Nouvelles de Belmont

[Beautancus]

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This regime feels it prudent to make a point of declaring our solidarity with the most honorable government of the Kingdom of Belmont in that nation's quest to maintain her territorial integrity against the creeping armies of spies and national-mercenaries employed by the bloated and corrupt aristocrats in Nürnburg. It should be very clear that we are willing to commit ourselves to the cause of Belmontien security fully, whatever the cost, or the end result.


Jego Siła, Książę-Palatyn Samuel Łaszcz
Kanclerz Cersarski, Cesarstwo Wielkosarmatska

 

[Frescania]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We stand side by side with the Government of Belmont on this issue, but we hope a peaceful solution is reached.

 

[Serenierre]

Bureau Étranger

The words of support from our allies in the Empire of Greater Sarmatia and the Republic of Frescania are greatly appreciated and we know that we can count on our friends and allies in Stary Hrodino and Fortaleza Real. Let it also be clear to them that they can count on the Kingdom.

 

[Serenierre]

GOVERNMENT ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR SAYAN JAA

Though already under detainment, the Sinhese warlord Sayan Jaa has been served with an arrest warrant from the Ministry of Justice. The warrant signifies that the the Sinhese warlord will be tried for war crimes in Paris by a specially appointed committee. The Government has already announced that the future trial will not be secret and camera crews will be allowed but no sound may be transmitted outside the courtroom, as is practice in such cases. The High Court of Paris has allowed for journalists to sit and observe the trial.

BELMONTIEN BORDER FORCES WILL REMAIN THE SAME, DESPITE THREATS OF INCREASE FROM LORRAINE

The Frontier Corps has announced that the Belmontien border forces will not be increased or decreased to preserve the peace in the region. This comes after the Government of Lorraine threatened to "review" their own border security, which is a badly hidden way of saying that they will increase their border forces. The border forces have although been informed to increase vigilance and to be extra careful and follow procedure to the absolute. Border guards have been told to remain in checkpoints and maintain their distance from the actual border while patrolling. But the FC spokesperson has said that "if the military presence on our eastern borders rises to an alarming level, we will not think twice before raising our own levels."

AS PAPAL STATES FOOD CRISIS APPROACHES, CHURCH OF BELMONT PLEADS WITH GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST

The Papal States are seeing a food crisis which is bringing the state machinery to a stop. With many other catholic realms already pledging food aid, Belmont, a major catholic state, remains silent and has not committed anything at the moment. This comes just as the Embassy of the Papal States was downgraded and a certain bias has been seen in Dominci towards Belmont, in Paris' perception. Though claims that Paris will politicize food aid have been shot down by the Government and opposition alike, the Government has announced that it is at present "focusing on investigating the situation and will assist the PS after preliminary investigations have determined exactly how much is the need"

FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCES PROPOSED TALKS PLANNED WITH SINHAI SOMETIME IN JANUARY 2011

The Secretary of the Foreign Office, Thomas Vavasseur, has announced that Foreign Minister Renaudière has planned to meet with his counterpart in Sri Rama in January 2011 to discuss "matters of bilateral concern such as; defense, economic cooperation and rehabilitation aid programs" Mr. Vavasseur has also said that the Government of Belmont was committed to securing peace in Sinhai and wanted stability in the country as soon as possible. Mr. Vavasseur also said that Sinhai is a friend of Belmont and that Paris is full of hope that Sri Rama has the situation under control. This comes just as the Chambre des Communes has started debate on a government plan to grant Sinhai ƒ500 million worth of military aid mostly in form of attack helicopters and to allow a deployment of 25 military trainers to the country for anti-insurgency training.

