NationStates Jolt Archive

Since Provoçe's death last month Alia has been quiet on the political scene. All party meetings have been abandonded with the Hall of the party sitting empty day after day.

However Comrade General Secretary has just begun a party meeting in the Hall of the Party in central Terrevesti. The Comrade General Secretary Alia Prekov recently turned 38 on the 2nd of April with aparently little or no celebration In contrast to his predissesor who held lavish celebrations and mass parades which has alarmed the party who believe there will be no cult of personality built up around the Comrade General Secretary.

The Meeting was in session. It was the first time since Provoçe's death that the Hall of the Party had been filled.

Alia was standing on the podium.

"Greetings comrades. I am here to announce large changes to Bulgislavia. Though I respect the Former Comrade President Provoçe he made many mistakes towards the end...." Alia's speech was cut off my the chatter and gossip of the party

"Comrades, Calm down, we all know better. I have control of the books and off the papers and I can see now that the situation of the economy and country is not as pretty as we all believed. Paper is patient but nothing on them ever came true or was the truth. I am here first to address the mistakes of the past now that we should openly talk about them. It is known of the villa's Provoçe lived in, His many vehicles and statues of him. He wanted everyone to believe that he was superman. The cult of personality must be crushed we can not have a cult surrounding the leaders its very bad politics we are all humans here, equal humans"

The party then looked around in confusion and amazement never have they heard any party member speak like this of the Former Comrade President Provoçe

"Comrades, Provoçe is ingrained in Bulgislavian culture now. his statues and portraits are everywhere, history exaggerated his achievements. To scrap this all would be disasterious but I promise to put Provoçe in the history books honestly and truthfully with no exaggerations. Already teams will be moving some of the portraits into museums and some of his statues are being replaced with statues of regular citizens and working people and monuments to the ideals of the party"

Alia picked up some papers then began speaking again

"I would also like to allow more freedom in Bulgislavia. We have to look at the international standard of human rights. Cigouriva is arresting people and spying on them 24/7 I would like to limit the power of Cigouriva and end 24 hour survallence on the people. Why should we spy on our people this shows how little trust we have in this country and this must change! And I would also like to say that we have always preached equality yet we have minorities who are singled out and oppressed and we have party members with villas and vehicles whil regular citizens have cars with no tires! I would like to call in an investigation of all party activities to eliminate corruption. I propose building a Government block in which all government members can live in modest apartments like all citizens"

"Also addressing the issues of creating equal rights for everyone I declare Homosexual relationships to be legal and I would also like before the end of the year to allow Same sex marriage and Same sex couples for adoption. It is disgusting that loyal patriotic comrades have been persecuted for thier sexuality and we should stand for equality for ALL!"

The party then erupted into large cries and chatter. Alia tried to calm them down but in the end he gave up and walked out of the Hall though the side leaving teh party to bicker amoungst themselves. Alia knew reforms would not go down well with a government which had only known stalinism for 62 years. Alia had a plan and it was not nice.

Alia's plan involved a purge of the government and military of all the hardliners. The last thing Alia wanted for the country was it to suffer a stalinist coup. The purge would begin at the first sign of any dissent in the government and against Alia's reforms.

On the news the Party meeting was shown all over TV of the changes. However Alia's condemnation of Provoçe and his mistakes was edited out and hidden from the public instead it only recalled the new reforms. It was not the end of the reforms though Alia later announced on radio that new reforms will be announced allowing free travel within Bulgislavia and that the party would review its stance on travel abroad to the outside.


The underground gay community in Bulgislavia was extremely stunned. they had no organization to represent themselves and for the past 62 years thier relationships and activities had been banned. before Alia's speech being homosexual could get you 25 years in a labour camp but now it was completly free and not just that but by the end of the year they would even be allowed to marry and adopt children. It only began with a small group of homosexual men and woman who were dancing and parading down a small street.

