Vistrasian Media - Algemeen Handelsblatt - Threveburger Spektator

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Het Algemeen Handelsblatt (The General Trade-Journal)is the main newspaper publication in the Commonwealh of Vistrasia, published in "midi" format it was founded in 1847 and was the first daily Vistrasian Dutch publication most other publications had previously been printed in French or German. Het Algemeen Handelsblatt has it's capital in the Vistrasian capital of Threveburg.

You must be registered for see images

De Threveburger Spektator is the second newspaper publication in Vistrasia, published in berliner format. Founded in 1821 as a French newspaper publication (Le Spectateur d'Trévebourg) it switched to Dutch in 1877. Typically it's been rather more conservative then het Algemeen Handelsblatt, and also dedicated more pages to Threveburg specifically.

You must be registered for see images

De Diplomatieke Bode (The Diplomatic Post) is a weekly publication on international affairs and Vistrasian foreign policy, although in it's editorials it also touches on the internal Vistrasian political situation. Although originally set up as a small circulation for Vistrasian diplomats both at home and abroad it has since spread and is fairly widely circulated among the Vistrasian political elite as their primary resource for international affairs.

You must be registered for see images

De Voorhoede (The Vanguard) is a weekly newspaper which originated in the post-war depression years and was quite popular among veterans, often taking a conservative-nationalist position, with major policy issues being veteran benefits and reparations. It has since radicalized, focusing more and more on Vistrasian extremist nationalists, often railing against the European Defence Federation. It's also known to oppose the Northern Council, claiming that it's dominated by a covertly communist Batavia.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Saturday 11 September 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

Discussions in Parliament regarding potential membership of regional trade organizations
Threveburg - Although Vistrasia has enjoyed a tradition of neutrality, the establishment of two new trade alliances in the direct neighbourhood of Vistrasia has opened up debates in Parliament about a possible application for membership in one of them. A membership application to the Northern Council has been discussed in cabinet during the past weeks however recent international developments have bolstered claims by critics that a membership of the Northern Council would mean the end of Vistrasian non-alignment. This is due to the recent establishment of the Germanian League which includes prominent LFS member Danmark, which had been denied membership to the Northern Council and the recent flaring up of tempers between several states in the two trade organizations. This criticism caused the matter to spill over into Parliament and around 20:00 the right-wing liberal Vrijheidsbond (Freedom Union) openly announced it's support for an application of membership to the Northern Council.

Despite that both organizations claim to be neutral, and are mostly focused on trade and cultural interaction, an article in the Tysk Wirtschaftblatt possibly set the stage for things to come, describing the Germanian League as an ill-fated failure. Rudolf Meerssen, the Vrijheidsbond expert on Foreign Affairs defended his parties intention to apply for membership to the Northern Council; "Vistrasia stands at a crossroads, we can either choose protectionism at the expense of our economy, or we can choose for international cooperation. We should not forget that the Northern Council does not gives us any sort of military obligation, and means we do not have to associate with the LFS or the EDF."

Meanwhile the second largest party in Parliament the conservative Katholieke Volksbond (Catholic People's Union) has announced they would make a decision during the weekend. Their support would give the proposal to submit an application to the Northern Council the required majority in the Vistrasian Parliament, despite three dissenters in the Freedom Union. Insiders say that the Catholics are split on the matter, while leadership generally supports an application to the Northern Council, much of the general body of the party is in favour of complete neutrality or feels more related to the nations of the Germanic League, although anxious about possible cultural and economic assimilation by the LFS and EDF.

In other news

-The Postalworkers Union threatens to start striking as the national postal service WSP announces plans to slash budget by getting rid of thousands of job. Westrasiaanse Statenpost is currently in it's third year of disappointing results due to increasing competition from the internet and private express and mail delivery services, while discussions of privatization have been deadlocked for over a decade.

-Threvesburg Stock Exchange closes the week poorly, after an optimistic start of the day, negative sentiments prevailed in the afternoon partially due to the news of a disappointing quarter of the Port of Threvesburg. By the time trading stopped and the weekend began the TSX was at 3.8% less then it opened.

 

[Confederal Republics]

Ministry of External Affairs
Commonwealth of Cornavia

A recent member in the Northern Council, the Commonwealth of Cornavia firmly encourages the Vistrasian government to consider membership in the organization and would itself welcome the country to the ranks of Europe's foremost trading group of democratic powers.

Regards,
Mr. William Fenner,
Minister of External Affairs

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Sunday 12 September 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

Vistrasia applies to join Northern Council amidst increasing tensions in Scanogermania
Threveburg - Vistrasia chooses a side in the Scanogermanian trade row, submitting an application to join the Northern Council. The decision did not come easily however, the application which was being debated earlier on and had seemed like a done deal was complicated by increasingly heated rhetoric in diplomatic circles. While the Vrijheidsbond had been supportive of an application to the Northern Council since it's creation, the Katholieke Volksbond is traditionally a supporter of neutrality, and relatively friendly towards Wendmark, which has come out strongly against the Northern Council, including Cornavia for failing to condemn the Tysk government.

