Topics created by North Diessen

Nation/organisation: Clan Democracy of Strathae
Number of Attendees: 2
Name(s) of Attendee(s): Moira Dubhshlin MacPheadair(High Chieftain) and Blánaid Ní Macháin Peine(Ambassador)
Mode of arrival to North Diessen: Plane

Dietary requirements (if any): Vegetarian
Requested Apéritif(s):-

Imperial Palace, Telum
17th March

"You've done so well."

"Thanks, Artie. Now let's see if anyone buys it."

On the insistence of Emperor Artabanos, Nestor Karaman had revealed what happened in North Diessen at the end of last year. Well, in part. Karaman had not lied, not at all -- he had merely failed to tell the full truth. Was Diessenar President Mueller a murdeous, illegitimate autocrat? Yes. Did he grab power in the face of internal instability which he helped orchestrate? Yes. Did this happen in complete secrecy from Inimician authorities and come as a surprise to Special Envoy Rosenfield? No. Not in the slightest. But that was not appropriate for extensive interviews in the Hilverbode.

The two men sat down with sighs on a 19th-century sofa in Artabanos's private quarters. The pieces had been set and the opening move had been made, the Emperor thought. Soon enough, He would have His Foreign Officer issue a strongly-worded statement, which is what she was good at, and start pressuring Ekrem to leave, or be dragged out. He might even fly some drones over the North Diessenar capital, that might be fun. It would certainly please Boris Mancov.

"Within a week, we should see Ekrem gone and elections called", Nestor said, turning to Artabanos, "And then, well, I'll have to rely on Your expertise."

"Making sure the outcomes of elections are what I want them to be is my specialty, Nestor. Don't you worry one second."

There had been a strange kind of mutual comfort between Karaman and Artabanos ever since they had first met. For once, the Emperor had not extensively planned what was going on, and He had not even heard of Karaman until his flight into the Empire. But -- and this, He believed, was what set Him apart from His predecessors -- He knew how to use opportunities that arose around Him. Ekrem Mueller had clearly served his purpose. Artabanos had, He fully admitted, misplaced much trust in him, and he was far more difficult than the Emperor could ever have imagined.

Indeed, following Mueller's coup - which was, incidentally, fully sponsored and orchestrated by the Imperial Armed Forces, a detail which Nestor skillfully managed to avoid disclosing in his interview - the first signs of Mueller's "delusions of independence" started to show extremely swiftly. The new Diessenar president had insisted it should be Diessenar companies that took the lead on constructing the Artabanos canal. He had refused the Imperial Air Force unrestricted access to Diessenar airspace. And, finally, he had made a fuss about Karaman crossing the Inimician border. And Artabanos hated people who made a fuss.

"We'll see how everyone around responds", Karaman said, pouring himself a drink. "Hopefully there will be actual pressure on Ekrem to leave."

"If there isn't, we'll design this pressure ourselves", Artabanos said confidently. "Rosenfield is still out there, and we're still in contact. His Imperial Guard training is unmatched, and his skill for applying 'pressure' is, as well."

Artabanos and Karaman stared out the window. Life seemed to be taking a turn for the better, in more ways than one.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER

To: The Government of the Confederacy of North Diessen
Subject: Report on the Use of EDA Funds for the Artabanos Canal Project

Greetings,

The Office of the Internal Affairs Commissioner appreciates the honest and quick response from the Government of North Diessen. Upon further review of all the responses, we have been satisfied that the Artabanos Canal are for purely acceptable intentions and are not against the principles of the European Development Agency. We hope that such project would prove successful and prosperous for the continued development of the Confederation of North Diessen and of other nations across Europe and the world. Thank you and have a great day.

Sir Joseph Biden GCVO
Commissioner, European Commission on Internal Affairs

A Message From the Board of Trustees for the Artabanos Canal Project

Confederal President of North Diessen Nestor Karaman; His Imperial Majesty Emperor Artabanos of Inimicus; Chief Engineer Layla Marini; Chief Accountant Hugo Bercow; Head of Resources Dahle Uguz; Head of Personnel Johannes Tagu; and Six Other Unnamed Trustees

Today is a joyous day.

