Trivodnian media

[Polesia]

די צײט | Di Tsayt ‎

Free State at risk of ‘refugee crisis’

AMSTOV - The power vacuum in Kadikistan and emerging conflict in Novo Srbja risk creating a ‘twin refugee crisis’ that will overwhelm the Free State, the government has been warned, with the Border Guard reporting hundreds attempting to enter illegally daily.

Both the Homeland Union and People's Party are calling on the Social Democratic administration to lay out its response to the growing problem. Speaking in a National Assembly debate, leader of the People's Party Yitzhak Epstein said the sudden influx of people was in danger of creating an “intolerable financial strain” and urged the international community to lend assistance to the Free State. “We are not the wealthiest of nations,” Epstein added, “and there is a practical limit to our generosity.”

Moisei Carlebach, head of the Homeland Union, claimed the “very essence and character” of the Free State was under threat, unless the government takes action now. “We will be overrun by Slavs,” Carlebach cautioned, to boos and hisses from his fellow assembly members, “and history has shown they will not be kind to us.”

Chancellor Alexander Kahemann accused Carlebach and the Homeland Union of “fear-mongering of the worst kind” and “crude divisionism”. Emergency funds from the Treasury were being used to set up special humanitarian zones in the border regions, Kahnemann said, and the government were working closely with international and domestic charities to co-ordinate a common response.

Thousands of Kadikistanis are currently residing in makeshift camps along the border after the unexpected death of Marshal Nikolai Leninov led to a bloody palace coup, with fighting still ongoing in parts of the country. Leninov was allegedly murdered by a member of his inner circle, as part of a plot to change Kadikistan's economic and foreign policy.

With tensions rising in Novo Srbja, many fear a repeat of the years-long civil war that only ended a decade ago. Dragan Milutinovic, governor of Novosad province, has threatened to secede unless his political demands are met. The threats come just days after the killing of Prime Minister Stojanovic in a car bomb attack in the capital Banja Luka.

The Free State welcomed Jews fleeing the first wave of bloodshed in Novo Srbja with open arms, setting up a dedicated resettlement programme to help them integrate. Critics have since described the initiative as a failure, with most of those who arrived from Novo Srbja still living in poverty.

A return to civil war could see many more flee to the Free State, including non-Jews. The government at the time of the Civil War, a coalition between the Homeland Union and People's Party, was condemned at the time for refusing to offer permanent residence to non-Jewish refugees, and sending the majority back once hostilities had finished.
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[Polesia]

די צײט | Di Tsayt ‎

Calls for intervention into Novo Srbjan civil war grow louder

AMSTOV - Leading politicians from all parties are pressuring the government to intervene into the Novo Srbjan civil war following reports of mass graves.

Men in the Istokgrad Territorial militia discovered hundreds of bodies near a former Federal Gendarmerie barracks in the self-proclaimed Republic of Novosad. The Communist-affiliated Istokgrad Territorial Militia has blamed the Novosad Liberation Army for the deaths, and claimed the corpses belong to the 300 Federal Gendarmes who were captured last week. No independent sources have been able to verify the existence of the mass grave.

Leader of the liberal Alternative party Shmuel Bernstein said the Free State had a “moral imperative” to act. “Has our own history, with its countless massacres, not taught us anything?” Asked Bernstein, to a standing ovation in the National Assembly.

David Trunk, a prominent member of the ruling Social Democratic Alliance, chimed in, adding: “Our children will not forgive us if we stand by and let this tragedy continue.”

Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann said he was considering “all options” and was in discussion with President Meier Lauterpacht on the best possible course of action, while External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski was reaching out to neighbours to co-ordinate a common response.

Earlier this week it emerged Varinia had approached the Free State, Kadikistan and Novo Srbja to try and find a resolution to the conflict. Foreign policy experts doubt Kadikistan, consumed by its own internal troubles following the assassination of Supreme Leader Nikolai Leninov, will get involved. The Free State government is believed to have privately cautioned Novo Srbjan President Filip Vlahovic against allowing troops from Varinia or Kadikistan into the country, in case they try and force a Communist uprising.

Both Yitzhak Epstein, head of the People's Party, and Moisei Carlebach, leader of the Homeland Union, have spoken out against military intervention, and urged Chancellor Kahneman to focus on the growing refugee crisis that was spilling over into the Free State instead. However, People's Party assembly member Gavi Roskies , and Louis Kornfeld, of the Homeland Union, said they would both be willing to support military action if it could stop the influx of refugees.

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[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We are willing and able to help out the Yiddish Free State with the currently unfolding refugee crisis. We can send humanitarian aid, medical supplies and medical personnel.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor

 

[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
דער מארגען זשורנאל | The Morning Journal

KRASNISLAVIAN NATIONALISTS DEMAND KADIKISTANI TERRITORY

The Krasnislavian National Party (KNP) has called on the government to pursue negotiations with the new Kadikistani regime on what it sees as the return of historic Krasnislavian lands.

