[NS]San Blanco
21-06-2008, 05:16
UPDATE: New offers are no longer being considered while the MoFA examines those already proposed. Nations wishing to establish permanent diplomatic contact with the Democratic Republic of San Blanco should do so via telegram or an eventual embassy sign-up thread.
Communiqué from the San Blanco Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Caribbean Sea is a resource-rich, strategically-critical region of the world subject to political instability. San Blanco has been a peaceful - though impoverished - nation for many years. The increasingly unstable and unsafe regional and global environment, however, raise concerns about the ability of San Blanco to provide for its own security. San Blancan security is the foremost priority of the San Blancan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a serious concern of the newly-elected Third Way Coalition and President Torrez. Recognizing the inadequacy of the San Blanco Armed Forces to provide for the security of our nation, Mr Torrez, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosario Jamon, and Minister of Defense Henri Bernito have agreed to permit a foreign power to lease San Blancan territory to establish a military base on the northern coast of San Blanco.
The proposed military base would be built on 10 square miles of relatively flat San Blancan territory containing two natural harbors. The area is completely undeveloped at the present, though it is accessible by a dirt road extending to the bauxite mining villages of the province of North Bato approximately 30 miles east of the proposed base. The government of San Blanco plans to assist in the construction of a rail and road link between the military base and the country's major port in the capital city of Terra Fuerte DF. The Torrez Administration is also considering issuing a federal grant for the construction of a municipality around the military base to provide support and R&R for foreign soldiers.
At present, Ms Jamon is extending an offer to all nations interested in increasing their regional strategic presence, with the details of the lease and ensuing programs for development of the base and supporting infrastructure, as well as cooperative programs, to be worked out bilaterally. The 25-year lease on the 10 sq. mile facility is being offered for 50 million USD per year. The government of San Blanco will consider accepting payment in the form of military aid and licensing agreements to modernize its own defense capability. The government of San Blanco is also interested in acquiring aid or loans for the construction of the road-rail link and any other infrastructural improvements pursuant to the construction of the foreign military base. While the base will be treated as if it were the sovereign territory of the nation which leases it (and thus personnel stationed there will be subject to their own laws), the composition and number of forces deployed to this base must be negotiated with and approved by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. The Government of San Blanco looks forward to securing a strategic partnership to stabilize a volatile region and safeguard our nation.
~~Democratic Republic of San Blanco, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-Rosario Jamon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
----Hugo Manley, Director, SB-MoFA Section Caribbean
-Gen. Henri Bernito, Minister of Defense
-President Fernando Torrez
-------------------------------------------------------
Protests over Foreign Base Proposal
The left-wing Agro-Labor Alliance for Socialism (ALAS) and center-right Christian Democratic Party (CDP) united for a rare show of solidarity in the Federal District after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially began seeking out foreign powers who might be interested in leasing a ten square mile stretch of land on San Blanco's northern shore. ALAS claims that the Torrez Administration has simply opened up San Blanco to foreign imperialism and exploitation. "Torrez is just another in a long line of capitalist lackeys and stooges." claimed ALAS party chairman Raul Angel, "He hopes to make a personal fortune selling our nation's wealth to foreign powers, at the cost of our freedom, sweat, and blood." Former president Jorge Beso, of the recently-ousted CDP, echoed this sentiment: "Sure, this seems like a quick fix now, but in the long run it's just going to open the door for more foreign control of San Blanco. The path of reform and development is a slow one."
Despite a turnout of nearly thirty thousand for the demonstration, there are stirrings of dissension within the ranks of ALAS and the CDP and vocal support for the proposal from the parties in the Third Way Coalition.
"I'm all for it. Bases need to be built, which means they need builders, which means more work for guys like me," said one union leader and member of ALAS, who asked not to be named. There are even indicators that CDP party chairwoman Lalita Guernica favors - or at least does not oppose - the move, as she has remained conspicuously silent on the issue.
The lease agreement is, of course, the brainchild of President Torrez and the Third Way Coalition. Senator Anita Anglais of the Christian Progressive Party, continued to support the move, railing against previous administrations, "For thirty, forty years, they had the chance to make these reforms, to improve this country, did they? No, Beso did nothing, Carmon did nothing, Mr Angel and Ms Guernica have done nothing, the CDP and ALAS politicians have done nothing but sit on their hands and get rich and drink with the generals. Now we are going to use the money for the people, of course they are upset."
Rosario Jamon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was more reserved but no less firm, "People voted for the Third Way because we offered new ideas and people liked them. Now is the time to implement these ideas, by actively engaging with the global community and securing ourselves militarily and economically."