The same insiders say that the First Minister Albrecht van Voorne has been forced to make a number of concessions to the Catholics, most likely on domestic issues such as state support to religious (catholic) schools and universities and/or abortion, euthanasia and stem-cell research policies. At 17:00, representatives of both parties joined Lord-Protector David van Cortenbach in a press conference announcing the application. During this session, the Lord Protector said, "What in the end decided this deal were the nations in the Northern Council, nations with whom we have strong cultural connections with and are non-aligned and stable democracies. While we value our ties with the Germanian League, it simply cannot be separated from the LFS and EDF."

While the Lord-Protector emphasized the Northern Council as being a trade league, political observers do see this as a step by Vistrasia towards Tyskreich, and away from the EDF or Wiese.

 

[Confederal Republics]

Ministry of External Affairs
Commonwealth of Cornavia

The Commonwealth government greets the decision by Vistrasia to seek membership in the Northern Council, and its membership shall have the endorsement of the Commonwealth of Cornavia when it will be taken up for discussion.

Regards,
Mr. William Fenner,
Minister of External Affairs

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Friday 24 September 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

Schism within Catholic People's Party!
Threveburg - Almost two weeks since the decision by the KVP to support a Vistrasian application for membership in the Northern Council long-existing tensions among the conservatives have reached boiling point as a group of 4 Parliamentarians led by Dries Alderman has left the Catholic Party, announcing their intention to set up a new party. Dries Alderman has traditionally operated on the right flank of the Catholics, having been critical of membership to such organizations as the Council of Nations and more recently the Northern Council. He has also been in the news for his tough anti-immigration stuff, often bordering on xenophobe, despite that there are only reasonably large concentrations of immigrants in certain parts of the capital of Threveburg.

While Dries Alderman and his companions have yet to present a full party platform, at the press conference held at the Konfederatiehof in Threveburg his points were generally right-wing populist, toughening immigration rules for non-white immigrants, drafting laws for non-christian religious worship to be discreet, forbidding new religious buildings with public facades to be build, or for public calls for worship, a ban on all drugs, withdrawal from international organizations focusing strictly on bilateral relations with strategic partners and finally universal suffrage and a more social economic policy.

Political analysts are divided whether this will mean that the Catholic People's Party will move to the left now that most of it's right-wing members in Parliament have split, or if the KVP leadership will hope to prevent it's members from joining Alderman's party by moving up to the right itself, which could further split the party.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Monday 11 October 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

First Minister in Batavia, visits the Northern Council

You must be registered for see images

Albrecht van Voorne, First Minster of Vistrasia
Hilversum - First Minister van Voorne is currently in Hilversum to address the Northern Council as part of the Vistrasian application to the organization which includes among others Batavia, Tyskreich and Arendaal. Not only is it a crucial step in the Vistrasian application process, it is also unique in that it's the first visit of a major Vistrasian politician to Batavia in decades, relations with Batavia having been all but friendly during the Communist dictatorship that ruled it for over half a century. Regardless of the result of discussions with the Northern Council it is expected that the First Minister will extend his stay and visit Vlaanderen for an official state visit to Batavia, rumour being that the two states might potentially sign a bilateral treaty.

It is expected that Albrecht van Voorne will emphasize Vistrasia being interested in the Northern Council for trade purposes and to be associated with other non-aligned democratic states in the region. His speech comes as neighbour Franken is concluding it's entry to the Germanian League, which is often seen as having been set up as a rival to the Northern Council, and includes Danmark a nation that has earlier on not been admitted into the Northern Council for it's much criticized membership of the League of Free States.

In other news:
-Dries Alderman's party the National-Vistrasian Party, after an initial surge in support has not been doing too well in the polls, support being around 5 - 10 percent. Voters generally feel that immigration rules are tough enough and support the current governments foreign policy initiatives.

-Diplomatic row over Belmont ending it's association with the European Defence Federation causes a major split in the Francophone Bloc, who had previously presented a mostly unified foreign policy. Vistrasian Foreign Ministry expects relations with both the EDF and Belmont to remain largely unaffected.

-Yesterday the date of 10/10/10 didn't just see a sudden explosion of marriages, it also had a surprisingly large rally in Threveburg by a coalition of environmental organizations, which had been supported by anti-globalisation activists and a number of small protestant churches to protest the current governments lack of environmental policies. Although there were some small incidents and protesters were stopped from marching to the Square of the Confederation, the police said the protest was without any major violence.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Thursday 4 November 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

Vistrasia accepted into the Northern Council
Threveburg - Smiling faces in Threveburg after at a joint press conference Lord-Protector David van Cortenbach and First Minister Albrecht van Voorne spoke about the recent admission of Vistrasia into the Northern Council, Vistrasia becoming a member of the fledgling economic bloc which also includes Arendaal, Cornavia, Éireann, Batavia and Suionia.* Though the move was not entirely uncontroversial, the move has been hailed by the Vistrasian political elite as gaining access to new markets, while refusing to give up sovereignty cooperating with other modern and democratic non-aligned states.

