NationStates Jolt Archive


Durtistan announces expansion and federalisation.

Durtistan
03-05-2004, 17:04
Edmund Warspite stepped up to the podium and stared out over the sea of journalists. The venue for the announcement had been carefully chosen - the same spot on which four hundred years earlier the King of the Besseravians had surrendered and the office of the Lord Protector had been created. The oak walls were lined with pictures; the war, the major figures of the conflict in portrait, the fallen standard of the King and the proud flag of Durtistan. Warspite smiled warmly at the media and cleared his throat.

"To understand what today means to our nation, you have to understand the history of our nation. Four hundred years ago, almost to the day, the people of Durtistan took the last step from being a province of imperialist Besseravia to being a nation in its own right. In that time, we have grown and prospered until today we take the next step - unity with the last vestiges of the old Empire.

For the last four centuries, we have existed alongside Besseravia and been forced to watch our neighbour fail where we thrived, founder where we walked tall, unable to offer significant help or aid because of a political climate of distrust and suspicion. However, all things change.

For the last six months, Alexander James Bobelescue and I have been working on the creation of a unified state that allows both nations to retain their identity and soveriegnty whilst allowing both to benefit from the economic power of Durtistan. I would like to bring Alexander up here now to help explain what we're about to create."

The door behind the podium opened and out stepped Bobelescue - or rather, His Highness Prince Alexander of Besseravia. A small, slight man he seemed in complete contrast to the former military officer Warspite. Bobelescue smiled a rather nervous smile at the audience and stepped up to the microphone. When he spoke, his voice was hesitant, as if he were unused to speaking in public.

"It is indeed a...great day" he began, looking sideways to Warspite, "a day to be long remembered. For today, we...create anew an old order...yet one which has at its core a great...modernity. Economic and...political...unity, restoring the bonds of ancient...brotherhood...that have too long kept seperate two states." He seemed to flounder, looking suddenly lost. Warspite leaned in, wrapping an arm around the shoulder of the smaller man.

"Please excuse Alexander" he said "His highness has personally overseen all of the negotiations and consequently has been up literally all night. He's not one of nature's delegaters, whereas you all know I have an excellent staff at my disposal. The heart of the matter is this: Besseravia and Durtistan are now one nation, under the aegis of my office. Besseravia is renaming itself Durtistania. Both countries will be considered federal states, with a new Federal government to be set up by the end of next year. His Highness will retain his position as monarch; however I have to announce that he is stepping away from government in favour of duties that will remove him entirely from national politics. Instead, he will be representing our federal state to the United Nations. Durtistan will be responsible for the defence of both nations, with the former Besseravian army being absorbed into the Army's 3 Corps. Politically, the former Besseravian Parliament will now sit with the House of Representatives and we will expand the powers of the House to cover the old Parliament's roles and powers. This is significant reform for both nations, leading we hope to greater political freedoms for both our peoples and greater representation of their views."

"Durtistan Arms, which as you probably know consists of Aiglos Systems, Critical Faculty and Specific Engines Inc. will be expanded to take onboard the Erskib Shipyards, Omni Air and GruntWarfare Groundsystems giving Durtistan Arms an actual manufacturing capacity. This represents a massive investment on our part and is indicative of the kind of material investment that you will see in the near future as Durtistan and Durtistania become closer. We have promised that the economioc stability and security of both nations will be treated equally. Consequently I am happy to announce that the Navy will be placing an order for an additional six Astute class submarines from Erskib Shipyards, construction to begin at the end of this year. This is a multi-billion dollar order and there will be more."

Warspite noted the interest.

"There will be additional press conferences throughout today" he said "as various governmental departments announce how this will affect them and their responsibilities. There is a great deal more to cover, but for now His Highness and I are off to celebrate...I'm having a glass of champagne but I think Prince Alexander would prefer coffee. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen."

They left, with Warspite waving away questions and smiling for the cameras. Once the door was closed and two Secret Servicemen had secured it, Alexander seemed to pull himself together.
"You're a bastard, Warspite" he said, without much anger.
"It's part of the job, Alex" answered the Lord Protector. Prince Alexander turned to look him in the eye.
"Edmund, if they ever find out why we're really doing this I'll be lynched. Are you sure your chaps did a good enough job?"
"You bankrupted your country, Alexander. There's only so much my accountants can do. We'll slap a Restriction on the paperwork, lose some of it in the reorganisation...but there'll always be a trail to follow. That's why you aren't running your country any more. That's why you'll be going abroad as soon as we can arrange it. And that's why you'll be staying abroad."
"It still rankles, though," said Bobelescue sadly "selling ones birthright to pay the family debts."
"Better that than civil war" said Warspite "because that's what it would have come to and you know we'd have intervened. Would you have preferred an invasion?"
"No, but neither am I entirely sure that you weren't funding some of those malcontents."
"You have my word that we were not, although we did pay various individuals to spy on you. I understand my head of Intelligence is looking forward to full disclosure on who you had spying on us. He has a list of suspects."
"That's statecraft, Edmund. That's expected. I warn you now, though, if I ever find out you were behind the move towards revolution I will come back here and kill you myself."
"I would expect nothing less from you" said Warspite happily, "now...champagne?"
"Yes. Why not. Why not indeed." Bobelescue shrugged, and accepted the glass. What else could he do?