents tune in to Civil Protection updates and act as instructed.

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH DOES NOT CONSIDER MILITARISING CIVILIAN CARGO SHIPS

The Commonwealth Admiralty has refuted any considerations about arming civilian cargo ships with missile launch systems. A spokesperson for the Admiralty has advised that no such recommendations would be given to the Commonwealth Council.

From a purely military point of view, such militarised ships are a first strike tool clearly destined to conduct a surprise attack against an unsuspecting enemy far from own national shores or coastal assets (such as ground or air based missiles). A first strike concept is not in line with Remuria's policy of military defence and uninvolvement in far away armed conflicts.

A sneaky first strike tool becomes useless if you are not one to carry out sneaky first strikes, as some would say.

Politically, the Commonwealth has condemned Angliarique's militarisation of cargo vessels and the Council sees such activities as a clear threat to the concept of unimpeded international maritime trade, that should be conducted in good faith between all participants. A sneaky first strike militarised civilian vessel is clearly contrary to the principle of good faith commerce. Remuria's relationship with Angliarique has become nonexistent, already soured as it was by the de facto modern day slavery of Spascirians in Angliarique.

Therefore, such a militarisation of civilian vessels is not something that the Commonwealth can realistically politically consider.

As of the concerns around how to defend against such assets, the answer remains more or less the same as with a military asset: if you sink a boat, it stops being a threat. Analysts point out that given the Commonwealth's position as an archipelago straddling an international waterway, it is entirely possible for an aggressive actor to sail even an overtly and conventional military first strike asset closer to some of Remuria's regions under pretense of peaceful passage and attempt a first strike.

And Remuria's defensive capabilities and doctrines are built around both dissuading aggressive actors from doing such, but also making sure that the first strike assets are sent to the bottom of the Terranean Seas. Be they conventional military, or militarised civilian ships.

 

[Remuria]

ASSEMBLY BROAD AND WIDE CONFIRMS COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL'S MERIDIAN DEFENCE MANDATE
CAVEAT FOR DISTANT TERRITORIES OF EBRIA AND RADILO

The Assembly Broad and Wide, in what is seen by many as a major step away from the Commonwealth's self-imposed isolationism, and a major step forward towards Meridian integration, has confirmed the previous executive decision by the Commonwealth Council to participate in the Meridian Union's collective defense arrangements. This in turn came after the Rheinbund and Radilo became free of their CETO obligations that tied them to militarily to a country far outside of the Meridian Union.

The new legislation provides the Commonwealth Council with full authority to employ Commonwealth personnel and materiel to help and defend the Meridian Union allies (for Radilo inclusive of Aresura and Valetta), with a caveat made for distant areas of Radilo and Ebria. For the Oriente, New Palestine and West Fenecia as well as Rio de Oro, the Commonwealth Council may provide funds, materiel and supplies to allies, may position Commonwealth armed assets within the Meridian territories of allies for defensive purposes, but may not employ Commonwealth personnel in combat operations in these distant areas. Through this caveat the Assembly Broad and Wide follows on through the long history of the Commonwealth's reluctance to get involved in matters far away from own shores. On the other hand, the availability of Commonwealth reserves in the Meridian Union "core territories" can free up allied assets to engage in expeditionary combat operations in "far away lands", which is in itself a strategic asset.

 

[Remuria]

REMURIA AND PELASGIA TO WORK TOGETHER ON CONNECTING INOVA TO NAUPLIA
SECOND PROJECT WILL CREATE A CONNECTION TO ASPRIA

The authorities in Pelasgia and Remuria have announced the creation of a joint consortium to build a road and rail connection between Inova and Nauplia, going through the Remurian island of Navarone. This project will be based off earlier Remurian feasibility studies into connecting the Carian Archipelago to the Remurian mainland, which has been for years a priority for the regional authorities in Aspria, seeking to strengthen economic exchanges between the islands and the demographic and industrial hubs in Remuria and Latio.