Speaking to a rally of supporters in the capital Amstov, KNP leader Uladzimir Sannikov claimed the recent turmoil in Kadikistan presented a "huge opportunity", and declared "restored Krasnislavian statehood has never been closer than now".

Minister of External Affairs Vladimir Pinski declined to respond directly to the requests, although sources within his ministry told the Mourning Journal said the main focus of the government right now was resolving the conflict in Novo Srbja, not "reopening old wounds".

The Krasnislavian National Party is the largest Krasnislavian nationalist party to operate in the Free State after the Krasnislavian Patriotic Union was banned for alleged links to the Krasnislavian Patriotic Army, which launched a cross-border campaign of terror against both the Free State and Kadikistan, in a violent bid to create a new Krasnislavian state from both countries' territory.

The KNP has both supported and opposed the Free State's establishment, but has always called for a change to its size and shape.

Many Krasnislavian nationalists accuse the founding fathers of the Free State of agreeing a secret deal with Kadikistan to divide Krasnislavia between them. All mainstream Yiddish parties reject the accusation, and point the majority of Krasnislavia's historic lands lie in Kadikistan, and that here had been large Yiddish populations in the area for centuries, and the need for a separate state was driven by a Krasnislavian refusal for equal rights.

Ordinarily, the calls from KNP chair Sannikov would have provoked a wider row over the future of Krasnislavians. However, with the escalating conflict in Novo Srbja, and relations with Kadikistan deteriorating, the Free State's political elite are very much focused elsewhere.
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[Polesia]

Di Tsayt

Opposition parties demand 'de-escalation'

AMSTOV - Kadikistani threats of war and growing international tension over the future of Novo Srbja have led to demands from politicians of all stripes for the government to 'de-escalate' the situation, with Homeland Union leader Moisei Carlebach accusing Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann of provoking "another needless conflict".

A raucous session in the National Assembly saw insults traded across the floor, with David Trunk, a senior member of the ruling Social Democratic Alliance, calling Carlebach and other critics of the government's foreign policy "cowards" and "Kadikistani stooges".

Shmuel Bernstein, head of the liberal Alternative party, appealed for calm, although said the Free State should not "remove any options from the table" when it came to handling the crisis in Novo Srbja.

The fierce debate follows a fiery public speech by Ratko Salatic, newly-instated General-Secretary of the Kadikistan Communist Workers' Party, in which he threatened to invade the Free State should Bourgogne continue to intervene military in the Novo Srbjan civil war. Just last week the Burgundian air force starting flying aerial patrols over the war-torn country, with the aim of protecting civilian air traffic and allowing humanitarian flights in and out of the country. While Trivodnian aircraft are not involved in the patrols, Burgundian planes are using airbases in the Free State to conduct their missions.

Yitzhak Epstein, chair of the People's Party, warned the Free State's limited involvement was already jeopardising national security. "There is no reason for us to interfere" Epstein claimed, "we have done enough to protect our borders."

Troops and tanks closed the main routes between Novo Srbja and the Free State last week, ostensibly to prevent unauthorised crossings. However many suspect it was intended to help pressure the so-called 'People's Republic of Istokgrad', a Kadikistani-backed, Communist-led breakaway state in eastern Novo Srbja, to reopen negotiations with the Federal Srbjan government and rejoin the fight against the secessionist Novosad Liberation Army, which is rumoured to be responsible for countless civilian massacres.

In response to the aerial patrols and border closure, the Kadikistani government mobilised the entire Western Direction of its armed forces, rumoured to be some one million men. But Chancellor Kahemann and the Social Democrats are keen to play down the threat.

"According to the latest intelligence estimates, the Kadikistani military does not have the logistical capacity to mobilise a hundred thousand men, let alone a million," Kahnemann insisted to the National Assembly, "the latest outbursts from Ivar are typical propaganda from a weakened regime."

Yet Kahnemann's own side is not without its doubters. "The Kadikistanis could crush us like a fly if they wanted", lamented one Social Democrat, speaking anonymously. Others questioned whether his previous policy of rapprochement was worth it at all.

"We're back to where we were with Kadikistan about ten years ago", mourned another high-up Social Democrat, "we sold out our principles for some bear skins and vodka and nothing has changed".

Military sources are mixed on whether Kadikistan will actually strike. However, the Ministry of National Defence is taking no chances, stepping up aerial, maritime and ground patrols. Reservists have also received letters saying they may be called to arms, while villagers along the border report increased activity.