Alia's speech got mixed reactions. most people welcomed the new relaxation of laws and some people expressed joy and happiness of a new change in the government with people gathering in groups chanting

"Alia is our man! Alia is our man!"

but the only discontent was over the legalization of homosexuality where conservative and stalinist supporters were screaming

"Terrevesti will never be gay!" with the group of them stonning a hidden gay club and some hate crimes sparking in the area

Alia later announced

"I admitt it may take some time for peoples attitudes to change but we must educate the people. Everyone has the right to love, have children. They are Loyal Bulgislavians too we cant exclude them from our nation"


DAY 1 OF THE BULGISLAVIAN REFORMS..................................................

Skyland Mt wholeheartedly supports this move away from totalitarianism, however we urge caution, and ask that your nation use no more force than nessissary to carry out these reforms.

Secretary of Human rights, Skyland Mt.

To Skyland Mt

We are happy to have your support for Bulgislavian reforms. I understand your concerns about the force that might have to be used. The hardliners are stubborn and will not want to give up thier power so easily and I fear they might use hardliners in th military to stage a coup. I'm afraid that the only way I can continue with the reforms if If if purge hardliners from the government. its a nessasary step to help bring more liberty to Bulgislavia. We would value your continued support

From General Secretary of the Bulgislavian Workers Party Alia Prekov

The new Bulgian Popular Republic reacts with mixed signals to its little neighbour's reforms. Bulgia has of course been far less hard-line than Bulgislavia in recent years, and has only just re-elected a Communist administration, but while currently far more liberal, the BCP is pushing in the opposite direction to Prekov's reformists.

Besk is continuing with trade and infrastructure development agreements between the two Balkan nations, but many in the Bulgian Communist Party are crying foul over the 'defamation' of comrade Provoçe. A handful have cancelled planned visits to Bulgislavia, but this pales in significance next to moves within the Bulgian military and intelligence community.

While the new Prime Minister has little but praise for Alia, in the minds of a very few influential Bulgians, Prekov is a class traitor who must be delt with...

“I don’t understand them, Louis,” Jacqueline remarked, tilting back her glass, sipping the scarlet fluid down in a single gulp before tossing her shawl across her bare flesh. “They argue over petty things such as ‘government’ and ‘politics’, but live dull, drab lives – even though some of them proclaim to be the elite of their society.” She set down her crystalline glass, leaning up in her lover’s office chair, pivoting from the sun in the rising window to peer at the bare form of Louis. “I mean, think about it, once it all boils down to it, they’re just going to die, and rot, and their souls will forever burn in fiery sands; or – God forbid! – they’ll spend an eternity singing praises to a deity that only created them because, essentially, he was bored! I mean, what do they live for?”

“Jackie,” he smirked, shaking his head as he pressed a small clothe to his brow, wiping aside the collected droplets of perspiration from their recent round, “I love it when you talk philosophy.” He chuckled, launching himself from the floor to his small bar, collecting himself a small glass of her own beverage, and soon seating himself on the desk, beside her seated form. “Essentially,” he began “They live because they have the ounce of hope that, one day, things will be different. Of course they won’t be, but they don’t understand that.” He chuckled somewhat to himself once more, taking a small sip of his poured liqueur, “Think about it… If we didn’t have all of our money, if we didn’t have all of our power, i-“

“Oh, Louis,” she interrupted, “Don’t even say it!”

“Well, come on, Jackie, what if we didn’t?” He pressed his foot to her knee, pivoting her chair to better face him, “What if we hadn’t been granted – or cursed – with all that we have. Would we be any better than them? Would we be any superior than the maggots that we perceive them to be? What, other than the obvious, makes us so different?”

“A good sense of taste,” she grinned, planting a kiss upon his bicep, her pale lips leaving a moist ring of alizarin droplets where they pursed.

“Perhaps,” Louis continued, “But other than that, what makes us so superior? Sure, it’s obvious that – for the most part – we control every major capitalist – and ‘communist’ – enterprise in existence, but does that – as a species – make us any better than those we so ruthlessly oppress and cull?”

“You know, love,” Jacqueline grinned, propping her feet on Louis’ thighs, leaning back in her chair comfortably, “Saying things like that could have your nobility stricken from your bloodline at best, and declared an ‘exul’ and hunted like a dog at worst. The Marquisate has been cracking down on dissidence within the ranks of the Aristocracy – even within the strigoi.” She yawned somewhat, simply tossing aside her now empty, crystal glass, getting a faint glare from her lover’s direction, “What, Louis, it’s not like you can’t afford more…”

“It does not mean, however, that you can simply – or should simply – toss it aside.”