After a record €12 billion invested in the future of our region, tens of thousands of workers putting millions of manpower hours into the destiny of the Confederacy and Empire, hundreds of thousands of train deliveries of materials and equipment, and above all, a limitless spirit of optimism and determination, the Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the opening of the Artabanos Canal for commercial traffic from 1st August 2022.

A grand celebration, hosted by the President of the Confederacy of North Diessen and the Emperor of Inimicus, shall be held on Saturday 18th June, and the Board invites all friendly heads of state and equivalent statespeople to attend. Formal invitations are to be sent out in due course.

To further celebrate the opening of this vital second link between the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf, all vessels registered under the flags of any member state of the European Union shall enjoy free transit through the canal in the first three weeks of operation (exceptions apply**). This offer has been made possible by a further €200m grant from the Artabanos Foundation, for which the Board of Trustees is eternally grateful.

**This promotion shall not apply to vessels registered under the flags of the Kingdom of Reitzmag or the Clan Democracy of Strathae.

In Full: Confederal President Nestor Karaman's Swearing-In Speech

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Newly sworn-in Confederal President Nestor Karaman delivers his inaugural address outside the recently renamed Inimician Cathedral (formerly the Cathedral of Sts Peter and John) in Het Goor.

Highlights

- President-Elect Nestor Karaman is sworn in as President of the Confederacy of North Diessen in the Inimician Cathedral, Het Goor

- President Karaman promises "a renewed focus of internationalism", stressing Diessen's relationships with its neighbours as top government priorities.

- Other key promises include the reiteration of the pledge to complete the Artabanos Canal in the first 100 days of the Presidential term, the capture of former President Mueller and his associates, and general left-of-centre economic policies such as tax hikes for higher incomes and moderate increases in government spending in the economy.

Het Goor, 2nd May 2022 -- Not 48 hours after the Presidential election results were certified by the Confederal Electoral Commission and the Inimician Imperial Guard Investigation Unit, Nestor Karaman was sworn in as Confederal President. Citing "safety concerns" and a "filling of the executive void", Karaman had pushed legislators to allow for an earlier-than-usual inauguration date, which, given he is not replacing any previous incumbent, the Grand National Assembly was content to accommodate. Speaking to a crowd tens of thousands strong in the central Cathedral Square in the Diessenar capital Het Goor, Karaman set out a legislative agenda for his next five years in office in an inaugural address.

"My friends and compatriots, thank you. It truly is the greatest honour that any Diessenar citizen could experience to stand before you today. Our popular movement was successful during the election, and it will continue to be successful during the coming presidential term, during the next legislative elections, and into the long distant future. I have you to thank for your support.

"The Diessenar Peoples know what the first priority of this administration will be. We will build the vital link between our two shores with renewed vigor and strength, and complete the entirety of the Artabanos Canal within the first one hundred days of my Presidency. To this end, the Confederal Government will infest a further ₺50 million on top op the previously pledged infrastructure fund. I have further managed to extract another ₺200 million from our friends to the south and the Artabanos Foundation. Truly, our canal will be the envy of the infrastructure world.

"Our nation needs healing. Our Confederacy was severely weakened by the rift of 2021, and this administration will take the necessary steps to close this rift. We will start by eliminating the mould and rot of Ekrem Mueller from all levels of government; Confederal, State, Local, Ekrem loyalists and pro-putsch actors will be hunted down and put to trial. I promise you, Peoples of Diessen, that after the first year of my term we will have a renewed democracy in North Diessen, free from corruption, free from self-centered imperialists, where the livelihoods of every citizen count equally.

"This, sadly, we cannot do alone. You know as well as I do that last year's war tore down our industry, destabilised our internal economy, and left us exposed to the stealing, criminal hands of the Mueller clique. It is with this in mind that this administration will seek investment from the European Development Agency to repair the damage that was done. We have also arranged further negotiations with the Imperial Government of Inimicus, who have offered a ₺5bn annual fund to shore up our economy. Truly, the Confederacy is blessed with such allies and such a community in our region; I intend to ensure we can be there for our allies, such as our allies are there for us.

