Zardugal

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September 8th 5583
 

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HEAD OF "ORLEO-ASEKURO" ON THE RUN AFTER SUPREME COUNCIL'S EXPROPRIATION ORDER

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Orleo Asekuro was the last insurance company still resisting Commissar Tinkado's efforts to nationalize and centralize the social service sector. In their case the negotiations were said to be especially exhausting and aggressive. The Executive Committee broke the stalemate by requesting a forced expropriation under dictated terms of compensation according to LDRE. Making use of LDRE in this particular case still remains questionable, nonetheless the Supreme Council accepted the movement since it was only meant to facilitate further negotiations and not to be actually executed. Trying to inform Desiderio Sepstono, head of the insurance company of the new situation it was noticed that he could neither be contacted in his office nor at home, with statements explaining his absence being contradictory. 
The EC sent forces of the national police to search for Sepstono, while "Orleo-Asekuro"-employees were informed about the transfer of ownership by members of the LDRE-Office. 
Sepstono's location still remains unclear and an evaluation of the company's accounting documents has shown major inconsistencies. At this moment a sum of around ₷160.000 is assumed to have been illegally transferred by Sepstono and that he is currently trying to leave the country.

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August 3rd 5584
 

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BREAKING: DIRECTOR GROPO DEPOSED UPON REVELATION OF SCANDALOUS PLANS

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Only an hour ago Commissar Amabesto Sojknabo informed all members of the Supreme Council of the shocking plans drafted by Director Mario Gropo via his office. The Councillors assembled in an extraordinary session immediately to discuss the matter. As Sojknabos claims that Director Gropo was indeed planning an invasion of the Jelbic Empire disguised as a defensive war, were backed by Kolbaso the Commissar of Defense and several diplomatic officials while no member of the Executive Committee made efforts to falsify them, most members of the SC deemed the insinuations to be true. Mere minutes ago the Supreme Council accepted a motion to depose Mario Gropo as Director of the Executive Committee with an overwhelming majority of 92% of around 85% Councillors present. Who will succeed Gropo is currently under debate. Commissar Sojknabo already announced that he will not be available for this office to avert the impression of a power grab scheme. Other than him the Councillors’ favourites seem to be the Commissars Lisergio Surfungo and Maksimo Tinkado

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(backdated) August 2nd 5584

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"BETRAYAL AGAINST ZARDUGAL"

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Commissar Sojknabo explaining the inexplicable to the press

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During a press conference on the recent events in Kundrati Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Amabesto Sojknabo gave the following statement:"Ladies and gentlemen, I bet you have all heard shocking pieces of information about what has happened in Kundrati. After a meeting with the rest of the Executive Committee I will now grant you insight in what we know so far and will present the Executive Committee's position on the events. We now know that KL-forces managed to seize almost all FARMAKON-Z assets inside Kundrati. This was done as a sort of preemptive strike to prevent the company from moving their Artanian headquarters elsewhere after the KL's coup. While most Zardic citizens who were located in Kundrati during the KL raids with the aid of the OSR have managed to flee to Dundorf we currently know of at least 20 individuals who have been arrested by Kundrati authorities without any meaningful reason. Neither according to their law nor to ours did they commit any crime that justifies putting them in custody. The KL keeps them as hostages. Zardugal and Kundrati have been economic partners for over a decade and the KL managed to singlehandedly utterly ruin this international relationship in a matter of days while destroying their nation's reputation. For us the case is clear: The KL are an organisation of violent, reckless criminals. Any co operation with them is madness and we appeal to every government of sound mind around Terra: Do not negotiate with fascists. This rule has been proven too many times in history and it also applies to the Kundrati Legion. At this point I would also like to commend the endeavour to form an anti-fascist cross front, which was initiated by my colleague from Kalistan. Although our two nations may have differences, Zardugal wholeheartedly agrees with the Anantonese Empire on this matter.

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(backdated) September 24th 5584

 

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"WE MUST DIRECT OUR EFFORTS INWARDS" 

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it seems as if an episode of Zardic isolationism is ahead

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Even though the crisis that would have been triggered by Gropo remaining as director has been averted, Zardugal is still in a difficult situation. Diplomatically and economically, the republic is largely isolated, especially after the unforeseen break with Kundrati. In a speech to the Supreme Council today, Director Surfungo called for the need to be made into a virtue under his leadership:

"The events of the last few months and years have shown that Zardugal cannot rely too much on the rest of the world. The considerable economic losses inflicted on us by the coup in Kundrati and the sanctions provoked by my predecessor clearly show that too much dependence on other nations makes us vulnerable and weak. We must now return to the foundation of our economy - we must direct our efforts inwards. From now on, the resources available to us will only be used to meet the consumer needs of every Zard. For too long we have geared our production towards increasing export volumes and have succumbed to the illusion that we have to compete on the world market. But this has never been our core competency. Rather, we must concentrate on being successful, independent of the whims of other countries. Of course it is clear that Zardugal can never achieve a state of absolute self-sufficiency, but one lesson we have learned is that a few, but very close, relationships with other countries are of significantly greater value than joining the hucksters of the international stage. Our current economic ties will be maintained for the foreseeable future, but we will not enter into new ones without further ado and will no longer subject our economy to arbitrary whims by making it dependent on trade. Expansion and involvement just for the sake of it must be prevented."

The Republic's new course was well received by both the Councillors and the general public. This response reflects the deep disappointment and anger in society as a whole that was triggered by the break with Kundrati.