“Why not?” she grinned, twirling her brown locks between her elongated digits and scarlet nails.

“Because,” Louis uttered, “It’s not proper. Not to mention,” he chuckled, “I happened to like that set.”

The two laughed for a moment in unison before Jacqueline rose, pulling closed the curtains and the first rays of the sun’s light pierced the window, “So, what do you think the Marquisate is going to do about Bulgislavia’s actions?” She reached behind the chair she was in, bending at the waist to give Louis a pleasant glimpse of her finely-shaped ass, before dawning his velvet robe, and throwing him a pair of slippers.

“Nothing,” he uttered, raising a brow as she dawned his attire, simply handing him shoes. “The Marquisate has too many fish to fry to bother with some obscure country in the back-woods of Ephrahim. Think about it, what would it benefit us?” By now, he was following his mate into the adjoining bed room, grabbing a silk shirt and trousers.

“Well, love,” she turned, sliding her nails across his muscles torso and abdomen, gently slicing against his flesh, allowing a faint sliver of red to rise to the surface of his dermis. She lowered her lips, kissing away the light droplets, “They could exploit the fact that, as of now, the country is unstable. They could, love, attempt to use the sentiments of Bulgian citizens to form co-operative, hardliner insurrection in Bulgislavia.” She chuckled, sinking her canines and bicuspids into the tender flesh of her lover’s hip.

“You’re wanting me to address the Marquisate at the next Assembly meeting, aren’t you?” he questioned cringing faintly, before allowing the ultimate ecstasy of her saliva to roll into his veins.

“Perhaps,” she grinned up at him, continuing to faintly suckle his hip and thigh.

“I don’t want to know what you’re planning…”

+ + +

To Whom It May Concern within the Government of Bulgislavia,

As a private citizen, not residing in your country – but an expatriate of another, residing abroad – I would like to inquire as to your plans for stability. After all, a previously hard-line, Marxist-Leninist governance was recently “deposed” in a bit of a “palace coup” in your country. As such, how do you plan on securing the stability of your own governance, while preserving the freedoms of your dissident minorities? After all, if you want to truly be free, how can you suppress the opinions of those that supported your former General Secretary’s leadership?

Along with this, how do you plan to quell growing sentiment of the late Provoçe – both abroad and domestically? From the sounds of it, even your fellow, Balkan allies – specifically Bulgia – are questioning the moves taken by your current General Secretary. Would it not further destabilize the country by making such radical reforms so quickly, allowing great expenditures and government resources to be – essentially – thrown away on things that, in the long run, will have no practical effect?

Hopefully, this inquiry will not be seen as pretentious, but a truly concerned effort by a citizen of the world.

Thank you for your time,
Louis Riese

The People's Republic of Andaras advises that any lessening of the grip of proletarian power in Bulgislavia will inevitably open the floodgates for bourgeois reaction throughout your entire country. The PRA strongly further advises not getting speech room to socially-dangerous minorities, lest they become the official voice for the five per cent of Tsarists, bourgeois, speculators, kulaks, pimps, maffiosi and Vlasovites, all justifiably repressed by any socialist state.

The PRA furthermore sees the gay community as a tool of social chauvinism and rotten liberalism dangerous to proletarial society.

We shall support any effort of the Bulgislavian state to uphold the purity of Marxism-Leninism against deviationist and revisionist poison.

PRA Foreign Commissariat.

Comrade General Secretary Alia read over the memo's and messages form other nations.

"What!? So a relaxation of laws to allow more freedom is coming into question!?" he thought

Alia had the TV studio set up so he could give a speech that could be bradcast to the whole nation and could also be picked up in other countries.

Back in that familiar blue studio with the Bulgislavian flag and the red flag of the party in the background Alia was standing infront of some microphones.