"We will seek rapproachment with the United Duchies, whom my predecessors alienated and cast aside. We will work as an active member of the Caspian Treaty, improving relations with all our Caspian partners, including the Kingdom of Reitzmag and Pravoslaviya. We will seek to end the scourge of piracy in our northern waters, collaborating closely with the Inimician Imperial Navy. And finally, speaking of which, our greatest and most trustworthy allies to the south, who intervened decisively when our nation was on the brink of destruction last year, must receive our unrelenting and unwavering support and loyalty. The Inimicians were there for us in our times of need, including in safeguarding this past election campaign, and we will be there for them should their time ever come.

"To His Imperial Majesty Emperor Artabanos of Inimicus, I say thank you, on behalf of the Peoples of Diessen. To you all, wherever you may be and whatever your personal circumstances are, I say thank you. I will get to work, this administration will get to work, to ensure that every Diessenar citizen will, very shortly, once again voice with pride our national motto: He is happy who says 'I am a Diessenar'."

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Joint Statement of the Confederal President of North Diessen and the Emperor of Inimicus

To all whom these presents may reach, greetings.

The governments of North Diessen and Inimicus, united in an eternal bond of friendship and collaboration, note with horror the events taking place on our doorstep. Troops from the Kingdom of Reitzmag and United Duchies, supported by the United Kingdom and Gadalland and Aspern, have assailed a sovereign nation on the Caspian Sea.

No matter our differences, force can never be the answer unless as a last resort. An unclear situation at sea cannot be the grounds for full-scale military intervention. Standing together as one, we condemn the assault on sovereignty that has transpired over the last few days. We cannot and will not support the side of Reitzmic aggression and Imperialism through any means.

It is with this in mind that we have determined and decreed, by the powers vested in us through the mechanisms of Presidential and Imperial Decrees, to close the national borders of the Confederacy of North Diessen and the Empire of Inimicus to all nationals from the Kingdom of Reitzmag, the United Duchies, Gadalland and Aspern, and Svarna Surya without exception. Nationals of the aforementioned states currently present in the territory of the Empire of Inimicus and/or the Confederacy of North Diessen are mandated to report to local or national law enforcement for processing by the Inimician Imperial Guard Anti-Terrorism Command.

Financial, material, or other assets held by nationals from any of the aforementioned states in the Confederacy of North Diessen or the Empire of Inimicus, or any of its subject states or individuals, are hereby seized. This includes holdings by the Roscoes conglomerate of the United Duchies.

Any naval vessels, whether military or civilian, which enter the territorial waters of the Confederacy of North Diessen are now subject to internment until, at least, the end of the conflict. Assets held on such vessels may, by Presidential Decree, be transported to the custody of officials from the Inimician Imperial Guard.

SIGNED,

ARTABANOS, Centuriorum, Legatorum, Quaestoriorum, Imperatorum, Rosarorum, Praestoriorum, Diutiorum Imperator Maximus; Dominus Noster, Βασιλεύς Πολεμιων, Αύτοκράτορ Πρώτος; Pontifex Maximus Religio Inimiciis; Dux Districti Teli; Caesar Legioni Inimici; Crux Maximus Ordinem Imperatoris; Dominus Ordene Supremus Nicolesii; LAUDATE!

Nestor KARAMAN, President of the Confederacy of North Diessen, Grand Cross of the Order of the Empire.

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Government

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Coat of Arms of North Diessen

The politics of North Diessen take place in the framework of a confederal presidential republic as defined by the Basic Law of North Diessen (German: Norddiessenische Verfassung; Turkish: Diessenin Cumhuriyeti Anayasası) The President of North Diessen is both the head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers (German: Norddiessenisches Kabinett; Turkish: Bakanlar Kurulu), which is appointed and headed by the President. Legislative power is vested in the Grand National Assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

President and Cabinet

A president is elected every five years on the principle of universal suffrage according to the current constitution. The president does not have to be a member of parliament, but he/she must be over 30 years old and hold a doctoral degree. The current president Ekrem Mueller became Confederal President after the abdication of his predecessor in October 2021. Ministers can not also be a Member of the Parliament, and if MPs are chosen to be a Minister, they will have to resign their positions as Members of Parliament.