It is expected that in the coming year, legislation will be drafted to integrate Vistrasia into the Northern Council and that a general shift in trade and foreign policy will take place as the organization becomes more important. It is expected that in the coming months, the Northern Council will open an office in Threveburg. Last month there was a minor diplomatic row between the Germanian League and the Northern Council, especially the status of Danmark which is included in the GL despite it's alliance with Oikawa.

Currently however tensions seem to be significantly less despite remarks at the Northern Council Summit by First Minister van Voorne, who called the Germanian League a tool of the existing power structures of the EDF and the LFS further commenting how he could never justify aligning with some of the nations in these alliances to the Vistrasian voter. Albrecht van Voorne once again defended these statements in Threveburg:

"I attempt to integrate the Vistrasian Commonwealth internationally while remaining non-aligned, as was decided in the wake of the Great War. The only way to do this is with other non-aligned nations. Aside from the fact that I'm bound to do this by our constitution, I should also emphasize that yes, ideologically I could not ally to certain European states. I completely understand why Danmark simply could not become a member of the Northern Council."

Lord-Protector David van Cortenbach was reluctant to comment on the diplomatic row, but after pressured by several journalists said:

"Listen, first of all I value Vistrasian relations with the states in the Germanian League. There are great differences between the very structure and purpose of our two organizations and I also think between our ideologies and values. However I do have to say that I agree with the statement made by van Voorne, and I would like to add that if Danmark had been a member of the Northern Council an application of membership to the Northern Council simply would have never gotten through Parliament."

It is expected that later this week the first legislation relating to the NC will be presented to Parliament and that the Northern Council will set up an office in Threveburg before the new year.

* OOC: LPR is deleted from the map and has been absent for quite some time, I'm assuming he's gone.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Government presents Northern Council Reform Package to Parliament
Threveburg - Barely a week into the Vistrasian membership of the Northern Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurens Pieters van Raesfelt visited Parliament to describe the Governments plans towards the new membership in the Northern Council, which included an explanation of the current progress the Northern Council has made in it's planned reforms, to what role Vistrasia can play in all of this. Plans include the future establishment of a common market and a single currency, the opening up of borders and Vistrasian compliance with existing NC transportation standards. Over the coming weeks, a special Parliamentary Commission including representatives of all major parties and the Vistrasian representation in Hilversum will look into existing Vistrasian legislation and at the current plans of the Northern Council, and is expected to ratify the NC Treaties and start implementation of this new legislation.

Renewed Batavo-Vistrasian Relations?
Threveburg - Since the end of communism in Batavia, hopes have been high for Batavia and Vistrasia to renew the historically strong ties between the two nations. So far these people have been disappointed but according to insiders this might change. Although the visit of First Minister Albrecht van Voorne to Hilversum was primarily motivated by the Vistrasian application to the Northern Council it is said that he also met with Batavian officials to discuss a possible upcoming bilateral treaty between the two nations that would establish increased cooperation between the two nations, separate from the Northern Council. Complicating a possible treaty is the current political and economic situation in Batavia, with many political analysts advising that Vistrasia should take it slow with the still-fragile Batavian government.

In other news:
-Vistrasian representatives in the Northern Council preparing to open discussions on possible future summit with the Germanian League, despite hard-line stance of the Vistrasian Government against Danmark's membership of the GL.

-Vistrasia will not intervene in the current food crisis in the Papal States. Minister of Foreign Affairs van Raesfelt: "If worst comes to worst we will send food shipments, but the current economic situation in the Papal States was preventable, regardless of it's status we treat the Papal States in this regard as any other country, we want assurances by their government on future policy before we are going to start committing food supplies."

-Belmont vs. EDF row continues after provocations by the Kingdom of Lorraine. Increasingly hostile and bullying attitude by the EDF towards now non-aligned Belmont raising eyebrows in Vistrasian diplomatic circles.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Lorraine increasingly hostile as it's position becomes more marginal
Threveburg - The conflict between Belmont and Lorraine has been the vocal point of Gallic affairs these past few weeks mostly thanks to the provocative rhetoric coming from the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lorraine. This sudden outburst of hatred has baffled observers who had up to recently seen the Kingdom as a quiet and fairly civilized nation on the border between the Germanic and Gallic states. De Voorhoede might just have the answer.

In the previous months, the EDF which has been comatose for quite some has seen itself sidelined by the foundation of the Germanian [sic] League. Supported by EDF-member Eiffelland from the onset, Franken immediately recognized the importance of this new organisation which was established solely as an alternative to the Northern Council and the long irrelevant EDF. The Franconian and Eiffellandian shift in foreign policy priorities was a symptom of the fall of the EDF which had been set in motion much earlier by it's reluctance to play any role of importance in international affairs, this collapse become even more apparent when the Kingdom of Belmont decided to limit it's commitment to the bureaucratic and notoriously elitist alliance, which severely compromises the already collapsing dominion the EDF used to have on the continent, while non-aligned states which had previously functioned as EDF satellite-states began to work together, knowing that the time of the EDF was over.