VANGALAN AMBASSADOR SUMMONED TO FOREIGN OFFICE

The Ambassador of Vangala was summoned to the Foreign Office as tensions rose between the two countries in wake of Paris' renewed commitment to Sinhai, a regional rival, and was seen arriving looking unhappy with the current situation. He left an hour later and was seen smiling. This comes as Belmont has increased its stake in the Vangalan agriculture sector, with Thassise Agricole Groupe starting operations in the country from January 2011. Sources have reported that Belmont's official stance remains of friendship with Vangala and to seek increased economic interaction with the agricultural superpower.
​

 

[Breotonia]

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Foreign Office​

His Majesty's Government sends its best wishes to the Kingdom of Belmont and congratulates the Belmontien leadership in its decision to proactively move to prevent this situation from escalating. We are of the opinion that the root cause of difficulties is overreaction by certain parties to what we perceive as nothing more besides basic border defense maintenance. We reiterate our support and approval of Belmont's decision to unilaterally ease tensions.

 

[Lorraine]

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

As we have made it quite clear before, there has been no increase of border patrols along Lorraine's border with Belmont, and none had been planned, but the cause of this government to reaccess its border policy is the government of Belmont creating a situation that did not exist. It is the government of Belmont that, through its media organs that announced something that had not occured, prior to any official comminications between our governments, in fact, it was the news story that was the first we were made aware of any irregularities.

With the history of the government in Paris of releasing classified documents to the press, of issuing ultimatums and now supplying information, false information at that, to the media prior to the any contact though proper diplomatic channels with Metz, His Majesty's government has no choice but to reaccess many of its polices concerning Belmont as the motives behind the provacative actions of Paris has yet to be made clear.

Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy
Secrétaire d'Etat aux Affaires Etrangères

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

It is not the first time that a badly formulated news bulletin coming from Belmont starts a diplomatic riot. Like our colleagues from Montelimar stated, the government of Belmont is responsible for what it tells to the press. Given the large amount of misunderstandings evolving from news bulletins based on sources from the Belmontien government, an evaluation of its communication with the press is urgently needed. An evaluation of its communication with its neighbours is also urgently needed.

With that said, our concern is also maintaining the status quo. So both the integrity of the borders of Lorraine and the integrity of the borders of Belmont are our concern.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Khemia]

คำแถลงการณ์ร่วม
Joint Communiqué
สถานทูตษีนให้จีนในบเอลภูเขา
Sinese Embassy in Belmont​

With permission from the Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Sinhai,
This document is authorized to be disseminated to the Belmontien Foreign Office.​

I would like to thank Mr. Vavasseur on behalf of the nation of Sinhai for their patience and understanding in the issues involving the conflicts in our nation. It has been a difficult time for the Sinese government and the Sinese people as a whole, but we continue to push forward and to progress to the ultimate future of a truly united Sinhai. We are happy to know that the Belmontien nation has taken a genuine and vested interest in the future of Sinhai, and it is my sincere hope that our two countries can continue this history of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both of our states.

In regards to the recent aberration developing in Occidental politics that has seen ever increasing tension between EDF states and the honourable Kingdom of Belmont, know that the nation of Sinhai fully acknowledges and respects the Kingdom's right to freedom of press and the defense of national sovereignty; it is not the place for other states to interfere and impose their laws and perspectives outside of their sovereignty. This has, and will continue to remain, the stance of the Sinese nation; and we are glad to note that Belmont has a strong history of reciprocating this feeling in regards to Sinhai.

ด้วยใจ
Chanthara Kamopatai
Ambassador to Belmont

 

[Serenierre]

HEADLINES ACROSS BELMONT

Le Journale Politique Étrangère
GALLIAN DIPLOMATIC CRISIS WORSENS
EDF Bloc increasingly hostile, Paris stands firm on commitment to maintain status quo as long as possible

The Foreign Ministries of Lorraine, Montelimar, Eiffelland, and to an extent Franken, have begun to issue statements that are being considered increasingly hostile, not just in Paris or allied capitals but even in the capital of states like Vistrasia, with whom Belmont has had a polite but distant relationship for decades. Many of the statements issued have criticized the Belmontien media for being irresponsible, a claim which the Journalists Association of Belmont has fiercely contested. The current round of tensions has its roots in Belmontien media reporting that along a 25km section of the Belmont-Lorraine border, there was uneven distribution, which was upsetting the balance of border forces on the Belmontien side. That report, brought a hail of criticism from Lorraine, which has been internationally acknowledged to have overreacted on the matter.