The current Council of Ministers of North Diessen is composed as follows:

Confederal President President (G: Bundespresident; T: Cumhurbaşkanı) Ekrem Mueller; Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs (G: Bundesfinanzbeauftragte, T: Maliye ve Hazine Bakanlığı) Emma Artabanoğılu Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (G: Bundesaußenbeauftragte, T: Dışişleri Bakanlığı) Arnum Blauberg Minister for National Defence (G: Bundesverteidigungsbeauftragte, T: Millî Savunma Bakanlığı) Elian Kylysse Minister for Agriculture and Forestry: (G: Bundeslandwirtschaftsbeauftragte, T Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı) Pamnut Ebbi Minister for Industry and Technology (G: Bundestechnologiebeauftragte, T: Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı) Baris Pekdemir Minister for Labour, Social Services, and Family (G: Bundesfamilienbeauftragte; T: Çalışma, Sosyal Hizmetler ve Aile Bakanlığı) Virginia Lena Minister for Transport and Infrastructure: (G: Bundesverkehrsbeauftragte, T: Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı) Akar Merkhal Parliament

Legislative power is invested in the 300-seat Grand National Assembly of North Diessen (German: Großnationalrat Norddiessen; Turkish: Diessenin Büyük Millet Meclisi). The members are elected for a five-year term by mitigated proportional representation with an election threshold of 10%. To be represented in Parliament, a party must win at least 10% of the national vote in a national parliamentary election. Independent candidates may run, and to be elected, they must only win enough to get one seat. The North Diessen GNA has been housed in the Parliament Buildings in Het Goor since the founding of the Confederacy in 1799.

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Political Parties and Elections

Political Parties in Diessen represent the full breadth of the political perspective. Due to the proportional representation sytsem employed for elections to the Grand National Assembly, many smaller parties have attained representation in the legislature. The following political groups are currently represented at a national level, the number of seats currently held in the GNA is also given:

Government (186 seats, majority of 36)

Diessen Radical Centrists (blue): 104
The DRC are a centre to centre-right group campaigning for the free market, a small government, and socially liberal policies. The DRC won the most recent parliamentary elections in 2019 by a significant margin. Their main opposition is the Social Demcoratic Appeal, however despite this antagonism most governments the DRC has formed have been grand coalitions with their rivals. Social Democratic Appeal (red): 82
The SDA entered into government with the DRC in 2018, having lost a significant number of seats after leading the government from 2014 to 2019 in tandem with the Communist League. The SDA is a classical social democratic party prioritising equal opportunities for all, environmentalism, and generous social welfare policies.

Opposition

Conservative Party (purple): 53
North Diessen's Conservatives have generally been in opposition for the last three decades as the largest non-government party. The movement aspouses socially conservative and religiously-inspired policies, including an emphasis on traditional marriage and fiscal conservatism. Communist League (maroon): 43
The Communist League served in government for the first time from 2014 to 2018, in a highly controversial coalition with the SDA. The Communists campaign for a large government and general collectivisation and nationalisation of key infrastructure and industry. Diessen National Worker's Party (black): 18
Having never served in government, the DNWP is Diessen's newest political party. The party has a highly centralised structure and includes a paramilitary wing. Its main policy points include a total ban of foreign immigration into North Diessen and a return to what it calls 'traditional Diessenian values'.

The current composition of the GNA is visually represented thus:
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Confederalism

North Diessen is made up of three confederal territories bound together into a single constitutional state, as well as the capital district of Het Goor which is self-governing. Confederal-level responsibilities include defence and foreign policy, large-scale infrastructure and water management projects, and environmentalism. Duties of the three territorial governments include licensing, housing, urban planning, and law enforcement.

North Diessen's confederal system is based on the principles of intertwined common co-operation and an each-to-their-own attitude. It is uncommon for the confederal government to interfere or even advise territorial administrations on matters of policymaking, yet the constitutions of all three territories mandate the lower administrations to actively work together on issues that require it.

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The districts of North Diessen are, in order of population size: Reuland (east), Hammikeln (north west), Linnich (south west), Het Goor Büyükşehir (capital district).