As such it should come as no surprise that the rulers of Lorraine are getting increasingly agitated. Their entire foreign policy course is falling apart. Unable to join the "Germanian League" by virtue of not really being Germanic, unable to stop the collapse of the EDF, betrayed by Eiffelland and Franken who have come to understand that Wiese can protect them much better then the EDF ever can, the Kingdom is confused and afraid and takes it out on the peaceful and calm state of Belmont, over some minor issues which would otherwise have simply been ignored. Sure the Belmontians have made some wrong decisions in the past but since the ending of the war it has been a relatively productive member of the international community.

We of de Voorhoede expect that this will all blow over though. Sooner or later Lorraine will come to accept the fact that the EDF now is just a shell of it's former self. Their might be some doomed attempts to revive the organisation which eventually turn into some sort of Francophone alliance including Lorraine, Montelimar and Aquitania, who start to play a more peripheral role on the international stage while together reminiscing of the great EDF days when they still mattered.

 

[Remuria]

Secretariat of the Germanian League - Press and Public Relations Office

It appears to the PRO that there is some confusion amongst the editors of the de Voorhoede about the exact nature of the Germanian League. It is our hope that we may clarify this confusion with a brief explanation.

First of all, the term 'Germanian League' refers to the geographical area of the world where the League was founded: Germania. Hence why it is the Germanian League and not the Germanic League. It is true that the regional name owes to the Germanic cultures that are a majority in the region in the same vein as most inhabitants of Gallia are of Gallic extraction. However, we feel it important to stress the regional origin of the organisation's name.

The semantics out of the way, we now come to the second point, and that is the admissibility of further nations into the Germanian League. The accession process is regulated by the Treaty Establishing the Germanian League and does not comprise any limitations upon the majority cultural background of potential member states. The Treaty sets an important practical requirement, that of a sea or land border with one or more Member States.

According to the existing requirements, the Kingdom of Lorraine is not excluded from a potential admission to the Germanian League. However, the PRO cannot make any binding statements on this matter as the approval of new Member States is under the authority of the Member States of the Germanian League, following accession negotiations carried out through the Secretariat of the Germanian League.

Finally, the Germanian League was not founded as a counter to any other organisation, but as a means of further integration between neighbouring states. The League aims to increase the social prosperity and wellbeing of the citizens of the Member States of the Germanian League through a series of initiatives and processes, which are the joint task of the institutions of the Germanian League and of the Member States to further develop.

The Germanian League does not comprise a military component and, thus, cannot be seen as any sort of an alliance to counter any existing instruments of collective security.

For additional information, please visit:

You must be registered for see links

 

[Saxe-Friesken and Polaben]

Drottningens kabinett för den utrikes brevväxlingen —
Konungariket Suionia
The Queen's cabinet for the correspondence with foreign powers — Kingdom of Suionia
​

Fredag 12 nov 2010
Friday, Nov 12 2010​

The Kingdom of Suionia finds the response of the Germanian League as contradictory to the actions of the League itself which did find itself born from the failures of economic integration in the European Defense Federation and the unified market posed by the neighboring Northern Council. Consequentially the Germanian League was also formed after the failure of the admission of the Kingdom of Denmark which was found unsatisfactory to Northern Council standards. Despite the consistent claims of the Germanian League, evidence points in the direction of the considerably free and fair view of de Voorhoede of Vistrasia.

Germanian League ties to the corrupted alliances that currently dictate affairs in Europe certainly give it no more creditability than those who reject the "Förintelsen av Chosenerna" (Chosen Genocide). The Germanian League must work past such failures in policy, both foreign and domestic, in order to claim themselves as anything other than a tool for the nations and blocs that have dictated and still dictate terms to Europe since the end of the Great War.​

Hälsningar,

Henne excellens Malin Enström
Her Excellency Malin Enström

MALIN ENSTRÖM​

Statsminister för utrikes ärendena
Foreign Affairs Minister

​

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Sunday 12 December 2010 - Printed in Threveburg, Vistrasia

WAR IN GALLIA: BELMONT ATTACKS CORONADO
Threveburg - The crisis between the nations of Belmont and Coronado has escalated into war, as the Kingdom of Belmont attacked Coronado in what was claimed by Paris to be a pre-emptive first strike, in the wake of a failed assassination attempt on Premier Shahrazad Martinique earlier this month. Lord-Protector David van Cortenbach strongly condemned the Belmontien actions:

"This declaration of war is a disproportionate response and a clear act of aggression on behalf of the Kingdom of Belmont. We call on Paris to exercise and restraint and return to the negotiation table. The Commonwealth of Vistrasia is willing to play a mediating role in this conflict, as we are eager to prevent further escalation."

Earlier on in this crisis, Vistrasia had been supportive of the Belmontien government. Public response has been critical of the war, though sympathy can be found among some of the right-wing fringe of the Catholic People's Party. Left-wing organizations are already organizing anti-war demonstrations which are expected to be held somewhere in the coming week in Threveburg.

It is expected that any actual action taken by Vistrasia would be as part of the Northern Council, sources in the government saying that no diplomatic measures will be taken against either Belmont or Coronado, and embassies in both countries will be maintained. A severe travel warning has been given for both countries, embassy personnel will work to help tourists, visitors and Vistrasian nationals to get out of these countries and strongly discourage people from travelling to either Belmont or Coronado.