The decision to extend the connection into Pelasgia comes as logical to many economists, who indicated that it'd been less efficient to build the internal connection only. Indeed, if then in the future a decision to build an international link is taken, it'd mean more work and expense realigning the sections. Unlike now, when the entire project will take into account the combined requirements, construction parameters and environmental impacts.

The project is for now called the Inova-Nauplia Transit Corridor in the press releases of the two national authorities, with a further statement that the public shall be consulted on the final appelation for the upcoming infrastructural feat.

The technical specifications will require continued shipping into the Gulf of Tibur, respect of environmental protection laws of Remuria and Pelasgia, minimizing the impact on communities in the proximity of the future road and rail connection.

The bulk of the INTC shall lie within Remurian territory or territorial waters, with the section between the island of Navarone and the Pelasgian Theme of Caria becoming a new international connection for private and freight road and rail traffic.

An additional project shall see the island of Navarone connected to the island of Nidra and the city of Aspria. This would de-insularise the Carian Archipelago from both mainland Remuria, with which the bulk of economic activity happens, and also from Pelasgian Caria, with which it shares cultural and ethnic similarities.

The INTC has already come under fire, even before its official announcement, by the European Conservationist Alliance, which are believed to be a leftist-leaning umbrella. The ECA has already outlined potential negative impacts the INTC might have on the region.

A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Council has advised that it is normal for conservationist organisations to express concern about infrastructural projects. The ECA-affiliated groups represent only a fraction of the Remurian environmental movement. Other NGOs have advised that they will be studying the project closely and following up on the details, and have commented that any such project must comply with Remurian-Retalian environmental protection laws.

 

[Remuria]

COMMONWEALTH WELCOMES MOVES BY THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE TO STREAMLINE ITSELF
WISHES THE PEOPLE OF THE LEAGUE SUCCESS

The Remurian-Retalian Commonwealth understands full well how difficult it is to get all internal players to align on a common agenda and supports efforts that would help bring peace, stability and continued prosperity to the member states of the Hanseatic League. "It took us centuries to achieve what they are going through, so we wish them patience and success," the Foreign Affairs Ministry commented in a press release.

The Commonwealth further welcomes deeper integration between the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Friesken-Polaben and the surrounding Heanseatic memberstates. "Yet again, the Commonwealth's own history shows that it is possible to creatively align republican aspirations against historic monarchic roots without major disruption to the peace and prosperity of the people," the Foreign Ministry also stated. "Ideals of Common Good, or Common Wealth, should not be held prisoner to zero-sum games, the light of innovation and open thinking can lead the way through any complicated process."

 

[Remuria]

ADVANCED NEGOTIATIONS FOR VISA FREE TRAVEL WITH MULTIPLE COUNTRIES

The Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministry has advised that it is currently leading negotiations with several countries on establishing or improving the travel visa free regime. Countries where the Commonwealth is negotiating mutual easing or lifting of tourism and business visas are the Federation of Westernesse, the Republic of Tianlong, the Occidental Republic of Josepania and the United Republic of Natal. The Foreign Ministry has qualified the talks as very positive with all nations involved and with clear agendas to lift visa requirements for mutual tourism and business travel, enabling Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Counterpart State to visit each other's countries free for stays of up to 30 days, with specific allowances during the calendar year.

"The Commonwealth sits at the cross roads of the known world, and we wish for the Commonwealth to be the place to meet, discuss business, enjoy a great meal and take in the beautiful scenery," the Foreign Ministry has advised in a joint comminique with the Ministry of Tourism.

The simplified travel regime will not create any right of abode and work between the countries and travelers are expected to keep in line with the intended purpose of their trip. Border guard agents or equivalents will continue to retain the right to deny entry, carry out further questioning and secondary inspections, all in line with applicable national legislation. Travelers misusing the visa free regime would continue to be subject to deportation just as if they had violated the terms of their visa.

With the Empire of Pelasgia, the Commonwealth is negotiating further facilitation of the current visa free regime between the two countries to prolong the period of single stays. Additional attention is given to the trans-Carian issue of relatives on both sides of the border benefiting from further simplified long stay visas. Again, this would not create rights of abode and work between the two countries, but would lead to more cross-border activities between Archipelagic and Continental Carias.