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October 11th, 5585

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THE LAST NAIL IN THE COFFIN, REMAINING LINKS TO KUNDRATI ARE TERMINATED

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The Institute of Nuclear Science which was initially founded by Kundrati will for now remain closed

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It was the last step following a series of efforts to eradicate all affiliations with Kundrati. All trade was ceased, both embassies closed, what remains is the question what to do with the formerly shared "remains" of this utterly failed bilateral relation. Today the Executive Committee decided to close the Fajroturo-Institute of Nuclear Science until all Kundratis still working there have either undergone a check through which connections to KL can be excluded or chosen to resign their position. A similiar procedure is planned for all citizens of Kundrati who choose to stay in Zardugal or seek asylum here. The decision is viewed to be as intrusive as it is necessary to ensure no further harm can be caused by the radical KL. 
Commissar Sojknabo announced in a short press release that "Zardugal will cease all active efforts to acquire compensation for the financial and political damage afflicted to Zardugal by the regime in Kundrati, however it is obvious compensation would be a necessary condition should they ever wish to re-establish diplomatic relations with us" 
The Commissar did not comment on any plans to achieve the release of Zardic citizens currently held hostage in Kundrati. He pointed out that the information in question was relevant to state security and could therefore not be shared with the public.

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March, 9th 5586

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FARMAKON-Z RETURNS TO "BUSINESS AS USUAL"

A new direction for operations in Artania and compensation by Likatonia

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Nordenhaus, a major marketplace of the Artanian continent

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Business in Artania performed by FARMAKON-Z will be continued with provisional headquarters set up in Nordenhaus, Dundorf. While the landlocked nation offers a less than optimal position for the trade network of Zardugal’s pharma conglomerate, the relative political stability and the welcoming treatment of workers who fled from Kundrati after the KL-coup were very much appreciated. Currently there are no plans known regarding a potential restauration of the lost radiopharmaceutics manufacturing facilities , although necessary resources would be available in Dundorf. For now FARMAKON-Z is only interested in selling their products on the Artanian market and does not intend to invest in production outside of Zardugal any longer.

Furthermore Likatonia, who purchased a significant portion of the Zardic assets which were seized by the Kundrati Legion, accepted to compensate FARMAKON-Z. Seemingly at the time the deal was struck Likatonian negotiators were in fact not aware of the exact circumstances of procurement of the assets that were offered to them. It is assumed that the Kundrati Legion deliberately concealed these details in order to tempt Likatonia into signing the contract. After the exact course of events surrounding the brand new acquisition became known to the Likatonian public, their government immediately initiated negotiations over a compensation with representatives of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the Chair of FARMAKON-Z. The issue was settled suprisingly quickly resulting in a financial compensation which was "adequate and very satisfactory" according to Zardic negotiators. Likatonia is regarded as absolved of their obligations towards Zardugal, although many Zardic officials could not entirely hide their amusement at the apparent cluelessness of the Likatonian government.

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February 27th 5587

 

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REBECCA TZAFRIR, A FRESH FACE IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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The Yeudi community of Zardugal is delighted to see that for the first time one of its members has been appointed to the Executive Committee

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With 87% of the votes Rebecca Tzafrir was elected Commissar of Economic Affairs. Previously vacant the office's responsibilities were fulfilled in a quasi personal union by Director Surfungo. Now that the Executive Committee plans to return to proactive economic policy, a proper replacement was chosen. She was the Director's preferred candidate, and her plans for the future of the economy look accordingly. In advance of her election she presented an agenda designed to tackle the ongoing economic difficulties caused by the Jelbic Embargo and the loss of Kundrati as a trading partner. It is based on two fundamental principles.

If possible, produce in Zardugal: Although this might sound simple, much work is needed to diversify Zardugal's production portfolio. For too long, the pharmaceutical sector was the only one to be promoted and the wealth it generated was relied on to cover the demand for other consumer goods mainly through imports. The collapse of the Zardic trade network made it clear that a continuation of this economic "monoculture" can have fatal consequences. But where to start? Commissar Tzafrir suggested that the first step should be to create a technology sector and an automotive industry basically from scratch. Although there is already business activity in both areas, it is designed exclusively for military purposes. Tzafrir therefore proposes to rededicate and thereafter expand parts of the existing companies for civilian production with strong financial support from the Executive Committee. Especially in these sectors the flow of goods is heavily controlled by imperialist great powers. For Zardugal it is therefore key to have an independent production in order to remain resistant to the influences of said powers without harming itself too much economically in doing so.

If trade is necessary, spread out imports, concentrate exports: While Zardugal is capable of producing most goods themselves with the right amount of money invested in the right places, some dependencies on the world market are dictated by our nation's geography and geology. In cases where imports remain without alternative Tzafrir recommends to rely on many economic partners rather than only one. Utilizing the NESET could become very beneficial in this context. The only execption to this rule marks Xsampa: if necessary resources and goods can be produced in a sufficient quantity on the soil of our most loyal international partner, Xsampa will get the contract. If it has the potential to produce resources which are simply unavailable in Zardugal (e.g. minerals, ores), but requires investment in their infrastructure to actually extract said resources, Zardugal will always be open to offering a part or all of the necessary funds. This dogma will be implemented to ensure Zardic money is rather used for the long term benefit of Terra's socialist economic sphere than the profits of capitalists, even if a different strategy could benefit Zardugal in the short term. 
Export-oriented industries like the pharmaceutical sector are the big losers of the new economic agenda. In essence, they are being asked, albeit with gentle force, to strictly align the expansion of their sales market with the diplomatic situation of Zardugal. This is the first time that the Executive Committee has made serious efforts to put FARMAKON-Z on a short leash. Since the conglomerate controls the largest representative group in the CK-LK (Central Council of all Worker Councils), a reaction of some kind to the plans can be expected, especially within the framework of this institution.

[GreekIdiot]

Beiteynu
Vascanian base to close after more than 10 years of continuous naval stand-offs with Xsampa; rumours cite of Zardic influence
August 5587
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-3037.html#pid3037