Northern Council meets in Whitehaven
Whitehaven - Amidst heavy police presence and extreme-left wing protests the meeting of the Northern Council in Whitehaven approaches. The meeting will include all the High-Representatives from the different countries in the NC, Vistrasia being represented by former-Secretary Tarquinius van Vleuten who most recently served as Ambassador to Franken. Expected topics for discussion include the current conflict in Coronado and Northern Economic Integration, including the possible establishment of a single currency.

Batavian-Vistrasian Bilateral Relations improve
Vlaanderen/Threveburg - Speculation is rising on possible new extra-NC initiatives to increase ties between Vistrasia and Batavia. While still no official treaty has been signed, which will probably happen after the Conference of Whitehaven has finished, some of the specifics are starting to leak which are said to include apart intensive military and economic cooperation, joint Embassies and Consulates and a Dutch Language Association. Eelco van Goudriaan of the Catholic People's Party has criticized such an agreement, calling it too early and claiming that Batavia remains too economically and politically unstable for such cooperation, pointing to the large budget deficit which has been widely criticized in Vistrasia.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

A New Currency for Vistrasia: The Northern Dollar
Threveburg - The start of 1 January 2011 wasn't just the start of a new year, it was also the start of a new Currency, as ATMs across Vistrasia started handing out the new Northern Dollar (Noordaalder as it's known in Vistrasia). Apart from Vistrasia, the Northern Dollar is a legal tender in fellow-Northern Council nations Arendaal, Batavia and Suionia making it one of the most important currencies in all of Europe. In Vistrasia there will be a transitional period for a year in which both the Northern Dollar and the Vistrasian Mark is legal tender, while Vistrasian Marks will be phased out as they can be exchanged for Northern Dollars.

The establishment of the Northern Dollar (which Cornavia and Éirann opted out of ) coincides with the creation of a single Northern Market and Currency Union which promises to make trade and travel across the nations of the NC much easier and improve the economic standing of the Northern Council, turning it into the dominant international organization in Scanogermania.

Despite overall Vistrasian enthusiasm for the Northern Council the end of the Vistrasian Mark has sparked some opposition across Vistrasia, even among supporters of the NC who would have preferred for Vistrasia to have opted out of the currency like Cornavia did. The move, which only narrowly passed Parliament after the establishment of a long transition period making the change as smooth as possible, has been welcomed by banks and businesses who have hailed the coming of the Noorddaalder as a new era in doing business.

Carentanian Intervention escalates Gallian War
Threveburg - The Gallian War further escalates as the Worker's Republic of Carentania has intervened in the conflict according to rumours landing a number of battalions in the South of the beleaguered communist state, which after crippling bombing attacks now faces several skirmishes along it's northern frontier while the focus of the international community is on the status of the waterways around Coronado, and possible future interventions on either side as Belmont is increasingly being perceived as the aggressor in this matter.

And while mainstream opinion in Vistrasia agrees with this, among the right there is approval for the actions by Belmont, Dries Alderman of the right-wing Conservatief-Nationalistsche Partij (Conservative-Nationalist Party) announced his approval of the actions by the Kingdom of Belmont: "My opinion probably isn't very popular, yet it has to be sad; it is admiring that a nation stands up to fight abuses on this continent. The people of Coronado (and Carentania for that matter) have been ruled by this communist iron fist for decades while they were forgotten by the alliances of Europe. "

Meanwhile, the Vistrasian military taking note of the escalating situation has gone on an elevated alert, while Lord-Protector David van Cortenbach made Vistrasia's position clear: "Vistrasia has neither the capability nor the mandate to intervene in this matter. Apart from our encouragement for parties to come to the peace table and our condemnation of all escalation, we are neutral." Last December, Vistrasia already announced a travel warning for the involved countries which has now been extended to Carentania and Frescania. Embassy personnel that isn't crucial or isn't working to help Vistrasian nationals leave these countries have been withdrawn. The Vistrasian government has also officially announced it's offer to serve as host to peace negotiations between the involved nations.

In other News
DuMont call on Universities to improve admissions of State School Students
Threveburg - Carleine DuMont of the Freedom Union has called for the top Vistrasian Universities to improve it's rates of admissions for students from State Schools in comparison to those from Private Schools. "State School students who get over a 9 on their National Exams have proven to perform twice as good as privately-schooled students with similar grades yet are less likely to get into any of our top Universities. Yet still these same Universities spend generous amounts on recruiting campaigns visiting private schools to try to recruit prospective students who nearly always enjoy tertiary education anyway. This shameless favouritism has to end." DuMont, the Freedom Union's education specialist in Parliament has said she is currently drafting legislation to force Universities to do so or face budget cuts.