While the issue between Belmont and Lorraine was heating up, Montelimar, another Gallian nation and a founding member of the EDF, joined the row and set precedent for the other EDF states to meddle in what is merely a bilateral matter, which conservatives are saying is a hint at Nürnberg's influence to direct member states' foreign policies. The Government of Lorraine has made matters worse by issuing a thinly veiled announcement where it has been said to imply that they are increasing border forces along their border with Belmont; to which the Government of Belmont has responded by showing restraint and announcing that they will maintain the pre-dispute level for "as long as its viable for national security." A move that has been commended from our allies across the world; from Breotonia to Sinhai.

Premier Martinique, who recently returned from a tour of Centrjziema, has said that the Government of Belmont has reacted and handled the overreactions from Metz with calm and restraint and that "the world can see just exactly who is behaving like a rabid dog". HRH The Prince Regent has issued a declaration that he is standing in solidarity with the Government's stance on the matter.

In Parliament, the Opposition Nationalistes have asked the Government to further increase vigilance along the eastern border since, they argued, irrationality was reigning supreme in Metz and Valmy and that Paris should not be left vulnerable on the east. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Jacques Rebinaud, has also been in consultation meetings with Premier Martinique and the Minister of Border Security. His office has released a statement in which he said, "While I stand by Premier Martinique's stand on the matter, I and my party continue to urge her and the Government to increase our vigilance on the borders with the two states in question. At this moment they remain unpredictable."

Chronique Augustine
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH VANGALA ON THE TABLE
Minister of Finance Yamaguchi expected to be in Kilkila for a week to finalize details of trade agreement

Vangala, called and recognized as the agricultural superpower by the international community, has seen its ties with Belmont improve over the course of this year, with Premier Martinique actively engaging in a policy of detente with the Eastern nation. Once vilified due to its communist government, the new Government has dropped the thirty year long anti-communist policy to build trade relations with the country. One of the largest exporters of cotton, jute, tea and rice, and a possible location for Belmontien companies to outsource factories, if the government allows the deal to go through, Finance Minister Ichiro Yamaguchi has seen the importance of maintaining good ties with Vangala.

The agreement, which will include guidelines which will serve Belmontien companies looking to utilize Vangalan government run factories for cheap labor, with Kilkila receiving a share of the revenue from items made in Vangala. The agreement is mainly aimed at increasing Vangalan exports to Belmont and Finance Minister Yamaguchi has been said to be aggressively pursuing the expansion of trade links. Additionally, the Government of Vangala will also be leased hi-tech equipment for the agricultural sector by the Thasisse Agricole Grouppe. It is also expected that Paris will grant Kilkilla a ƒ550 million infrastructural aid package, though at present the Parliament is debating the package and a definitive answer will be given to Kilkila by November 20. If the Government of Vangala accepts the terms of the agreement, they stand to gain access to one of the world's largest markets.

L'Internationale
CHAMBRE DES NOBLESSE COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL AID DECLINES TO PAPAL STATE AID PLAN
Chairman of committee calls food crisis preventable and says no Belmontien aid at present

The Chambre des Noblesse's, the upper house of the Parliament, Committee for International Aid has voted down a Government request to send food aid to the Papal States, citing that the current crisis was preventable and that mismanagement on part of Dominici and its citizens have resulted in the current situation. The committee chair also said that the situation wasn't as bad as the situation in other parts of the world and the committee would reconsider its stance on the country's food crisis after investigations being carried out by the Consulate of Belmont in Dominici deliver their findings to the Chambre. The official stance of the chairman was that if the situation worsens to a level where there is large scale starvation, then the committee will rule in favor of the aid package.

With the Government not committing, the Church of Belmont - the Belmontien wing of the Catholic Church - has started a nationwide drive to collect money to be sent to Dominici which can assist the Bank of the Papal States. The Muslim Community of Belmont, numbering some 13.5 million, has also participated in the Church of Belmont's food and money charity drives. The Archbishop of Paris is traveling across Belmont to raise support for the drive and his office has said that they expect to raise Fr.75 million by the start of December.