The Free State's armed forces have embarked on an ambitious modernisation programme since the start of the year, overhauling the recruitment and training processes while also purchasing new equipment from Bourgogne and Eiffelland. Yet it will likely not be enough.

"The Free State will not survive a war with Kadikistan", warns a retired general, "our best hope is peace and diplomacy. Or that the Kadikistanis are lying."
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[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
The Morning Journal

CHANCELLOR PROMISES 'MULTI-BILLION MARK' FISCAL STIMULUS

In response to yesterday's warning from the Free State Monetary and Foreign Exchange Authority (MFEA) that Trivodnia faced moving into recession, Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann has promised to a deliver a huge investment package to help kickstart the economy.

According to the MFEA, the Free State experienced negative growth in the last quarter, with unrest in both Kadikistan and Novo Srbja weighing down consumer confidence, domestic business activity and foreign investment. A weakened Trivodnian Mark has also driven up the costs of imports, while failing to boost exports, leading to a widening balance of payments deficit.

"The outlook for the Free State's economy is far from positive," warned Zalman Feinburg, head of the MFEA, "drastic action is required or we will enter into a prolonged period of stagnation."

Chancellor Kahneman's multi-billion Mark stimulus will focus on improving Trivodnia's infrastructure, with the government planning to approach Bourgogne, Eiffelland, Pelasgia and others to secure debt finance on favourable terms to fund the construction of new roads, railways and bridges.

Defence spending will also increase dramatically after Kadikistan threatened to invade the Free State following [MENTION=26]Bourgogne[/MENTION]'s intervention into the Novo Srbjan civil war.

Chancellor Kahnemann has also pledged to try and normalise relations with Ivar, which recently announced the creation of 122 Economic Free Zones. Sources close to the Chancellery say the government is keen to capitalise on Trivodnia's expertise in finance and mining to get a foothold in Kadikistan, which many investors see as a huge untapped market with lots of potential, albeit with considerable risks.

Many are sceptical about the government's plans. "Kadikistan has emerged as a key export market for Trivodnia, but as the recent palace coup and threats of war have demonstrated, it is one fraught with dangers," says Ivan Gottesman, co-founder of Gottesman Brothers investment bank, "while as our biggest neighbour we cannot ignore Kadikistan, basing an economic recovery strategy on boosting cross-border trade is unlikely to prove sustainable over the long term."

Commenting on the government's plans to ask Trivodnia's allies for cheap loans to fund infrastructure spending, Gottesman added: "I wouldn't rely on the kindness of strangers to bail us out."

Politically, a cross-party consensus is emerging in support for greater infrastructure and military investment, but strong opposition to rapprochement with Kadikistan.

David Trunk, a senior Social Democratic National Assembly member, who advocated a hard line on Kadikistan during the Novo Srbja crisis, declared "things cannot go back to normal" and said "apologies and assurances are needed from Ivar" before any resetting of ties can take place.

Yitzhak Epstein, leader of the People's Party, vowed to block any legislation that gave "concessions" to Kadikistan, as did Moisei Carlebach, head of the Homeland Union and Shmuel Bernstein, chair of the liberal Alternative party.
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[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
The Morning Journal

1921 PEACE TREATY "INVALIDATED"

The peace treaty between Trivodnia and Kadikistan is no longer valid and the Free State should look to abandon its constitutional commitment to neutrality, a leading Social Democrat is expected to say today.

National Assembly member David Trunk, one of the country’s longest-serving elected representatives, will make the claims at a set-piece speech in the port-city of Kretyn, which has long been a Social Democratic stronghold.

Sources within the party suggest Trunk is preparing to mount a leadership challenge against Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann, who has faced strong internal opposition to his policy of reconciliation with Kadikistan.

However allies of Trunk say he is helping to support Kahnemann as he prepares for his visits to Bourgogne, Eiffelland and Pelasgia. The Chancellor is trying to secure favourable loans in order to finance new infrastructure projects to kickstart the Trivodnian economy, as well as encourage overseas private investment into the Free State.

Relations with Ivar have emerged as a contentious political issue after Kadikistan threatened to invade Trivodnia following Bourgogne’s intervention into the Novo Srbjan civil war.

A behind-closed-doors deal between Bourgogne and Kadikistan saw war averted, and peace has now returned to Novo Srbja, although the breakaway state of Istokgrad still maintains its independence.

Trunk wants a harder line taken against Kadikistan, and insists no normalisation of ties can take place until there is a public apology and formal reassurance of Trivodnia’s security.

In his speech later today, Trunk will argue Ivar’s threats of war invalidate the 1921 Peace Treaty, which contains a mutual non-aggression clause and renewed guarantee of Trivodnia’s independence.

