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WENDMARKER NEWS, WORLD WIDE​

Staatstag “Rebalances” Defence Budget

In a rare show of unity, members of the Staatstag from the far-right Saxon People's Party to the leftist Social-Democratic Party voted an increase in defence spending.

The increase in defence spending comes as a response to the deteriorating security situation in Gallia in the wake of Engellexic aggression against Montelimar. And whilst the need to beef up the Wendmarker Armed Forces was self evident to all, the exact modalities of the increase in defence spending was hotly debated. The Social Democrats were the most pessimistic, especially in light of the recent adoption of the Germanian League defence treaty, whilst the Saxon People's Party insisted on the most increases and even considering extending conscription to female citizens.

In the end, the Staatstag adopted a series of bills and modifications to the existing budget, reallocating and allocating funds as necessary. SVP's proposal of conscripting females was equally rejected. The announced end result will see the defence spending increase from approximately 1.75% of GDP in 2011 to 3% of GDP in 2012. Analysts, however, indicate that the effective increase in defence spending shall be offset by various ad hoc budgets allocated to the Department of Defence and Civil Protection in 2011 to increase Wendmark's readiness in the light of the war in Montelimar. These allocations were intended for both 2011 and 2012, some extending up to 2015, and these allocations were included in the revised military budget. Additionally, a number of costs tied to the care of the Montelimarian refugees was handled by government agencies other than the Department of Defence and Civil Protection. With the “rebalancing”, these costs shall be transferred to the Civil Protection to consolidate spending. Whilst remaining significant, the effective increase in funds available to the military shall be less than the 1.25% of GDP one could deduce at first sight.



INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Engellex-Europaland Verbal Sparring Risks Escalation. The verbal spat between Europaland and Engellex over the former's recent actions risks escalating in a full blown conflict. Engellex reacted bitterly to Europaland's plans to set up an anti-Engellexic organisation of Montelimarians and to Europaland's flexing of its military muscles.


GERMANIAN LEAGUE

Germanian Council to debate matters of civil law, recognition of judicial decisions. A formal convention regulating matters of choice of jurisdiction and even applicable law within the Germanian League, as well as introducing mechanisms of automatic recognition of judicial verdicts and resolving cases of lis alibi pendens shall be debated by representatives of the Member States.


DOMESTIC HEADLINES

SVP Proposes creating a “Montelimarian legion”. In a statement published on its website, the Saxon People's Party has suggested “putting all those Montelimarians to use” to create a military formation of Montelimarian volunteers, part of the Wendmarker Armed Forces, so that the Montelimarians “can provide effective support to defending a country that has welcomed them and cares for them against Engellexic aggression”. The Department of Defence and Civil Protection has not commented on SVP's proposition.

 

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WENDMARKER NEWS, WORLD WIDE​

Diplomatic Relations with Engellex to be Maintained

Landamann Grauholzer has rejected mounting calls to cut all diplomatic ties with Great Engellex in light of the latter's continued adherence to aggression and alleged abuses committed by Engellexic troops in Montelimar.

In a press conference given on the occasion of the start of the peace conference in Danmark over the future fate of Montelimar. Whilst not directly represented at the conference, the Free State of Wendmark has nevertheless “attached liaison officials to the Danish delegation” in order to ensure the respect of Wendmarker interests during the event. The decision to not send direct representatives to talks was taken in line of Wendmark's continued and consistent policy of condemnation of the war of aggression waged by Engellex against Montelimar.

In light of this, some analysts have speculated that the Landamann would follow the calls from the Social-Democratic and Green parties to severe ties with Great Engellex, recall the Free State's ambassador to Dulwich and shut down the Engellexic Embassy in Einsiedeln. Landamann Grauholzer, however, has reiterated that Wendmark shall not be cutting diplomatic relations with Great Engellex, since these amount to “direct and practical means of communication”. Severing such links would, in the end, deprive the Free State of maneuver, force exchanges through third parties and undermine the shaky peace between Wendmark and Great Engellex.

“There can be no doubt about the state in which our relations with Dulwich are: cold,” the Landamann stated. “Wendmark condemns the aggression perpetrated against Montelimar. Wendmark shall insist on the thorough investigation of alleged crimes in Montelimar. Wendmark shall remain committed to the freedom of the Montelimarian People. Our ancestors did not free us from the rule of one Emperor to now see us bow our heads in submission to another Empress.”​

In turn, according to the Landamann, Dulwich has a “consistent position of denigrating Wendmark's sovereignty through official statements that compare the Free State to some sort of vassal of Nürnberg”. Despite the mutual animosity reigning in the relations between Dulwich and Einsiedeln, the Landamann has noted the practical and technical dialogue between the two countries. As such, the two countries have exchanged military liaison officers in order to palliate a military crisis and Wendmark first sent the Engellexic government a copy of the report into alleged abuses in Montelimar before rendering it public.