Comrade General Secretary Alia's Speech

"To the Bulgislavian people and to the people of the world. I want to announce to you here why the party has choosen to stare Bulgislavia into another direction. I do not want to see the Bulgislavian people suffer any more. We have been living for the past 62 years in a straight jacket society. Permits are required to visit family members or to travel outside of communities. We had a cult surrounding the former Comrade President where his portraits were everywhere. Now people it is the truth that our Industrial production is only working at 16% in contrast to government reports stating we are making great progress. We suffer daily powercuts, shortages of everything and shoddy products that usually break with a couple of days. People drive cars and thier tires burst or shred apart. We have to stop this. Before 1963 we never had the position of Comrade President, Provoçe created that position for himself. As of today the position of President will be abolished and the Pre 1963 consititution will be re-instated where the General Secretary was the most powerful position. I want the Bulgislavian people to have more voice in the running of thier country. The Grand National Assembly and the Bulgislavian Workers Party will still remain the nations leading organ but with greater change. From now on every 5 years all Bulgislavian citizens above the age of 18 will now be allowed to Vote to elect a national assembly though all condidtate must be Workers Party Members. The first election will take place next year in January. The Party will also abolish restricting laws on travel and from now on Bulgislavians will have the freedom to travel in and around Bulgislavia when ever they want without applying for internal permits. We will also be allowing a restricted number of Bulgislavians to travel, study and live Abroad and will allow Bulgislavians that have fled in the past to freely return. To our Comrade Allies the Bulgian's. The Bulgislavian Workers Party is still in control and will continue to lead Bulgislavia for years. As of this moment Bulgislavia will not be a remnant of the Iron Curtain"

The speech then finsihed with the Bulgislavian National Anthem.

...................................................................................................

Meanwhile the restructuring of the party had already began.

Senior party members were having their flash BMW's and luxury vehicles confiscated from them. The Hall of the Party would be opened to the public for a corruption exhibition and many party members were already being arrested and held under house arrest awaiting trials for abuse of power and embezzlement of state funds (Most of these were the Hardliners).

The Corruption Exhibition would exhibit party members lavish villa's, photographs from grand overseas holidays and thier luxury items common Bulgislavians had never seen before.

It was a common story to hear that back in the 80's many Bulgislavians would travel to Bulgaria and other communist states to see what a banana looked like but with the collapse of thier communist allies all travel to the outside was banned and soon more items became a rare luxury too.

Despite the new relaxed attitude of the new moderate and reformist leadership the Cigouriva was still clamping down on any threats to the states stability. though its operations had been scalled down it still burst in on organized meetings that had not been approved by the government and dissidents were threatened now (Not arrested like before)

Already 500 Political prisoners that were arrested for miniscule crimes like telling a joke about Provoçe or complaining about shortages were immediatly released. Many relatives of a political prisoner were also released (These people were innocent but were held in 'Family Camps' becuase they were related to a political prisoner). 10 of the most serious political prisoners like ring leaders in demonstrations and strikes were also released.

To concerned governments around the world

The Bulgislavian Workers Party is still in control. There is no unrest. The Party's popularity is rising as we are seen as freeing our people from 62 years of stalinism. Now Bulgislavians will be allowed more freedom. We understand that reforming is a dangerous step in a governments life but we have learnt from the past. The Stalinist system is unstable itself and unsustainable in the long run we could not continue to take Communist rule for granted and that it why is was important to reform immediatly before we suffer a Romanian or Lerasian style revolution. The People support the Comrade General Secretary in allowing more freedom. To our Comrades to the North the Bulgian's we are still a state working for the good of the people and ruled by the Bulgislavian Workers Party the representatives of the working class. I guarentee that life will improve under our own Bulgislavian Spring.

From Acting Foriegn Affairs Minister Nicu Limescu

(The normal foriegn affairs minister is in custody facing charges of embezzlement and abuse of power)

The government of notquiteaplace applauds the abandonment of that may not have truely valued the ideals it claimed to uphold. These reforms represent putting the people of the country first and so in spirit are all that a nation should aspire to, however it chooses to enact it.

While the implementation varies from nation to nation, we see your goals as paramount. We wish to offer free trading arrangements if you wish, or even slow, gradual exposure if you feel your fledgling industry must be fixed first.

We warn you that some people, once the revolution dies down will be shocked by change, even oppressed people often miss things about their old regime, however by first handing wealth to the people, you have made the right first move.

