• RE: The Government of the Republic of Istkalen

    Statement of the Head of State

    Ms. Elizabeth ÍKRAT has communicated to me that her Communist Party has come to an agreement with the Agrarian Union, National Republican Party, Republican Syndicalist Party, and Radical Democratic Party regarding the formation and direction of Istkalen's next government. It will be comprised as follows:

    Prime Minister: Elizabeth ÍKRAT

    Minister of Finance: Indras IRAKEMAR
    Minister of the Interior: Liris VESEK
    Minister of Foreign Affairs: Írenet ISTERESSKEMAR
    Minister of Religious Affairs: Kuseli VIREJANE
    Minister of Social Affairs: Kalju ILVES
    Minister of Justice: Gertrude (Kirtrut) ISTIKAS

    Minister of Defense: Eliise SEPP
    Minister of State Security: Lauri LAAKONEN

    Minister of Public Distribution: Yasemin DEMIRKOL
    Minister of Agriculture: Katharina BECK
    Minister of Industry: Riina KRUUS
    Minister of Crafts, Trades, and the Professions: Milrakas IKOSZER
    Minister of Labor: Marianne SEGUY

    Minister of Public Works: Ursula KORHONEN
    Minister of Housing: Valeras EKTERAN
    Minister of Energy: Antras ARKALIS
    Minister of Integration: Lawrence (Luserem) KETIST
    Minister of Conservation and the Climate: Kondres UKLERTAL
    Minister of Natural Resources: Esketal INDRETEK

    Minister of Health: Erdanas RIKASEL
    Minister of Education: Iras LITESTEK
    Minister of Culture: Ikelin KALMET

    The program of the government will be released shortly, following a parliamentary vote on Ms. ÍKRAT's proposed government.

    Ilmaras KALESSED
    Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen

    posted in Government Offices
  • RE: California News Media

    KPIX-TV_CBS_News_Bay_Area_logo.png

    Napa Gov't Study Show Growth In Muslim Pop.

    SAN JOSE---A recent study commissioned by the state government, run by the University of California, Berkeley showed that Sikh, Muslim and Hindi populations increased. On average, about 200,000 have moved to the state of Napa. The booming tech industry has attracted most from Svarna, with California's tax free remittances. The opportunities afforded in La Nacion de Oro is pretty available, despite what some consider a robust tax burden.

    posted in European News Consortium
  • RE: Svarna Today

    Construction starts on E1 Motorway and SET lines
    Construction has began on the E1 motorway with a projection of the toll motorway being completed within 3 years and a projected cost 12 billion Euros equivalent. The construction has began on both ends of the Mumba to Agra section with plans to start construction of the Agra to Sarghoda section in the middle of this year. The constustion of the first SET high speed line has begun from Muma to Sarghoda. The Line is also expected to complete in 2 years time. The land has been secured for both projects. The projects are expected to solve traffic congestion issues and boost the economy of the country.

    posted in European News Consortium
  • RE: Request for a Debate The Need for a Constitutional Convention

    Cllr. Čikarová, I'd like, first, to thank you for having raised this point of discussion.

    I think we all can agree that the Union has ground to a halt. The Commission, the Council, and the Court of Justice have fallen silent; even the member-states, which once were so loud and aggressive, seem much quieter than usual. Reform, as all of us seem to believe, is quite clearly necessary in order to bring our Europe, once again, to life.

    However, and I must stress this - now is not the time to push through with broad, idealistic plans for change. Our crisis is, above all, institutional; the focus of our work should therefore be the strengthening of our institutions, and not the introduction of new, untested elements that might further undermine them.

    I believe, then, that we must first consider formally appointing an emergency government, sitting indefinitely and holding certain extraordinary powers, that will be tasked with restoring the health of this Union. Let us focus on giving our Europe all possible reinforcement - on restoring the confidence it has lost over the years - on taking any and all action possible to return it to full glory.