Nevertheless, the gap between Dulwich and Einsiedeln remains immense, indicate analysts. Dulwich is in zenith of its imperialist amibitions, whilst Wendmark has seen the established status quo around it collapse. The fact that Wendmark abandoned traditional neutrality to officially integrate a military defensive alliance is indicative of the extent to which established politics have been upset. However, being uneasy neighbours is better than being in a state of open warfare. As the saying goes, better a bad peace than a good war.




INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Consulate-General in Strausberg to remain open. The Foreign Affairs Department has confirmed that the Wendmarker Consulate-General in Strausberg, in eastern Montelimar, shall remain operative and shall not be evacuated. This contrasts to the earlier Wendmarker evacuations of the Embassy in Valmy and Consulates and Consulate-Generals in Lille, Mormant and Rouen.


DOMESTIC HEADLINES

Anti-Engellexic Rally in Einsiedeln. Montelimarian expats that lived in the Free State before the war and are, thus, not considered refugees and treated as such, held a rally outside the Engellexic embassy in Einsiedeln. Two thousand people waved Montelimarian flags and chanted anti-Engellexic slogans, burning an effigy of Queen-Empress Charlotte in the process. Whilst police presence was reinforced for the occasion to guarantee the safety of the diplomatic establishment, the event went off largely peacefully, except for several cases of masked individuals pelting the building with eggs and tomatoes.

Montelimarians form “Free Montelimar” association. The formation of the new association was announced at the anti-Engellexic rally in front of the embassy in Einsiedeln. Membership with the association shall be open to expatriate Montelimarians in Wendmark as well as to Wendmarker citizens. The goal of the association include lobbying the interests of a Free Montelimar with Wendmarker political parties, lobbying Wendmarker authorities for a robust stand against Engellex, assistance and aid to Montelimarian refugees under care of Wendmarker Civil Protection. Unlike Europaland's organisation of Montelimarians, the “Free Montelimar” association does not have the overt goal of waging war against Engellex. Whether this reflects the real desire of the founders or a technical means to avoid the unclear Wendmarker legislation on the matter is not known. However, Guillaume de la Voix, a Wendmarker businessman of immigrant Montelimarian background, has even publicly supported SVP's idea of a “Montelimarian legion” that would allow Montelimarians to “efficiently contribute to the Free State's defence”.

 

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WENDMARKER NEWS, WORLD WIDE​

Kievan Visa Initiative Leaves Wiese Out

The Free State's Foreign Affairs Department has welcomed the Kievan initiative to streamline visa acquisition by Wendmarker nationals and facilitate the process. The initiative was extended to four Germanian League member states, all while leaving the Wieser Empire out.

In a statement, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Department Ferdinand Niederhausen welcomed the Kievan move and expressed his hope that this gesture would “contribute to the continued establishment of a state of mutual trust and respect” between the two countries. While welcoming the move, the Foreign Affairs Department also recalled that the details of the initiative were so far unclear and that the Free State would await to see the exact modalities to which Wendmarker nationals would be submitted. It is also unclear whether the stringent Kievan security measures tied to the travel inside the country would be maintained or not. Kiev currently has some of the world's most prohibitive norms for foreigners traveling inside the country, which are continuously explained by the government as justified by “security reasons”.

The Kievan initiative has notably left out the Wieser Empire. Diplomatic relations between the two Powers are continuing to deteriorate and Kiev's gesture shall only contribute and provoke further deterioration. Analysts indicate that the Germanian League is for now not a common visa area and, thus, each country manages its migration policies independently. The freedom of movement is granted only to citizens of member states (with a provision for non-nationals family members), not bearers of visas. However, those same analysts also indicate that with increasing harmonisation and continued integration processes within the Germanian League, a common visa area shall sooner rather than later be on the agenda for intensive talks between member states.

In this context, the overt discrimination by Kiev can be seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between Germanian League member states. Whether this is true shall be seen in the future. Whether this is successful shall depend on the Member States themselves. Current trends show that increased cooperation and not disintegration are on the agenda. If the harmonization processes continue and develop into increased integration, then Kiev might in the future find itself having to reconsider its policies of exclusion of the Wieser Empire or risk deteriorating ties with the Germanian League as a whole.


INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Formal condoleances to Suionia. The Free State has expressed formal condolences to the people of Suionia for the loss of Prime Minister Linnéa Hjelmer-Lindeskog. Many Wendmarkers have been laying flowers and signing condolence books at Suionian diplomatic representations throughout the country and chiefly so at the Suionian embassy in Einsiedeln.