In return, Trivodnia committed itself to diplomatic neutrality, which has since been enshrined in the constitution. Trunk now wants the constitution amended to allow the Free State to enter into military alliances.

"Kadikistan is no friend of ours and never will be," the veteran Social Democrat will say, "the new regime in Ivar is just as bloodthirsty as the old. Only by working in solidarity with other democracies will we guarantee our freedom."

Others are less convinced. "Kadikistan is opening up its economy, which is a huge opportunity for the Free State, yet some just want to sit here and rattle their sabres," sighed one official within the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

But Trunk may have the public on his side. The decision to invite a delegation from the Kadikistani People’s Commissariat for Trade to Amstov prompted demonstrations, many led by demobilised soldiers who had just returned from the frontline after preparing for a potential Kadikistani invasion.

"The Trivodnian people are not fools," growled one ex-soldier at an anti-Kadikistani rally in Kretyn, "we know a wolf when we see one."
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[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
The Morning Journal

EDITORIAL: TRIVODNIA ADRIFT

Kadikistani belligerence has torn through traditional party allegiances, leading the Social Democrats dangerously divided and unable to give this country the leadership it desperately needs

Trivodnia has always been defined by the three seas that surround it, and as a result has variously been described throughout its history as an 'island' or 'bridge'. Yet today Trivodnia feels more like a ship without a captain, floating into troubled waters.

The blow that struck the vessel free from its anchor was Kadikistan's outrageous threat to invade after Bourgogne's more-than-justifiable intervention into the Novo Srbjan civil war. It became quickly apparent the so-called 'New Order' in Ivar, with its readiness to use violence, was no different from the old one.

Yet no sooner than when Bourgogne and Kadikistan announced they had reached an understanding on Novo Srbja, was Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann declaring the need for Trivodnia to normalise relations with its biggest neighbour.

But it was not just ordinary Trivodnians who were outraged by this complete betrayal, honourable Social Democrats have also responded with uproar, leading to public spats at the very highest levels of government.

As Chancellor Kahnemann heads abroad with his begging bowl, many within his party have started to manoeuvre against him. External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski is conspicuously absence from the visits to Eiffelland and Pelasgia, while veteran assembly member David Trunk tours the country delivering rousing speeches railing against Kadikistan.

Faced with such mutiny, it is uncertain whether Chancellor Kahemann returns from his fundraising trip if he will still be leading the country. Clearly such a course is unsustainable.

Trivodnia is in dire need of a change in direction. The economic headwinds are pushing us towards recession and higher inflation, while the brewing storm in Kadikistan could smash us into the rocks.

Lacking the confidence of his party and indeed, the wider public, Chancellor Kahnemann should do what is decent and resign. Should the Social Democrats found a suitable replacement, then let him lead - now is not the time for needless instability. But should they fail, they should go to the country and let it chose its new captain.

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[Polesia]

Di Tsayt

Strident editorial sends Social Democrats reeling

The Morning Journal's leader column calling on Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann to resign has provoked a furious reaction from the government and left the Social Democratic Alliance in chaos.

Ministers and their officials are reportedly banned from speaking with the paper, which is the first to be published each day and has been praised even by rivals for its agenda-setting coverage.

Sources close to the Chancellery say Kahnemann flew into a rage after reading the article, which described Trivodnia as a lost ship.

Meanwhile Social Democrat backbenchers are repeating calls for the Chancellor to step down now and a new leader to be elected as soon as possible. "Alexander [Kahnemann] has betrayed this party and the Trivodnian people," claims Social Democrat assembly member Yury Bogdanov, "he must go."

External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski is rumoured to be planning a leadership challenge after refusing to join the Chancellor on his tour abroad, as is David Trunk, a long-serving assembly member who recently visited the port-city of Kretyn to denounce any reconciliation with Kadikistan.

Kretyn is the hotbed of the trade union movement, which has formed the backbone of support for the Social Democratic Alliance. It too is divided over Kahnemann's future.

"This is a Krasnislavian plot," insists one trade unionist, "they don't like having a Yiddish-speaker leading the party."

"Men here were willing to put down their tools and pick up weapons to fight the Kadikistanis," says another, "they do not see how we can be friends."

The Morning Journal has traditionally been a politically neutral publication. However since Leon Schulmann took over as editor, replacing his deceased father Albert Schulmann, the paper's founder, it has grown more and more hostile to the ruling Social Democrats.

A fall in circulation following his father's death led Schulmann Junior to seek financial help from Amstov's business community, which has been a vocal opponent of the Social Democrats' economic policies.

"Leon received some useful loans, and is now in debt in more ways than one," suggests a former employee.

Schulmann Jnr was also recently spotted visiting New Ararat, a settlement founded by Yiddish-speaking immigrants that has emerged as a stronghold for the Homeland Union, leading many to suspect he is helping co-ordinate the political opposition.