Many people will be seeking holidays in your country soon as tourists, however, I would be pleased if I could personally come and see your country myself, mostly as a "tourist" in my annual holiday this summer, however I would also like to meet you on one occassion (perhaps over a cup of tea in a normal cafe if you feel that would give the right message). All this, however will be to show my nation's support for these reforms.

-Albert Narth

President of Notquiteaplace


A second smaller telegram arrives a few hours later,

Dear sir,

Notquiteaplace will not interfere directly with internal goings on in your nation unless it affects others or involves serious human rights issues, however should any other nations attempt to disturb this reform, we will offer aid, in military form should it be needed.

- Albert Narth

To Albert Narth President of Notquiteaplace

I Comrade General Secretary of the Bulgislavian Workers Party, Alia Prekov would like to thank you for your support of the Bulgislavian Reforms.
We would also like to recieve you over for a visit where we can discuss many things. Trade and the recovery of our failing economy is the highest priority.
Once again for your support for the reforms

From Comrade General Secretary Alia Prekov

Unofficial Message to Bugislavia:

While Yanitaria may now be a monarchy, the ideals of our socialist revolution still hold strong.

We applaud this move away from totalitarianism, and wish to open diplomatic relations with Bugislavia.

If any military aid is required to combat dissenting party members, my nation would be glad to help.

-King Norheim II
URPY

To the government of Yanitaria

Diplomatic relations will be welcomed with any friendly nation. Thank you for your support for the Reforms

............................................................................................

Yegar Lingurat was a defector that fled Bulgislavia in 1998 to flee from the famine of the 90's. With the new amnesty for Bulgislavian refugees on returning to Bulgislavia Yegar was keen to return back. He had not seen his homeland for over 10 years but imagined that it could not of changed that much

Poverty was as widespread as it was in the 90's But the biggest difference was the absense of staving bodies and dead corpses lining the side of the roads.

Yegar was In Terevesti with a group of about 20 other Refugees taht had returned. They stepped off the train station. Yegar had just come from Varna in Bulgaria where he lived for the last 10 years.

Policemen were everywhere to makesure no spontaneous riot would explode. They wore a grey uniform with the small grey cap with red star on the front.

The Government was aware the biggest priority for returning refugees would be to track down family members. It was not hard for the government to find out where any citizen of Bulgislavia lived and it would be easy to help reunite the refugees with thier families.

First the government released thousands of Cigouriva files on 'defetor cases' set up in kisosks dotted around major travel points. The Cigouriva had files on almost every citizen it was after all the nations dreaded secret police. Then all the refugees had to do was ask at the kiosk for thier family name and the date in which they defected and the files would be easy to find within a couple of minutes

Yegar moved to a Kiosk set up in the train station. many of the returning refugees were already crowding around it.

Finally after a couple of minutes Yegar was face to face with a Cigouriva agent. a young woman with the same grey cap and red star on the front

"Lingurat is the family name ah.. I defected in February 1998"

The woman automatically looked down at a big box sifting thorugh files near the beginning. there were many boxes. Each one had a year on it e.g 1980, 1981, 1995, 2004 etc

Finally the lady pulled out a yellow manilla folder

"Here you go sir, this is all the information of surviving reletives and where they live now" the woman said it in an emotionless tone

Yegar grabbed the yellow folder and moved out of the train station.

He opened when he was not surrounded by people

Tears began coming out of his eyes at what he read in the folder
His father had been arrested in Fabruary 1998 on suspicion of helping someon defect where he died in a labour camp in 2001. His mother had also died in April 1998 from the famine. Only Yegars youngest brother survived. He was 18 at the time but would now be 28. Currently living in a small flat with 1 wife and 2 children in Terevesti.

Yegar walked down the streets. Like he rememberd back in 1998 cars were still rare and many of the wide avenues and boulavards were empty.

Finally he reached the flat where he made his way inside, up the stairs and up to the flat number they lived in. He knocked on the door

..............................................................................