Journal des Débats Politiques
SAYAN JAA TRANSFERRED TO FORTRESS LÉNOISETTE
Ministry of Justice announces Sinhese warlord will be tried for war crimes in Sinhai

The Ministry of Justice today announced that Her Majesty's Government had asked the Privy Council's Bench for Justice - the country's highest court of law - to start proceedings against Mr. Jaa for his role in the bloody militancy in northern Sinhai which has left 180,000 dead and many hundreds of thousands injured. The Ministry of Justice announced that the Sinhese war lord had been transported from airport detainment centers to the Fortress Lénoisette, just out of Paris, thus beginning his official incarceration in Belmont. The Ministry of Justice has announced that legal representatives have been assigned to Mr. Jaa and that the official charges against him are:

Inciting racial and ethnic hatred. Genocide. Willfully encouraging the torture and decapitation of Prisoners of War (POWs). Carrying out warfare in full breach of the Ascheburg Convention*.

The government has taken a strong stance against militancy in the past, denouncing the communist militants in northern Ratomkira, who have set up their own state in their territory, and the ongoing direct operations against militants in Abruzicstan. Legal analysts have said that it would be fully in the powers of the Privy Council to sentence Mr. Jaa to death if the prosecution is able to pile up the evidence against him on the serious charges of genocide and carrying out warfare in breach of the Ascheburg Convention. But it is expected that, even the lightest sentence, will only be life in prison.
​

* - Our version of the Geneva Conventions?

 

[Serenierre]

FOREIGN MINISTER RENAUDIERE WRITES TO COUNTERPARTS IN METZ AND VALMY
Urges for the creation of a direct communication link between highest levels of government

The Foreign Minister of Belmont, Alexandre Renaudiere, held a press conference in Paris this morning where he said that he has written a letter to his counterparts in Metz and Valmy and said that he considered the ongoing status of ties as a result of miscommunication on several fronts and he said that it was imperative that both Belmont and the other two Francophone countries respect each other's desired course in international politics all the while maintaining cordial ties. He also said that diplomatic tensions weren't good for the respective national economies and gave a bad impression of the region.

Foreign Minister Renaudiere has long been considered a great negotiator and his skills are being used excellently during his term as Foreign Minister. He also, in the press conference, said that in the interests of peace and stability that talks be held at a neutral venue, he suggested Radilo but since the conference news has come that the other parties are not interested since they deemed the matter to be a petty border dispute. But later on, when contacted, Mr. Renaudiere has said that the matter is hardly petty and that one with farsightedness will deduce that in the future these random rows can and will lead to greater problems. He said that the problem must be nipped in the bud and a common understanding must be reached in regards to intra Francophone ties.

At the time of publishing, confirms the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, neither Montelimar nor Lorraine have replied to the letter sent by Minister Renaudiere.

 

[Serenierre]

Télévision Augustine :: News in short

Foreign Minister holds meeting with Journalist Association of Belmont

The Foreign Minister, Alexandre Renaudiere, held a meeting with representatives of the Journalist Association of Belmont (JAB) and has received guarantees from them that they will show moderation in reporting intra-Gallian matters, in the interests of preserving regional stability. Some opposition MCs have claimed that the move is curtailing the journalistic community but Minister Renaudiere has shot back saying that the move has been agreed to by the JAB representatives themselves.

He also said that the Government of Belmont had not asked the Belmontien media to not report anything but to simply "abstain from reporting in a manner which may upset the regional balance of power." The High Court of Belmont has deemed that the move hasn't breached the freedom of expression and has to be interpreted as a strong advisory from the Government.

Vangalan Government demands Government of Belmont stop opposition protests

Much to the ire of Kilkila, the southern city of Orleans has been seeing increased protest against the Communist Party of Vangala. These demonstrations have been led by the Vangalan Muslim League, an opposition party banned in Vangala and relocated to Orleans. The Government in Paris has had to deflect criticism coming from Kilkila over the continued demonstrations by saying that the group has not broken any Belmontien laws.