"Albert wielded his influence subtly, carefully flashing the knife now and then," says a close friend of the Journal's founding editor; "Leon carries it like a giant sword."

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[Polesia]

Di Tsayt

Chancellor blasts opposition "hypocrisy"

Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann has come out fighting in defence of his leadership, accusing opposition parties of "gross hypocrisy" and "rank opportunism" for their stance over relations with Kadikistan.

Speaking to the press before departing for his visits to Eiffelland and Pelasgia, Kahnemann slammed the People's Party and Homeland Union for previously demanding "de-escalation" of tensions with Ivar, only to now protest against a normalisation of ties.

Attacking critics within his own party, the Social Democrats' leader said it was "easy to grandstand in the streets" but much harder to "conduct real diplomacy", which many have have interpreted as a swipe against David Trunk, a senior Social Democratic National Assembly member who has campaigned for a harder line on Kadikistan.

Pressed on claims Eiffelland and Pelasgia were reconsidering offering loans to Trivodnia given the uncertainty surrounding his position, Kahnemann insisted the two countries were "eager" to support the Free State. The government is also looking to Bourgogne to extend its military and financial assistance.

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[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
The Morning Journal

KRASNISLAVIAN FURY OVER TRIER SYNAGOGUE VISIT

Krasnislavian nationalists have demanded Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann cancel his plans to visit a synagogue in the Eiffellandian capital Trier, as critics within his own party suggest the move could undermine the Social Democrats' commitment to secularism and ethnic pluralism.

The Chancellor is in Eiffelland with Treasury minister Igor Savitsky and Trade and Industry minister Dmitry Rybak to try and secure cheap state-backed loans that could finance new infrastructure projects and help kickstart the Free State economy. Improved defence co-operation and increased cultural exchange are also on the agenda.

However on the second day of Chancellor Kahnemann's visit he is expected to meet with representatives from Eiffelland's Jewish community at local synagogue in the capital. The Krasnislavian National Party has warned the meeting would "convince the world that the Free State is ultimately a Yiddish project", with KNP leader Uladzimir Sannikov calling on the Chancellor to remove it from his official itinerary.

"Alexander Kahnemann should be representing all Trivodnians, not just the Jews," insisted Sannikov at a National Assembly debate. He was joined by Social Democratic backbencher Yury Bogdanov, who said the Social Democrats should "uphold the separation between the political and the religious".

The Chancellery has rejected the criticisms, noting both minister Savitsky and minister Rybak are due to attend as well, and the event was organised at the request of local Jewish leaders with the support of the Eiffellandian government.

Ending days of disputes over Kahnemann's handling of Kadikistan, opposition parties also lined up to back the Chancellor. "Trivodnia is a Jewish nation as well as a Slavic one," said Yiddish People's Party leader Yitzhak Epstein, while head of the Alternative party Shmuel Bernstein said the Free State's politics should be "moving beyond" cultural differences.

When visiting Pelasgia, the Chancellor and his accompanying ministers will avoid seeing the Holy Land over fears it could reignite debate over Pelasgian restrictions on Jewish immigration, which have been condemned internationally as anti-Semitic.

Sources within the Chancellery had previously hoped the visit to Eiffelland would prove less controversial. Chancellor Kahnemann will arrive in Trier today, where he will spend most of the day in behind-closed-doors meetings with his Eiffellandian counterpart Matthias Graf von Seydewitz. Ministers Savitsky and Rybak will also attend, and be joined by Eiffellandian Finance minister Heinz-Dieter Lardinois and Economic Affairs minister Dr. Stephan Roepke.

The trip follows a successful state visit earlier this year by King Albrecht III and his family, who was hosted by President Meier Lauterpacht. The Eiffellandian monarch addressed the National Assembly, where he called for a deepening of ties and defence of democratic values.
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[Polesia]

Der farnakhter shtern

Government "undermining" constitutional neutrality

A group of leading constitutional experts has written an open letter to the government warning it risks "undermining" the Free State's commitment to diplomatic neutrality and is "vulnerable" to a successful challenge in the Supreme Court.

Lawyers, civil society representatives as well as former and current politicians have all signed the letter, which has been published just as Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann arrives in Eiffelland for a two-day visit before heading over to Pelasgia. Joined by Treasury minister Igor Savitsky and Trade and Industry minister Dmitry Rybak, the purpose of the tour is to secure financial aid for Trivodnia's ailing economy, although increased military co-operation and intelligence sharing are also on the agenda.

Allies of the Chancellor say the letter, a copy of which can be read inside today's Evening Star, is "politically motivated" and has "little legal basis". However a previous Supreme Court judge has claimed there is a "compelling case" to overturn the Free State's recent agreements with Bourgogne, which he told this paper on condition of anonymity "over-stepped" what was "constitutionally acceptable".