To Albert Narth President of Notquiteaplace

I Comrade General Secretary of the Bulgislavian Workers Party, Alia Prekov would like to thank you for your support of the Bulgislavian Reforms.
We would also like to recieve you over for a visit where we can discuss many things. Trade and the recovery of our failing economy is the highest priority.
Once again for your support for the reforms

From Comrade General Secretary Alia Prekov

Hail, again,

Notquiteaplace wishes to clarify, following comments in our own press about the nature of this offer. We wish to make it clear that once a little time for the population to evaluate the situation has happened, and some information on the reforms is fully absorbed, that they should have the final say. However it's worth noting we didn't mention this, as that as how your plans seem anyway.

On a second note, can you reccomend any hotels? or will these be springing up around your nation soon? We do not know your nation well, but a modest room with one double bed in a central hotel ideally with breakfast served in house. I will trust your reccomendation of city, but ideally somewhere which is safe and has some landmarks of cultural significance (and preferably one that speaks English, as an ex colonial nation with a huge mix of ethnic groups, english was adopted as many spoke at least a little). Nightlife wise, having a quiet alcoholic establishment would be a nice way to end the evenings. I would like my stay to be about a week, between the 2nd and 10th of June, and would like to meet you on one day, to discuss possible trade arrangements. The main purpose of this holiday will be to offer encouragement to your people as well as to go somewhere I've never been before.

Finnally, in a free market economy you may need some fiscal checks to keep inflation under control, we feel we should warn you, the first couple of years for transitional economies are always the hardest and wish your nation the best.

Albert Narth


*
Albert finishes the telegram and turns off his computer, leaving his office. Tommorow he has to get up for parliament, he puts on his coat and hops in his car to drive home. When he gets home, it's late, and his partner is asleep, he removes his smart clothes carefully, folding his suit up quietly so as not to wake her. He gives his hair one last comb, and quickly checks his neglected casual wear draw, smiling, he needs the holiday and is quite looking forward to it.

OOC: notquiteaplace jumps on any opportunity to make money without putting itself or world peace at risk, or on any risks to world peace as it's main priorities are money and avoiding catastrophic wars. As such they see this as a new trading partner and wish to help them transition and avoid becoming some sort of extremist regime...

To Albert Narth

From Alia Prekov

We have one prestigious hotel in the Capital city of Terevesti.

Our tourist infrusturcture is non existant and even during the "busy" tourist season it mainly sits empty but hopefully this can change in the future. Its called the Terevesti International Hotel. There are 3 sections to the hotel. A rich section on the upper floors with marble, lavish furnature and all that then the more modest rooms towards the lower levels.

Now english is very unknown in Bulgislavia. Bulgislavian is the only language the people know. Before the break up of the USSR Bulgislavians mostly understood or could speak russian but now even that language is dying out in our country But we can give you the use of trusted translators and guides if you wish.

Bars and pubs are also very rare even rudamentary free market is almost non existant. Terevesti was designed to be a showcase city to show off our Party's achievements and during and 70's and 80's and former comrade president wanted to make the city more Homogenous and the architecure is typical identical concrete apartments lining large, wide boulavards and avenues. Terevesti does have lots of public squares, statues to the party foundation, Comrade President Provoçe and workers statues.
The most popular land marks is the Palace of Provoçe which is a museum of all the foriegn gifts he recieved from foriegn leaders, His body also lies in state in the newly built upper floor.

Other landmarks inclue the Grand Hall of the Party. It is Bulgislavia's largest building and the parliament where the party meet and debate and discuss issues. Just outside of the Hall of the Party is Provoçe Square which is the countries largest public square. shaped like a semi circle with a grand and large boulavard leading from the base of that semi circle all the way through the city so when standing on the balcony of the hall of the Party you can clearly see straight down the middle of the city almost perfectly symetrical.

Poverty might be a problem as it is everywhere in the country even in our showcase capital. The streets are mainly empty as cars are a rare luxury and when you do spot a car its usually stuck on the side of the road with burst tyres (Thanks to our shoddy quality of goods) But other then that Terevesti is our best city and the Bulgislavian people are very nice.

Seeing foriegners is also extremely new. although we had a very small tourist industry before the USSR collapse the borders were completly sealed to all outsiders after 1990 but then re-opened in the early 2000's

Froeigners are still exstremely rare and if you do plan to go out and explore expect strange glaces or posibly people walking up to you and interrogating and questioning you about life in the outside world
.......................................................................................