There are rumors that Paris has granted the Vangalan embassy increased security to ensure that no protest occurs outside the embassy of the People's Republic and analysts say that it is a way Paris is balancing the situation to lessen the amount of offense Kilkila takes from the ongoing demonstrations in Orleans outside the City Hall.

MoD confirms military looking to purchase hi-tech technology from Sarmatia

The Ministry of Defense has announced that a delegation is headed off to Stary Hrodino to meet with Sarmatian officials to discuss the details of the Belmontien military procuring a number of hi-tech technological equipment licenses from Sarmatia to produce them locally. This comes as the military relationship between the two countries is improving. The MoD was also quick to point out that the equipment is of a purely non-offensive nature and would serve to improve the defensive capability of the armed forces.

Chambre des Noblesse Committee for Narcotics Control calls for tighter controls on Orleans Port

The special Parliamentary committee charged with debating on narcotics control has announced that they see the security in the Port of Orleans to be inadequate and have said that the port is the key entry point for drugs from the East into Belmont. The Committee chairman also said that the Government of Belmont and the Government of Visidame as well as the Provincial Government of Orleanais needed to cooperate to tackle the problem. The committee called for immediate attention to be paid on the matter.
​

 

[Serenierre]

Headlines

Teachers Union announces intention of going on strike if pays not raised by 5.2%
Chief Minister of Tréguier called to Paris to meet with HRH The Prince Regent
University of Paris announces its welcoming first batch of twenty exchange students from Sarmatia
Alcohol exports rise, brings in Fr. 13 billion to companies

 

[Serenierre]

Le Journal de l'Défense
Novembré 13ème, 2010 • VOL XXIV • Published by Cizzolois
Belmont's premier defense and intelligence information magazine

Strategic Forces announce an increase in nuclear stockpile

PARIS: Maj. Gen. Chaubert, Chief of Staff of the Strategic Forces, has announced that over the next six months, the Strategic Forces would be increasing the nuclear stockpile by 25.5% and would be inducting the new ICBM Coeur de Lion, two additional TBMs; the short range Faucon and the medium range Aigle, all which were tested recently in Northern Belmont, a test which was witnessed by HRH The Prince Regent. Maj. General Chaubert said that the nuclear doctrine of "no first use" was "as applicable now as when enacted first" and that no one need be "worried or threatened unless they had ill intentions" The statement his office released also said that the Strategic Forces were in the process of improving existing launch systems, to launch automatically if Belmont were attacked with nuclear weaponry.

With the horrors of war fresh in their minds and the constraints of alliances intolerable, the official policy of successive governments between the period just after the Great War and all the way up to 1986, became to interact with the power blocs solely for economic gain and to rely on the domestic arms industry to meet all the needs of the country. Already established and with a long tradition of serving the defense establishments needs, the arms industry moved in and by the late 1960s had managed to become large enough to meet all domestic needs.

The Belmontien nuclear program, long kept a secret, was initiated in 1963 and the Kingdom was in possession of its first warhead by 1972. Throughout the 1970s, the stockpile was slowly increased and by the time the Government of Premier Vizellete was elected, Belmont possessed 50 warheads. Throughout the 1980s, the Vizellete government appropriated greater funds for the program and by the time Premier Vizellete stepped down in 1991, the Strategic Forces had ~ 150 warheads. The Strategic Forces have, since then, been constituted to maintain the nation's most prized defensive arsenal.

The announcement made by Maj. Gen. Chaubert is expected to annoy some in the other capitals of the region, especially those with whom Paris has been at odds over some time, the official government policy, according to our sources, remains to ask the international community to view the matter as an internal one and one for national defense. When contacted, the Ambassador of Belmont in Lorraine said that the Embassy was prepared to meet with the Lorrainese Government to allay any fears they might have as a result of the announcement and that the Ambassador believed that the move was in line with the principles of national defense.

According to sources, the nation currently has 225 nuclear warheads and the increase planned will push the number just over 280.

