'No Talk With the Trigger-Happy': Palace Announces No Backing Down on Duchies & Reitzmag Sanctions
Telum, 15th January 2023 -- The Imperial Palace announced this morning "now is the wrong time" to renege on financial sanctions announced against the United Duchies and the Kingdom of Reitzmag in response to those nations' declarations of war against Svarna Surya. In a press statement this afternoon, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Artabanos further said He was "unfazed" by Duchian threats to seize His personal financial assets in the United Duchies, as well as the Artabanos Foundation's 8% share in Duchian conglomerate Roscoes.
"Not only are My personal affairs much, much smaller in stature and importance than international war", the Emperor announced, "But the value of goods already seized from Duchian citizens and companies since the announcement of sanctions last month has approached the total €143bn the Duchians are threatening to seize." The Imperial Government and the Confederal Government of North Diessen announced last month their unilateral seizure of any and all financial or economic assets held by citizens of the United Duchies, Svarna Suyra, Gadalland and Aspern, or the Kingdom of Reitzmag, under the powers prescribed by the Inimician Constitution and the Diessenar system of Presidential Decrees.
Sources tell Nuntius Inimici that offcials from the United Duchies have been especially intent on alleviating these sanctions. Before sanctions were introduced, Duchian companies were highly active in Inimicus and North Diessen, activity which now benefits only the Imperial and Confederal governments. Critics of this sanction policy, including Imperial Councillor Jeff Speller, have accused the Imperial Government of "playing with people's livelihoods over a mundane cause", and have called on the Government to negotiate with Duchian representatives.
Emperor Artabanos appeared this morning to give no heed to this advice. Asked whether the economic burdens of sanctions weigh up against their political message, He stated the sanctions will remain in place until "the Inimician Peoples can be reassured the nations around us are no longer led by reactionary, jingoistic zealots", and that "the safety of our Peoples, and the People of North Diessen, could never cost too much."
The Imperial Government further announced additional funding to be sent to companies and individuals in North Diessen who may be particularly affected by the current sanctions. "President Karaman has agreed to hand any seized vessels and goods to Imperial Authorities", the Emperor announced, "And Inimicus will, with its large coffers, support the People of North Diessen financially and politically, like We have always done."
No end date for the current sanctions package has yet been announced.