 

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INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Staatstag Hopeful for Speedy Conflict Resolution. The Staatstag has adopted a resolution calling upon all belligerents in the Montelimarian war to come to an agreement that would guarantee lasting peace and would respect the interests of all in the region and, first and foremost, the rights of the Montelimarian people. Analysts indicate the resolution comes as a reflection of growing anti-Engellexic sentiments amongst the Wendmarker population and a dissatisfaction at the perceived policy of Dulwich to lengthen negotiations to strengthen their positions in Montelimar and force a favourable fait accompli upon the EDF.

 

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DOMESTIC HEADLINES

Anti-Engellex Activists Kept Away from Engellex Embassy. A Sunday rally, organized by the “Free Montelimar” association, shall be held at least 50 meters away from the Engellexic embassy down the St. Peterstrasse, where the street meets the Paradeplatz. Initially, the police preferred to keep the activists entirely off the St. Peterstrasse and confine the rally to the Paradeplatz, but last minute talks with the activists yielded the final arrangement. Activists shall be allowed to send a delegation of three representatives to transmit their petition to the Engellexic Embassy. Einsiedeln Police explained the measure as driven by “security considerations”, citing “worrying calls on social networks to pelt the Embassy building with diverse objects, ranging from eggs to fondue pots”. The “Free Montelimar” association has denied that any aggressive acts would take place, but has accepted the 50m limit.

 

[Great Engellex]

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DULWICH, WEDNESDAY, 26th MARCH 2012

The Right Honourable The Secretary of State has received the Command of her Imperial and Royal Engellexic Majesty The Queen-Empress
to make known the following gracious Statement of her Imperial and Royal Engellexic Majesty
to the Landamann, and Government of the Free State of Wendmark .

An Extension of The Queen-Empress' Statement in Council.​

TO THE LANDAMANN, AND GOVERNMENT OF THE FREE STATE OF WENDMARK​

​

I am instructed to EXPRESS on behalf of her Imperial and Royal Engellexic Majesty;

I can inform, on the most excellent authority of her Majesty the Queen-Empress, that Sir Edward Fitz-Villers, the well respected and highly esteemed Minister of the Crown to the Engellexic embassy within Einsiedeln shall be raised for the first time to the dignity of a barony. This change is necessary in consequence of the approaching departure, now certain, of his Excellency from the imperial mission within Einsiedeln.

It can be confirmed that his Lordship, the Lord Melbourne, will be appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Einsiedeln.

No one is better qualified for the duties of the important mission now decreed by her Majesty to the city of Einsiedeln, and it is hoped that the interests of Great Engellex and Wendmark will be well represented by this new appointment, and satisfy with all due consideration. The peace rumours have thus acquired some degree of consistence and probability; but, as mentioned in my address to the House of Lords, I have been thus far unable to discern in the Christiansborg Conference many signs of joy and jubilation resulting from the circumstances completed.

The letters, accompanying the Lord Melbourne, pure and simple, as her Majesty’s Cabinet intend are, as I can inform you, for the reception of the Government of the Free State and, to say the least, a most encouraging production, we are sure you will agree, and will leave certainly room for discussion and debate between Dulwich and Einsiedeln on what future course the relationship of our two realms shall be determined.

On this note, then, I believe the Landamann will found reasonable hopes, as her Majesty’s Government had earlier hinted, to confidently anticipate a determination for a prosperous Preuti-Borussia.

I shall also use this opportunity of extending the appreciation of her Majesty to the duty of the Einsiedeln constabulary in the protection of the Great Engellexic embassy. An example certain quarters of Europe can certainly educate themselves to.​

By the Grace of GOD, of the EMPIRE of GREAT ENGELLEX, CHARLOTTE, the QUEEN-EMPRESS, through the SECRETARY of STATE, his Grace the DUKE of NONSUCH​

​

 

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Free State of Wendmark
Free State's Foreign Affairs Department

From
His Excellency the Head of the Free State's Foreign Affairs Department
to
His Excellency the Secretary of State of Great Engellex
concerning
Lord Melbourne's Appointment as Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to Einsiedeln


Your Excellency,

It is with much enthusiasm that we have received your letter about the impending appointment of Lord Melbourne as Ambassador plenipotentiary and extraordinary to Einsiedeln. His Lordship's accreditation shall, I may assure you, pass in full accordance with the most expedient of procedures.

The Free State of Wendmark shall also reciprocate the Engellexic move to improve the rank of her diplomatic legation in Einsiedeln. However, since the Free State's diplomatic service currently lacks a person of high enough rank to take over the new position, I am sure Your Excellency shall understand that the Free State shall be promoting His Excellency Karl-Gustav von Laufenburg, the Free State's diplomatic Minister to Dulwich, to the rank of Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary. It is the belief of the Free State that His Excellency has been doing an excellent job and shall continue to work for the betterment of relations between Dulwich and Einsiedeln.