With foreign dignitaries just beginning to meet with the Torrez Administration, the final details of the hypothetical military base are not yet known, but the Third Way Coalition continues to ride the wave of electoral enthusiasm that swept them into total legislative and executive dominance last October.
Communiqué from the San Blanco Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Caribbean Sea is a resource-rich, strategically-critical region of the world subject to political instability. San Blanco has been a peaceful - though impoverished - nation for many years. The increasingly unstable and unsafe regional and global environment, however, raise concerns about the ability of San Blanco to provide for its own security. San Blancan security is the foremost priority of the San Blancan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a serious concern of the newly-elected Third Way Coalition and President Torrez. Recognizing the inadequacy of the San Blanco Armed Forces to provide for the security of our nation, Mr Torrez, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosario Jamon, and Minister of Defense Henri Bernito have agreed to permit a foreign power to lease San Blancan territory to establish a military base on the northern coast of San Blanco.
The proposed military base would be built on 10 square miles of relatively flat San Blancan territory containing two natural harbors. The area is completely undeveloped at the present, though it is accessible by a dirt road extending to the bauxite mining villages of the province of North Bato approximately 30 miles east of the proposed base. The government of San Blanco plans to assist in the construction of a rail and road link between the military base and the country's major port in the capital city of Terra Fuerte DF. The Torrez Administration is also considering issuing a federal grant for the construction of a municipality around the military base to provide support and R&R for foreign soldiers.
At present, Ms Jamon is extending an offer to all nations interested in increasing their regional strategic presence, with the details of the lease and ensuing programs for development of the base and supporting infrastructure, as well as cooperative programs, to be worked out bilaterally. The 25-year lease on the 10 sq. mile facility is being offered for 50 million USD per year. The government of San Blanco will consider accepting payment in the form of military aid and licensing agreements to modernize its own defense capability. The government of San Blanco is also interested in acquiring aid or loans for the construction of the road-rail link and any other infrastructural improvements pursuant to the construction of the foreign military base. While the base will be treated as if it were the sovereign territory of the nation which leases it (and thus personnel stationed there will be subject to their own laws), the composition and number of forces deployed to this base must be negotiated with and approved by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. The Government of San Blanco looks forward to securing a strategic partnership to stabilize a volatile region and safeguard our nation.
~~Democratic Republic of San Blanco, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-Rosario Jamon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
----Hugo Manley, Director, SB-MoFA Section Caribbean
-Gen. Henri Bernito, Minister of Defense
-President Fernando Torrez
-------------------------------------------------------
Protests over Foreign Base Proposal
The left-wing Agro-Labor Alliance for Socialism (ALAS) and center-right Christian Democratic Party (CDP) united for a rare show of solidarity in the Federal District after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially began seeking out foreign powers who might be interested in leasing a ten square mile stretch of land on San Blanco's northern shore. ALAS claims that the Torrez Administration has simply opened up San Blanco to foreign imperialism and exploitation. "Torrez is just another in a long line of capitalist lackeys and stooges." claimed ALAS party chairman Raul Angel, "He hopes to make a personal fortune selling our nation's wealth to foreign powers, at the cost of our freedom, sweat, and blood." Former president Jorge Beso, of the recently-ousted CDP, echoed this sentiment: "Sure, this seems like a quick fix now, but in the long run it's just going to open the door for more foreign control of San Blanco. The path of reform and development is a slow one."
Despite a turnout of nearly thirty thousand for the demonstration, there are stirrings of dissension within the ranks of ALAS and the CDP and vocal support for the proposal from the parties in the Third Way Coalition.
"I'm all for it. Bases need to be built, which means they need builders, which means more work for guys like me," said one union leader and member of ALAS, who asked not to be named. There are even indicators that CDP party chairwoman Lalita Guernica favors - or at least does not oppose - the move, as she has remained conspicuously silent on the issue.
The lease agreement is, of course, the brainchild of President Torrez and the Third Way Coalition. Senator Anita Anglais of the Christian Progressive Party, continued to support the move, railing against previous administrations, "For thirty, forty years, they had the chance to make these reforms, to improve this country, did they? No, Beso did nothing, Carmon did nothing, Mr Angel and Ms Guernica have done nothing, the CDP and ALAS politicians have done nothing but sit on their hands and get rich and drink with the generals. Now we are going to use the money for the people, of course they are upset."
Rosario Jamon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was more reserved but no less firm, "People voted for the Third Way because we offered new ideas and people liked them. Now is the time to implement these ideas, by actively engaging with the global community and securing ourselves militarily and economically."
With foreign dignitaries just beginning to meet with the Torrez Administration, the final details of the hypothetical military base are not yet known, but the Third Way Coalition continues to ride the wave of electoral enthusiasm that swept them into total legislative and executive dominance last October.