 

[Remuria]

REMURIA-RETALIA SHALL WAIT FOR EBRIAN FEEDBACK BEFORE MAKING ANY JUDGMENT ON WIEN TALKS

The Commonwealth Council has confirmed that Remuria-Retalia is not rushing ahead with any opinion on the talks in Wien, attended by the Commonwealth's Ebrian partners and fellow Meridian Union member state. The Commonwealth was not party to the European Forum, and is withholding any opinion on any new international organization until hearing more of the specifics and the details.

"At this stage, there is just nothing to discuss," a Council spokesperson has stated. "We'll wait for a full feedback and briefing by our Ebrian friends once the discussions are done and we'll formulate our position after that. With the new authorities in the Tarusan Empire rolling back many of the negative impacts caused by the previous government of theirs, we hope the talks show further positive outcomes."

When queried about whether the Commonwealth was offended by the lack of an invitation, the Commonwealth Council advised that it would be hard to be offended when the Commonwealth itself stayed out of the European Forum and showed little interest in its workings. However, those nations that did participate in the European Forum might find the lack of an invitation offensive, but that was their prerogative and the Commonwealth fully respected that some might look at the Wien talks with suspicion.

On the issue of Frescania, Remuria-Retalia has decided to adopt a "led by Ebria" position, whereby the Commonwealth shall be satisfied with a status for Frescania that satisfies the national security, stability and interests of the United Kingdom of Ebria, Nuoria and Hamrun.

"Critics will say we're leaving the reins to the Ebrians. Maybe, but then it means we're riding shotgun," the same spokesman commented with a pun to questions on whether the Commonwealth was too lax in its foreign politics outreach.

 

[Remuria]

DEBATE AND DISCUSSIONS PART OF ANY INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECT
INTC GREENLIT BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SERVICE

A spokesperson of the Environmental Protection Service has advised that INTC routings and impacts were going through a review with the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with Commonwealth laws and regulations. Similar reviews were going in other Commonwealth and National services to review economic, social and other impacts across the Commonwealth and the Gulf of Tibur.

"It's entirely normal for concerned citizens to voice their concern, it happens with every infrastructural project. The moment a refinery is planned to be built, a railroad, a tunnel, a residential block, an office building, a port, an airport, a power plant. Such concerns help serve as a balancing tool to prevent projects going ahead without proper review and to ensure that the science behind them is accurate," the spokesperson for the EPS stated. "And then projects may be adapted. For rail and road, the planners usually come up with several options and routings and we will propose mitigation measures against the routings to ensure compliance with Commonwealth environmental protection laws and appropriate regulations. Sometimes a bypass may be required in case we estimate that a specific area is too important for conservation efforts. In others we'd impose mitigation or compensatory measures."

"In the case of the INTC, we have greenlit the project around specific compensatory and mitigation measures against preferred routings," the EPS said. "These measures have been discussed with Commonwealth environmental NGOs, the National authorities in Caria and in Remuria-Aurelia. We have forwarded our findings to the Pelasgian authorities to advise their potential concerns for the Theme of Caria. We have also distributed it to our colleagues in the Meridian Union in line with the ongoing integration between the Member States."

Overall, analysts estimate that infrastructural projects are by now a common occurrence in developed economies, as people have sort of moved away from riding horseback through the prairies to more modern forms of transportation, to the consumption of manufactured goods. Additionally, many remind that sea ports have a higher impact on nearby waters and shores than road infrastructure, so a combined development is required to maintain the balance of impacts.

 

[Remuria]

REMURIANS WELCOME NERVE WRECKING WIN IN CHARITY TOURNAMENT FIRST PHASE AGAINST JYSKEN-OSTVEG

The match saw both teams holding until the last moment and moving into penalties, where the Remurians scored the winning shots. The Commonwealth Football Association has welcomed the game, congratulated the Jysken-Ostveg team on a match well played and expressed hope that peace and tranquility returns to the northern country soon.

The Remurians will be moving into the next round and are already preparing for the next match against Pelasgia.