​

Attack Helicopter, UAV fleet sees boost, Airforce on spending spree

The Royal Air-Force of Belmont (BRAF) has decided to increase its fleet of attack helicopters and has fastened the pace of acquirement of several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the first of which would be inducted by the start of the next year. The BRAF has also announced that it would soon be looking to arms suppliers across the world to induct a new fighter into its ranks. The BRAF's recent spending spree has also included several foreign purchases, including a hi-tech radar system that has been purchased from Sarmatia and with MNJ Electronics receiving the license to produce variants locally.

The spending spree has been made possible due to a bump up in the airforce's annual budget and government support to improve the service's equipment and craft. Air Chief Marshal Nedierre has also taken an aggressive position on rehauling the service and stripping away some of the out of date elements from the force, including the KMH-12 fighter, which was phased out earlier this year.
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Government announces it won't take terrorism and militancy lightly
​

The Government has announced that it shall harden its policies on terrorism, militancy and shall work harder to defend human rights in the world. The Foreign Secretary, Thomas Vavasseur, who is the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said that Belmont has seen the horrors of insurgency and militancy in countries across the world, especially Abruzicstan, Sinhai, Ratomkira, Barazi and Freiheit, noting that the latter two had been "saved and their peoples delivered". The Foreign Secretary also said that to ensure security in the world, the world's bigger powers needed to play an active role in ensuring that human rights were maintained.
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Other articles

• MoD's August 2010 Recruitment drive brought in additional 45,000 personnel, amid increased support for army in youth.
  
• ABRUZICSTAN: Situation gets worse as militant factions' fighting spreads to small towns into the North of the country.
• National oil stockpile will be increased, just in case of any irregularities in supply: Parliamentary Comtte. for Energy.
• Army to test new assault rifle in action in Abruzicstan deployments.
  

 

[Calidia]

Royal Office of External Affairs
Council for Democracy and Justice

Yes, Belmont has condemned the communist rebel state in the Northern regions of our once great nation. That is however all they have done. These new economic agreements with the Vangalan regime, which openly supports the separatists, once again show the backwards nature of the so called freedom-loving Kingdom. The hypocrisy of the Martinique administration knows no bounds. It is without a doubt that KKP rebels are terrorizing Ratomkira with weapons indirectly financed by Belmont as some of the profits from the new and old trade agreements between the two nations must have been used by Vangala to sponsor the demise of our country.

 

[Serenierre]

Foreign Office
Confidential

These allegations are indeed most serious and HM's Government shall investigate the matter thoroughly. In the meantime, we urge the Government of Ratomkira to meet with representatives from the Kingdom to discuss in what concrete manner may Belmont assist the Government of the one true Ratomkira.

 

[Polesia]

পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রক
Ministry of External Affairs

The People's Republic of Vangala is one of the greatest enemies of terrorism and the baseless accusations from the dangerous Siem Khun dictatorship are deeply offensive to families and memories of Vangalans who have died in terrorist atrocities. We demand an immediate apology and that Belmont dismiss these poisonous lies.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We are glad about the openness of the Government of Belmont about its nuclear arsenal.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Montelimar]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Kingdom of Montelimar also appreciates the openness of the government of Belmont concerning its nuclear arsenal, but questions the need for the increase in the size of its stockpile.

 

[Serenierre]

Foreign Office

The Government of Belmont seeks to keep the situation calm across the region and thus is transparent about its nuclear program and stockpile. While justified in voicing their concerns, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montelimar must realize that the Kingdom of Belmont relies on itself for its defense and does not have the benefit of operating under the defense umbrella of an alliance and thus special measures must be taken to ensure that the Kingdom is well defended at all times.

Furthermore, to allay any fears or concerns, we would like to state; The Kingdom of Belmont does not maintain a policy of first strike, in nuclear matters or in conventional ones, but we maintain every capability to be able to push back any invader.

 

[Lorraine]

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Policy or not, the development and planned deployment of nuclear capable short and medium range ballistic missiles is a cause for a great deal of concern as only Belmont's neighbors fall within the range of such weapons.

Charles Colbert, Marquis de Croissy
Secrétaire d'Etat aux Affaires Etrangères