    Iras Tilkanas
    Councillor for the Republic of IStkalen

    posted in European Council
  • RE: Request for a Debate The Need for a Constitutional Convention

    California completely agrees

    posted in European Council
  • RE: Request for a Debate The Need for a Constitutional Convention

    I as the deputy councillour for United Duchies agree with this idea. The term is too short to achieve anything of not often and its good we finally have a councillour other than the United Duchies one adressing this broken system and broken commission. I am for a convention and simplification and democratisation of the system which is direly and desperately needed and reforms to make the EU closer to the European people rather than the Europolis centred structure we have now.

    Sky Hook, Deputy Councillour for United Duchies

    posted in European Council
  • Request for a Debate The Need for a Constitutional Convention

    Honorable colleagues,

    in view of the European Commission election I would like to start a discussion on the topic of The Need for a Constitutional Convention with the new Commission. I think it is time to admit the Union and its institutions have been barely working over the past months an issue which requires to be urgently addressed.

    I suggest it would be wise to think about the overlapping role of the Council and the Commission, which might make Commission appear pointless. The short duration of the Commission mandates furthermore prevent the Commissioners from proposing needed legislation while it forces citizens in certain states into elections with only one candidate running. Likewise the limiting effect of term mandates should also be on the agenda.

    The Member States on the other hand should be able to reject certain legislative proposals in the most sensitive topics such as the issue of taxation by a veto.

    Indeed I think it is a high time to call for a Constitutional Convention and to adopt a unitary policy for the negotiations with the new Commissioners to lay certain tasks upon them to prepare for a large reform of the Union as a whole which would allow for easier movement of goods between the Member States and promote peace.

    Sofie Čikarová
    Councilor for Czech Slavia

    posted in European Council
  • RE: Festival of Veles - Festival of Intercultural Respect and Understanding

    James responded "Lets just say the company execs were not pleased at what they saw as theft of company property. Regardless this is a faith event and no the company did call on workers to leave it offered the option if thats what they wanted, as we do in all countries if we leave, that's standard procedure if we close a division we never want to see people out of a job if we can offer them one elsewhere its part of the company values. I'm sure as a humanitarian you understand those values. I'm hoping my kids learn something from today too as we try to give them as wide a breadth of knowledge of faiths as possible.Yohanna is not involved in the company so that will not be necessary."

    Yohanna responded "None of us here are really involved in company business given our political and ducal positions and for me frankly I'd rather not get involved in company business so wouldn't really know about company policy too deeply. I'm just here to enjoy the festival with my kids and learn something about your faith."

    The pastor responded "Its good to be hear . In the ICS we like to be friendly and understanding of all faiths. Its better to work together than fight over beliefs. To be honest I wish some of our so called christian brothers would get the message about equality , but alas we can't control them."

    posted in Politics and Incidents
  • RE: Festival of Veles - Festival of Intercultural Respect and Understanding

    Reiserová nodded, impressed with Iketemar's words, "So true! So much creative energy is being lost in the world as we are just trying to do the right thing, all the while the spirit, which yearn for release is dying. And we just get so lost in playing the game that we lose the vision of what is, you know, truly important. Seeking the truth, revival of the ancient wisdom and creating of happier and kinder humanity. I decided to stop playing the game and seek the truth. I take it you are, you know, also a truth seeker?" Reiserová asked with a wide smile on her face.

    "Oh you were persecuted? What happened? I feel like I never have the full picture from your country!" Resierová asked in a shock, "He wasn't interested in seeking the truth, which is why he was sad, of course, but, you know, the keepers of the flame should not look down upon those who fail to see the light. They should help them see. Wouldn't you agree? What is he up to now anyways, wouldn't you know? I heard there is this horrible woman, you know, Íkrat and she just doesn't understand anything at all. You are not about to give power to such a woman are you? She would make revival very difficult. Not to say, you know, our relations with her hate of all that is good and just."

    Reiserová turned to her Spanish guests, "Now the talking types? That is ok, just breathe deeply and feel the joy and the blessings of the gods, I can have a phone call with Aguilar later!"