Others doubt the Supreme Court would strike such a blow against the government. "The Supreme Court has historically been deferential... it is unlikely to act in such a strong-headed way," suggests legal commentator Boris Narbut.

Before its disbandment after key figures were found to have close ties to Kadikistan, the League for Armed Neutrality was planning on mounting a legal challenge to the government's foreign policy. Now it is rumoured a new cross-party alliance, including lawmakers from the ruling Social Democratic Alliance, is considering doing the same once Chancellor Kahnemann returns home.

"We'll have to wait and see what [Kahnemann] promised the Eiffellandians and Pelasgians in return for our new bridges, roads and railways," explains one opposition politician, "if it is simply money back with interest then fine, but if it is to be part of some wider scheme against Kadikistan, that it is too far."

External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski has claimed the deals being made in Eiffelland and Pelasgia were "above board". "There is nothing illegal or unconstitutional happening," says Pinski, "we are fully aware of the restrictions placed on us by Article Five."

Others want Trivodnia's constitutional commitment to neutrality abandoned altogether, and think Chancellor Kahnemann has tried to get to close with Ivar. "The best way to guarantee our security is to work with others," says veteran Social Democrat and long-time hawk David Trunk, "Kadikistan clearly won't uphold its obligation to protect our sovereignty."

Trivodnia's constitutional enshrinement of neutrality followed the 1921 peace treaty with Kadikistan, in which the emergent Free State agreed not to enter into military alliances in return for Kadikistan guaranteeing its independence.

Government spokesmen insist there are no plans to amend the Constitution.
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[Rheinbund]

Eiffellaendischer Judenverband

We are a bit puzzled about the controversy regarding the meeting we had with Chancellor Kahnemann of the Yiddish Free State. This meeting was a meeting between representants of Jewish People and had nothing to do with religion. The Trierer Synagogue (a very beautiful building from the 1860s) was chosen for this meeting, because a Synagogue is not only a religious place but also a place symbolising Judaism.
We enjoyed our conversation with Chancellor Kahnemann, and consider this conversation very important. It is needed that such conversations between representants of the Jewish People in the world take place more often.

David Wittgenstein, Chairman of the Eiffellaendischer Judenverband

 

[Polesia]

DER MORGEN ZSHURNAL
The Morning Journal

KRASNISLAVIAN NATIONALISTS DEMAND RETURN OF LUCHENOK CONVENTION

The Krasnislavian National Party (KNP) has called on the Social Democratic Alliance to "honour" the Luchenok Convention and nominate an ethnic Krasnislavian as the next Chancellor or President.

Named after Trivodnia's first President Mikhail Luchenok, the convention was an informal agreement between the Free State's main political parties that the Chancellery and Presidency should never be occupied by two people from the same ethnic, cultural or religious background. The pact formed part of what became known as the 1919 National Compromise, which ended fighting between Krasnislavian and Yiddish nationalist factions and eventually led to peace with Kadikistan.

Many KNP politicians at the time wanted the convention enshrined in the constitution, but Luchenok, who led the KNP before being elected President, warned it would entrench social divisions within in the newly independent Free State.

The convention was respected by all parties until the election of Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann, who argued his landslide victory allowed ignore the agreement, and said "Trivodnia must see its leaders as Trivodnians - not Jews or Slavs".

His election came two years after Meier Lauterpacht, a former member of the Yiddish People's Party, won the Presidency.

Following the controversy of Chancellor Kahnemann's stop at a synagogue in the Eiffellandian capital Trier as part of an official visit to the country, Krasnislavian nationalists are demanding the Luchenok Convention be reinstated, meaning either Kahnemann and Lauterpacht would have to step down at the next election.

"The balance of power between Trivodnia's communities is becoming more and more uneven by the day," said Uladzimir Sannikov, leader of the KNP, "unless we honour what was originally agreed by the Founding Fathers, the Free State will soon no longer represent all of its citizens."

The KNP's anger over the synagogue trip has been compounded over news that the Eiffellandian Jewish Association will be formally involved in the cultural exchange programmes agreed during Chancellor Kahnemann's visit.

"The Chancellor didn't meet with representatives from the Krasnislavian community on his travels... he was pursuing a very narrow agenda," suggested Sannikov at a National Assembly debate.

The Social Democratic Alliance has been swift to reject the KNP's demands, which have received little support from other opposition parties.

"Trivodnia's leaders should be chosen for their ideas, not their heritage," insisted External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski, while Shmuel Bernstein, head of the liberal Alternative party, said it was time for a "new politics" that emphasised "commonalities over differences".