Anti-Belmontien Rallies take place across Vistrasia
Threveburg - Yesterday anti-war protests directed against the Belmontien Government were held in most large cities in Vistrasia as mostly students and left-wingers went to the streets in demonstrations organized by a coalition of left-wing and pacifist parties and organisations, many of whom sympathetic to Carentania and Coronado. The largest rally in Threveburg included a march to de Konfederatiehof where the protestors were denied access by city authorities. At Straelsterplein there were a number of musical performance followed by speeches by left-wing prominents condemning the Belmontien government and calling on the Vistrasian government to fulfil it's obligation as a member of the international community and take "substantial action" against Belmont. According to city authorities the rally went without any major violence and drew a crowd of about 50,000 people.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

People complain of soaring prices due to switch in currency
Threveburg - Across Vistrasia people are complaining of retailers using the switch from the Vistrasian Mark to Northern Dollar to boost prices and the pace at which the Marks are being taken out of rotation as they are becoming more and more scarce. The Conservatief-Nationalistische Partij and the Arbeiderspartij, the two minor parties who opposed the adoption of the Nordic currency, seem to be benefiting in the polls having made substantial gains at the benefit of the established parties. Meanwhile the stock-markets, which were already struggling due to the ongoing conflict in Coronado have been hit by the decrease in consumer confidence caused by the currency switch, but many businesses have been confident that the backlash will be temporary while the consumer and the markets adjusts to the new currency.

Crackdown on Euthanasia
Threveburg - In Parliament, the Katholieke Volkspartij has been preparing a crackdown on what it calls legalized murder. Vistrasia, which was one of the first nations to condone active euthanasia for terminally or chronically ill patients might be facing new more strict legislation, which is said to be part of a compromise deal between the Catholics and the Liberals, which got the necessary support the Liberals needed to become a full and active member of the Northern Council. Liberal Vistrasian policies towards matters such as Drugs, Abortion and Euthanasia has long been a thorn in the eye of KVP policy makers, and the hard-line Catholic demographic it's been losing to the Conservative-Nationalist splinter that broke off last year.

Energie-2025 Presented
Threveburg - The Governments vision for Vistrasia's energy needs has been presented to the general public yesterday, planning energy policy for the next 14 years. Major points in the report include the modernization of the Caethenburg Plant and the newly-approved construction of a second major Nuclear plant in the dunes at Zwarterode (Syracanthia). These plants should have nuclear power replace natural gas as the largest source for electricity, turning Vistrasia into a net exporter of natural Gas by 2030. Additional initiatives include low-interest loans to Green-Technology business start-ups, tax cuts for electric and hybrid cars to be paid for by new taxes on oil and a small windmill park at the windy Vistrasian coast.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

Tuesday 19 April 2011 - Printed in Threveburg

Update on the Parliamentary Elections
Threveburg - In the run-up to the Vistrasian Parliamentary Elections which are due for Friday the 20th of May 2011, the different competing parties, with some exceptions have mostly settled on which candidates will lead their campaigns.

Vrijheidsbond (Freedom Union)
The Vrijheidsbond has been traditionally the largest party in Vistrasia having been able to cater to both Conservative Liberals and Social-Liberals. However unease about the introduction of the Noorddaalder and a number of party members including frontrunner and current First Minister Albrecht van Voorne having been implicated in a scandal involving their incomes from their work for NGO's and sitting on the Board of Commissars of several large Vistrasian companies has caused the party to go in a downward spiral. Nonetheless Albrecht van Voorne was confirmed as leading the party in the elections last month and is facing little to no opposition.

Katholieke Volkspartij (Catholic People's Party)
Main contender to the Freedom Union is the Catholic People's Party which has been unable to benefit in the polls from the trouble their competitors are currently in. There are currently three contenders for leading the KVP are François Botha, Andries Marais and Rudolf van Wouw.

Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij (Social-Democratic Worker's Party)
Frederick Preller was elected head of the SDAP (commonly known as the Arbeiderspartij) by popular vote at the Party Congress in February in a surprising upset. The young member of Parliament has since been slightly moving the party to the left successfully taking Social-Liberal votes away from the Freedom Union and hoping to stop the growth of the nascent GLP, both it's partner through a list connection¹ and it's main competitor. The SDAP in the polls seems to be benefitting the most from the Freedom Union's decline.

Westrasiaanse Unie (Vistrasian Union)
The Christian Socialist Vistrasian Union has had a standard and very stable voter base in the members of the Apostolic Reformed Church. This seems unlikely to change. Leading the party in the campaign will be Salomon van Prachsterburg who has been doing so for 15 years.

Groen-Liberale Partij (Green-Liberal Party)
Alexander Beyers is the first-leader of this new party which is a fusion of several local Green parties that have been present in Vistrasia and the Liberal-Democratic Party which had been a successful left-wing liberal party for decades but had been in a steady decline since the mid-nineties. The party, despite being new, is represented in many provincial parliaments and city councils and under the charismatic leadership of Alexander Beyers has been pretty popular, locked in a battle for the Social-Liberal voter together with the SDAP and the Freedom Union.

Conservatief-Nationalistische Partij (Conservative Nationalist Party)
An off-shoot of the Catholic People's Party, Dries Alderman's Party had been struggling but in response to anti-Northern Council sentiments it's been steadily growing in the polls mostly taking it's voters from the Catholic People's Party, though it's staunch isolationist stance has also garnered sympathy with the traditional blue-collar vote that used to go to the SDAP.