Peace on Wendmark's borders continues and shall forever remain at the center of the Free State's attention, and it is our sincerest hope that an arrangement be found soon that shall guarantee lasting peace. It must become our common goal to work towards transforming rumours of peace into realities on the ground. And this work must happen today and not tomorrow.

On a more casual note, I am bound to inform Your Excellency that the measures taken by Einsiedeln Police in the wake of the increased activity of the “Free Montelimar” association and affiliated non-governmental organisations are entirely within the established procedures set for such an event. In striking a balance between the protesters' freedom of assembly and the Free State's duties to protect the diplomatic missions of foreign powers, Einsiedeln Police has fulfilled her duties professionally and responsibly. It may not be expected less of the competent law enforcement services of civilized states, and in this the measures taken to guarantee the security and safety of the Engellexic diplomatic mission are in no way different than those that would be undertaken for the diplomatic missions of other Powers in similar circumstances.

However, Your Excellency may rest assured that given the current facts on the ground, the Free State realizes fully the possibility of less peaceful fringe activists attempting to undermine the peace and tranquility of Einsiedeln, all while souring relations between our two Powers. Your Excellency may rest assured that should such threats become probable and apparent in the future, then with established procedures the Engellexic mission shall be provided with increased security guarantees in the shape of a permanent detachment of Military Police officers. It is our hope, however, that such threats be never realized and Her Imperial and Royal Majesty's diplomatic officers continue their work in peace and tranquility that is so proper to Einsiedeln.​

Head of the Free State's Foreign Affairs Department
Ferdinand Niederhausen
Free State of Wendmark​

 

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WENDMARKER NEWZ, FOR ALL TO KNOW​

ES ISCH TOTALER KRIEG!

BREAKING NEWS! WENDMARKER ARMEE CROSSES INTO MONTELIMAR! As of 3AM Germanian Time, armoured formations of the Wendmarker Armed Forces have crossed the border between Wendmark and Montelimar. Under massive aerial support provided by the Wendmarker Air Force, Wendmarker Army formations are expected to close in onto Engellexic forward lines to, in accordance with a statement by the Department of Defence and Civil Protection, “establish a security buffer zone between the armies of Great Engellex and the Free Saxon homeland”. Main offensive directions appear to be along the Elbe, as well as into the “Jura finger” to the north-west of the Jura mountains. It is not yet clear whether a formal state of war now exists between Wendmark and Great Engellex and it is unknown whether any exchange of fire has taken place between the two armies.

OOC: It is April 1st where I am.

 

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WENDMARKER NEWS, WORLD WIDE​

BREAKING NEWS

BLAST ROCKS KIEVAN CAPITAL. An impressive blast has rocked the Kievan capital, with first reports from the ground suggesting an attack was carried out against the Wieser Embassy. The Free State's Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is without news from the Wendmarker Ambassador in Kiev, Rudolf Weissweiler, who was present at the Wieser Embassy at the time of the blast. It is not excluded that the Wendmarker Ambassador and several members of his staff may have perished in the explosion. More information as it becomes available.

 

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WENDMARKER NEWS, WORLD WIDE​

KIEV EMBASSY TO BE EVACUATED

Wendmark's Ambassador to Kiev, Rudolf Weissweiler, has been killed in the explosion at the Wieser embassy, Wendmarker officials have confirmed. The Department of Defence and Civil Protection has also confirmed that the Wendmarker Air Force is going to be dispatching transport aircraft to the Kievan capital in order to proceed with the ordered evacuation of all Wendmarker diplomatic and consular personnel. Those Wendmarker nationals living and working in Kiev who may wish to leave the country may also use the military flights, a spokesperson from the Air Force has confirmed.

"Everything is ready. We are simply awaiting the go-ahead from the Kievan government," a spokesman for the Wendmarker Air Force has stated.​

Such Wendmarker nationals are advised to immediately contact the Embassy and Consular officials. The announcement comes despite reports from Kiev that all traffic in and out of the country has been suspended. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Wendmarker mission is "not a regular commercial flight and must be allowed to go through unhindered".

"The Free State of Wendmark insists that the emergency humanitarian mission to evacuate Wendmarker diplomatic and consular staff be allowed through unhindered. The cold blooded murder of not one, but two foreign Ambassadors is a matter of extreme concern, completely unacceptable in relations between civilized states. The Free State of Wendmark may no longer trust in the capacity of Kievan authorities, who have shown blatant incompetence in the matter, to effectively and efficiently guarantee the continued security of the remaining Wendmarker personnel."​

The Kievan ambassador to Einsiedeln has also been summoned to the Foreign Affairs Department and issued with a note of protest citing the failure of the Kievan state to provide adequate security to foreign diplomatic personnel.