Academic surveys suggest the number of people who identify as 'Trivodnian first and foremost' has been steadily rising, although they still remain a minority. Support for the Luchenok Convention is split among cultural lines, being strongly favoured by Krasnislavians and largely opposed by Yiddish-speakers.
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[Polesia]

Der farnakhter shtern

Intelligence leak: Trivodnian sources "wiped out" in Kadikistan

A top secret intelligence briefing seen by the Evening Star suggests Trivodnia's military has little understanding of what is currently happening in Kadikistan, with the Free State's network of informants "wiped out" in the coup d'état following Nikolai Leninov's sudden death.

In a document prepared for the State Council, which includes senior ministers, the Chancellor and President, military officials said work was underway to create "new sources of information" but warned the process could take "years".

The leak could have serious implications for Trivodnia's recent deals with Bourgogne and Eiffelland, in which intelligence-sharing was a key element.

The Ministry of National Defence has refused to acknowledge the document and said it would not comment on "operational matters".

Intelligence officers speaking to this paper were divided on the briefing's claims, with one describing it as "alarmist". "Trivodnia has more access to the inner workings of Ivar than any other nation," he said, "the palace coup may have caused complications but you'll be a fool if you don't know think we had insiders in all factions."

Others warned the situation was dire. "We have to rely on smugglers now to know what's going on," lamented another agent.

As well as potentially undermining existing agreements with Bourgogne and Eiffelland, the leak could weaken Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann as he prepares to visit Pelasgia on the second part of his trip abroad.

The Chancellor is expected to ask for cheap loans from the Pelasgian government to fund new infrastructure and to be able to buy new military equipment on favourable terms, arguing Trivodnia is of strategic use containing Kadikistan. If true, the leaked briefing could undermine that claim.

For Chancellor Kahnemann, it is likely to have implications at home, as criticism mounts over his handling of defence and foreign policy. "We cannot have a man leading us blind and naked into the unknown," hissed one Social Democratic backbencher.

Opposition parties agree. "The Chancellor must make a statement as soon as he returns," demanded Yitzhak Epstein, leader of the Yiddish People's Party, "our security is at risk."

If he chooses, Chancellor Kahnemann can avoid a public explanation citing the sensitivity around covert intelligence gathering.

His office did not respond to requests for comment.
​

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Grand Duchy of Bourgogne

The Grand Duchy would like to reaffirm its position in support of the Yiddish Free State. We are committed to the policy of mutual defense and intelligence sharing. The two nations share common values of freedom and progress while acknowledging tradition as part of our character.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We regret that the impression arose that Chancellor Kahnemann would have served only the interests of the Jewish community in Trivodnia, and not the interests of the Slavic community. This is, however, not the impression that we perceived. We received Chancellor Kahnemann and the Ministers Savitsky and Rybak as representants of Trivodnia as a whole, both the Jewish and the Slavic community (and all other communities in Trivodnia). The decisions we agreed upon are valid for Trivodnia as a whole, regardless of communities. This means that all Trivodnians will benefit from it, be they Jews, be they Slavics, or be they members of other Trivodnian communities.
We realise that it would have been better if Chancellor Kahnemann would have visited Trivodnians of other than Jewish descent as well; however, we do not know any associations we could have contacted for this.

We would also like to reaffirm that we continue to stand for earlier agreements on intelligence sharing and defence cooperation.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor


Eiffellaendischer Judenverband
Trier, Eiffelland

We didn’t realise that this matter was so sensitive in Trivodnia. Indeed, the committee of the EJV received Chancellor Kahnemann as a member of the Jewish community, but it is our intention to let the agreements we made with Chancellor Kahnemann apply to all Trivodnians, both the Jews and the Slavics and all other Trivodnians. This means that we will also help Trivodnian exchange students from the Slavic community, in whichever way.

David Wittgenstein, Chairman

 

[Kadikistani Union]

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National Committee for Justice and the Rejuvenation of Socialism
Office of the People's Commissariat for External Affairs​

Naturally the Kadikistani State and its vast military apparatus deny the latest claims coming from the ever-provocative Trivodnian government. If indeed the Trivodnian intelligence agencies had any informants within the highest echelons of the Kadikistani Communist Workers' Party it was the result of the decadence and corrupt atmosphere that surrounded and indeed consumed the overthrown Clan-based system. Membership of one of the various rivalling Clans is no longer a necessity for social growth and promotion, making sure that the most qualified rules with the approval of the Kadikistani people's. This, along with the eradication of the national sickness, will prevent such infiltrations as much as possible, though we realize it can never be fully excluded, such are the flaws of men that the previous regime enduldged.