In Other News
-Ministry of Foreign Affairs is rumoured to be working on increasing relations with Engellex which could involve some sort of trade agreement and cooperation in foreign affairs with the country. It's said that the Vistrasian MoFA considers Engellex an important regional ally and a state-visit to Dulwich will most likely take place shortly after the Parliamentary elections.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

Andries Marais is chosen frontman of the Catholic People's Party
At the 2011 congress of the KVP in Scharenburg, Syracanthia, underdog Andries Marais was chosen after two rounds of voting (receiving 27% in the first and 52% in the second) to lead the KVP in the parliamentary elections which will be held on the 20th of May. The candidate represents a compromise between the KVP establishment and a large group in the memberbase of the party that wish to see the party make a swing to the right and to oppose further transfer of sovereignities to the Northern Council. In the last elections, Andries Marais was number 6 on the KVP list and he became popular opposing the Northern Council though he remained loyal to the KVP when Dries Alderman split off to set-up the Conservative-Nationalist Party.

In his acceptance speech Marais said that he will campaign to establish a Catholic Vistrasia: "The cold liberal and secular Vistrasia that the Vrijheidsbond has advocated for so long is failing. People seem to sense that Vistrasia needs the light of religion, needs compassion, morality and Christianity. There is more then the godless consumerism the liberals worship." Andries Marais told the crowd he would follow a reasoned foreign policy "I reject both the ultra-nationalism of Alderman and the belief of our liberal friends in one nation that stretches from Áthia Cliath to Threveburg. I stand for a reasonable foreign policy that maintains strong relations with our international partners but will keep Vistrasia non-aligned and sovereign."

In response to the vote both François Botha and Rudolf van der Wouw have declared their support Marais saying that the KVP will stand united behind him. Analysts expect that Marais will mostly compete with Alderman's CNP for votes, which has been doing rather well in the polls.

In other news:
-Dries Alderman calls for increased cooperation with the KVP he left last year. "While my party and the KVP have our fair share of agreements, we must create a united front to help prevent a left-wing cabinet that will turn Vistrasia into a safe haven for immigrant baby factories living on welfare. Our campaign should focus on keeping parties such as the SDAP and the GLP out of the government, not on fighting each other."

-Batavian Aircraft Carrier De Graaff is on it's way to Threveburg-Port, where the Vistrasian Navy and Air Force will begin trials on it in as part of the military co-operation agreement signed this winter between Batavia and Vistrasia. Intention is that in the future the Aircraft Carrier (and fleet) will be jointly operated, however first Vistrasian crews will receive training. Vistrasian Government said the military co-operation agreement is unlikely to turn into a full-blown alliance.

Poll (Polled 2nd of May, poll done by the Spektator & Vistat)
-Vrijheidsbond: 25%
-Katholieke Volkspartij 22%
-Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij 16%
-Westrasiaanse Unie 13%
-Groen-Liberale Partij 9%
-Conservatief-Nationalistische Partij 8,5%
-Nieuw Communisties Verbond 2%
-Groot-Nederlandsch Gereformeerde Partij 2,5%
-Others 2%

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Cortenbach announces military modernizations

You must be registered for see images

In news unrelated to the elections, David van Cortenbach has announced that in the coming months and years the antiquated Vistrasian military will be modernized in a speech to officers-in-training at Cloetesberg, the first Military Academy of Vistrasia:

"In the past decades there has been a number of organisational reforms in the Vistrasian military that has shaped it into a small professional organization. I feel it's time that we give our troops some confidence and invest in them to realize a 21st century military intervention force that can play an important role in peace-keeping operations across the world yet capable of defending our border and sovereignty."

The Lord-Protector went on to announce that over 1,2 Billion Noorddaalder would be invested in the program which would include the construction of new training facilities, training of current forces in Arctic and Tropic conditions abroad and the procurement of new weapons. Critics of the current administration especially on the right-wing have often criticized the condition of the current military which mostly uses weapons and vehicles from the mid-80s and throughout the past decades has been shrunk in successive re-organizations.

The military investments are said to be connected to the increase in international incidents and a desire by the Vistrasian Government to play a more prominent role on the international stage. In recent month a military co-operation agreement was signed with Batavia which among others agrees to standardize weapons and share an aircraft carrier and run it together. Analysts say this could mean that Vistrasia will invest in a blue-water navy that will operate as part of a joint Batavian-Vistrasian Aircraft Carrier Flotilla. Field Marshal Laurens van Strael van Aefferden, the current Chief of the Joint Services responded positively to van Cortenbachs announcement:

"An investment in our armed forces has been postponed for far too long and the past years the military has been struggling to cope with this. It's good and uplifting for all servicemen I think to hear that in the coming years the government will finally do something about this, and that the Vistrasian military will finally get the funds and attention it deserves."