    Suddenly Reiserová spotted the Roscoe family in the flesh and she froze for a moment, not sure whether she wasn't hallucinating, "Now this is excellent! Grandfather Veles must be truly pleased with us! Slavomír come here quickly!" Reiserová called out to the spiritual figure who hurried to join her and panted loudly once he reached his President.

    "Mr. Mizrachi-Roscoe, I am so happy to see you here with your lovely family. Slavomír, these are the prime suspects for leading the effort to sabotage Czech economy! Isn't that right Mr. Mizrachi-Roscoe? Did your company not issue the call for Czechoslavonic workers to leave Czech Slavia to work for your enterprise elsewhere?" Albína beamed with happines, and Slavomír smiled too as he extended his hand to the Duchian Pastor.

    "I knew that a Festival of Respect and Understanding would make you want to repent! Now of course, as a Councillor, we won't, you know, prosecute you, with full respect to the international standards. But your adult family member will be kindly requested to attend a court hearing right after the festival!" she looked over at Yohanna and gave her a slightly wider smile, "Worry not, unlike in your country, Czech Slavia fully respects human rights. Religious diet in our prisons is guaranteed! I mean while you are in custody, you know, not to sentence anybody." Reiserová giggled, "Have fun at the festival! Minister Dohnal can show you where the sausages are!"

    Felling fulfilled Reiserová turned back to Sémper, Quintero and Iketemar, "Today is good, isn't it?" she asked with a smile.

    posted in Politics and Incidents
  • RE: The Kingdom of Sertia

    The Great Swale Path, Chapter 2

    Approaching Sertia by ferry from Nofoaga is not necessarily a straightforward route. Between the two islands lie three active underwater volcanoes which must be avoided because they were in the process of forming their own island.

    Luckily, however, this route means that the ferries must hug the Sertian coast for about two hours. This offered a lovely view of the Sertian island, which for many of us on the ferry was our first time seeing Sertia from this close.

    I was able to finally see why I was going to walk the Great Swale Path, not the "Great Mountain Path", or even more preferably the "Great Path with Lots of Cheap and Delicious Restaurants".

    To the North of the Sertian island lies a large, ancient marsh known as Tremaras. At one time, about 250,000 years ago, it is thought that Tremaras covered what made up most of the Sertian Empire. Now, due to dredging and building, Tremaras stretches from the capital of Hemberdale to the city of Plariaras, where it is briefly interrupted, then continues around the stretch of coast nearest the West Olves.

    Tremaras is vast, and scant of anything naturally taller than a cattail. The villages within the marsh are elevated by stone or wood planks spare the areas where the boats are launched. Houses are built level with these long, surprisingly wide footpaths, in a circular fashion, many of them having roofs of terracotta or the like. Between the villages of Tremaras that we passed, there was nothing to be seen but wilderness and the sound of the sea.

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    Then, suddenly dominating our view from behind the planks of the village, were the old stone ruins of a Sertian castle. Candalyyth, I heard people murmur. It was a lonely, ominous figure. Hardly anything was left of its foundations except for a tall, thin watchtower partially submerged in the marsh. The highest window of the watchtower reflected no light from inside. A slight drip, drip, drip could be heard echoing from its depths.

    alt text

    Even after the castle faded from view, all of us on the ferry were left with an obligation to reflect on the times that have been lost to us. It's always a strange feeling, when you see something that you can't touch, but was once so significant. Unspoilt by our sight, Candalyyth sits in its glory, the master and the lady of the castle lying, perhaps, comfortably inside.

    The marsh eventually receded and the outskirts of Plariaras began on the other side of a hill. Sertian homes are miniscule. Realising that they didn't have enough money to build regularly-sized homes for all of the residents of Plariaras, the Braetha decided that in order to give everyone the best quality homes, they would limit the size of publicly-funded houses to one room for every family. Thus, whilst the houses were of the quality you might see in a wealthier part of Europe, they were far too small for me to imagine anyone living inside of them. Some people had built conservatories or extra rooms on the side, but that appeared to be a privilege.

    More and more buildings came into view as we approached the port of Plariaras. Yellow, green, and red painted stone buildings, and an absolute cacophony of noise greeted us.

    posted in The European Factbook