Furthermore we once again state that any and all Kadikistani's, regardless of rank or position within the Party or the military, caught collaborating in any way with foreign nations or entities, without the knowledge of the Diretorate of Intelligence, will be tried before a People's Tribunal as a traitor with the public demanding the maximum penalty, death.

Signed,
Col. Dimitri Leninov
People's Commissar for External Affairs
Democratic Republic of Kadikistan

 

[Polesia]

Di Tsayt

Jewish Homeland controversy overshadows Pelasgia visit

Calls for Pelasgia to overturn its laws restricting Jewish migration to the Holy Land have cause a political storm at home and abroad after a senior Pelasgian minister hailed Trivodnia has an "alternative Jewish homeland" and urged would-be Jewish settlers to head here instead.

Chancellor Alexander Kahnemann had been in the north Himyari nation with Treasury minister Igor Savitsky and Trade and Industry minister Dmitry Rybak to discuss improving economic ties. They were joined by the Pelasgian prime minister Lord Eugenios Chalkondyles, Economics minister Ioannes-Gavriel Karolou Eynardos, and Shipping and Trade Minister Perikles Periandrou Grammatikos for two days of talks.

However controversy ensued after Pelasgian Foreign Affairs minister Ikaros Dragases, who did not attend the discussions, described Trivodnia as an "alternative Jewish homeland" at press conference and urged all Jewish settlers to head to the Free State, provoking outrage from Krasnislavian nationalists, who had hoped Pelasgia as the leading Orthodox Christian power to help further their agenda.

"Trivodnia does not belong to any one single group," declared Uladzimir Sannikov, leader of the Krasnislavian National Party, "we had hoped Pelasgia would understand our situation a little better."

Chancellor Kahnemann, keen to avoid the outrage that followed his visit to a synagogue in the Eiffellandian capital Trier, was quick to dismiss minister Dragases' suggestion, stating "Trivodnia is only a homeland to the people already living there".

Facing a massive influx of Zionist settlers attempting to create a Jewish state in the Holy Land, Pelasgia implemented new legislation last year restricting Jewish immigration to the area, which was widely condemned by the international community.

Opposition parties have been pushing Chancellor Kahnemann to urge the Pelasgian government to repeal the laws, and before Chancellor Kahnemann arrived in Pelasgia External Affairs minister Vladimir Pinski stated "the Free State rejects any policy that discriminates on the basis of faith or race" and that the Chancellor would privately raise the issue.

However the Pelasgian government has shown no sign of softening the rules on Jewish migration, which religious groups say have affected pilgrims as well as settlers, leading may to question how effective the Trivodnian government has been at lobbying.

"Each year thousands of Trivodnian Jews head to the Holy Land to see relatives and the sacred sites but many are turned away on arrival," said Yitzhak Epstein, leader of the Yiddish People's Party, "Chancellor Kahnemann and his administration have let them down."

Moisei Carlebach, head of the Homeland Union, said Pelasgian "intransigence" highlighted the need for a change in Trivodnian immigration laws to grant Jews easier citizenship. "Despite being one of the world's oldest people's, the Jews have been repeatedly denied their own nation-state", said Carlebach, "Pelasgian intransigence on settlement in the Holy Land means for now Trivodnia must be their home." ​

 

[Pelasgia]

Pelasgian Empire
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Public Statement

​

7th of August, 1957
To whom it may concern,

The Pelasgian Empire would like to remind to all those who are quick to criticise the Semitic Migration Decree as "anti-Semitic" that the Imperial Decree in question was not signed merely due to a "surge" in Jewish migration, but due to the attempts by foreign Jews (as well as foreign Muslims), in addition to radical elements of the Empire's native Jews and Muslims, to violently separate the Diocese of Philistaea (then the Theme thereof) from the Empire and to form a separate state. The violent struggle that was initiated by these groups involved the death and maiming of thousands of Pelasgian citizens of all races and creeds, and the displacement of thousands more, as well as incalculable damage to the historic city centre of Hiersolyma and other Philistine cities.

Pilgrims, tourists and other visitors are free to visit Pelasgia, and the Holy Land in particular, provided they abide by local laws. It is migration and resettlement that is prohibited, until the wounds of the Augusto-Septemvriana, whose anniversary is but a few days away, are healed, and the Empire's authorities can rest assured that such tragic events will not be repeated. As for any supposed "international condemnation" of the Decree in question, Pelasgia's authorities can only recall understanding on the part of foreign nations when the Decree was enacted. The Empire shall continue to push for the rights of Orthodox minorities across the world, the Kranislavians included, and hopes that they may all feel as included and free as the Jews of Pelasgia, three of whom are senior ministers in the current Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty, in the near future, if they do not do so already.

Signed and Sealed,

Ikaros Dragases

Minister of Foreign Affairs & Patrician Nobelissimus
Pelasgian Empire

​