Vistrasian Government recognizes Aresuran Reformists
Last night at a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister van Raesfelt told reporters: "Vistrasian recognizes the Reformist Faction in Aresura as having won the elections and being the legitimate rulers of the country. We condemn the violent opposition against democracy by the Radical Legitimists and order them to abide by the Council of Nations Resolution." The declaration follows a groundswell of international support for the reformists (with the notable exception of Oikawa)

Vistrasia limits trade with Warre and Bantyr over their embargo of Batavia
At the same press conference Aresuran Reformists were recognized, Minister van Raesfelt announced his condemnation of the embargo of Batavia by Warre and Bantyr. The Minister called the embargo a highly disproportionate response which would economically impact the intertwined economies of the entire Northern Council. Out of solidarity with Batavia, the Government of Vistrasia has decided to discourage all businesses on doing business with the two nations and to put a special tariff on all trade with the two nations to compensate for any economic losses inflicted upon Vistrasia through the embargo. Van Raesfelt promised that the tariff would be ended as soon as the embargo on Batavia is removed.

You must be registered for see images

Catholic People's Party wins in polls after Congress
-In the wake of the Congress that elected Andries Marais to lead the KVP into the elections, the Catholics have already won 2 percent in last nights polls, which it took from the Vrijheidsbond and Alderman's Party. With the extra points the difference between the KVP and the Vrijheidsbond is 1 percent. Critics of Marais have questioned whether he can hold his own in the debate with other leaders on the 18th of May, his main competitors van Voorne and Alderman are both hardened debaters whereas the inexperienced Marais is considered something of a lightweight.

Frederick Preller dismisses "Reactionary" Marais
In a interview with Vistrasian current affairs programme "Fischer & Morgan" Frederick Preller of the SDAP criticized the election of Andries Marais to front the KVP: "It's sad that a party like the KVP would lower itself to populist demagogues like Marais in what is a clear attempt to garner votes with Alderman's fans. Marais is a clear reactionary who idealizes an isolated pastoral Vistrasia with green meadows and small hamlets. I stand for a developed, social and modern Vistrasia. "

Poll (Polled 3rd of May, poll done by the Spektator & Vistat)
-Vrijheidsbond: 25%
-Katholieke Volkspartij 24%
-Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij 16%
-Westrasiaanse Unie 13%
-Groen-Liberale Partij 9%
-Conservatief-Nationalistische Partij 7,5%
-Nieuw Communisties Verbond 2%
-Groot-Nederlandsch Gereformeerde Partij 2,5%
-Others 2%

EDIT: -OOC- Added response to Aresura and Warre-Bantyr Embargo, expanded on the military modernization program.

 

[Vistrasia]

You must be registered for see images

Trade conflict with Bantyr escalates
Bantyr's response to Vistrasian sanctions over their unprovoked embargo (together with Warre) of Batavia has been a similar increase in tariffs. The Vistrasian government after an offer to lift sanctions should the embargo be ended condemned, a spokesperson for the Minister of Foreign Affairs said "this is an unnecessary escalation that goes to show the belligerent nature of these two nations." The spokesperson further went on to say that Vistrasia would investigate the possibility of Northern Council-wide sanctions on Bantyr and possibly Warre to be imposed: "We feel that the nations of the Northern Council need to stand together. Furthermore, standing together our nations can work as a much stronger powerbroker across Europe."

Parliament-wide support for Aresuran Reformists
Unanimously, the Vistrasian Parliament spoke out their support of the Reformists in Aresura, after Minister of Foreign Affairs van Raesfelt did so on behalf of the cabinet earlier last week. In a resolution, the Parliament formally recognized the Aresuran Reformists as the de jure Government of Aresura, establishing official diplomatic relations with Joseph Constantine's Government. With the support coming from the Parliament the Vistrasian government is expected to move forward on humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives to support the Aresuran people and to help putting an end to the current ongoing conflict.

Lord-Protector announces post-election tour of Europe

You must be registered for see images

Yesterday, David van Cortenbach announced that after the parliamentary elections he plans to go on a tour of Europe to introduce revitalize old friendships and to introduce the plans of the new administration to diplomats and heads of state. Already announced are state-visits to Batavia and Engellex, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Lord-Protector still deciding on other destinations.

You must be registered for see images

Poll (Polled 8th of May, poll done by the Spektator & Vistat)
-Vrijheidsbond: 26%
-Katholieke Volkspartij 24,5%
-Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij 15%
-Westrasiaanse Unie 13%
-Groen-Liberale Partij 11%
-Conservatief-Nationalistische Partij 5%
-Nieuw Communisties Verbond 1,5%
-Groot-Nederlandsch Gereformeerde Partij 2%
-Others 2%

 

[Thaumantica]

You must be registered for see images

​

_____________________________________________

VESPER, MONDAY, 9th MAY 2011
_____________________________________________

Bemjamin Stokes, Chief Colonial Officer for Foreign Affairs, has been instructed to encode the following dispatch from
Felix Ilchester, the Chancellor of the Commonwealth of Cantigny
​

To the Proud People & Ministers of the Vistrasian Commonwealth
​

Amidst ongoing economic tension between Bantyr, her Gaelic allies, and the historically reliable market in Vistrasia, the Commonwealth of Cantigny is sharply interested in expanding political and economic relations with our friends in Threveburg. Cantigny is entirely committed to a stable global market, and will facilitate all requisites to achieve a mutual growth in wealth beside Vistrasia.