South Dovani

[Zanz]

"Froa-what, now?": South Dovani Did Not Purchase Sub, Gov't Says
17 November 5637 (OOC: Backdated)

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Following assertive protestations from the Wrnukek Politburo yesterday, the government of South Dovani has finally acknowledged reports in Himmelshterner press earlier this month that alleged the sale of a surplus Froahiko IRBM-capable submarine from Himmelshtern to South Dovani.

The acknowledgement of the story, however, came as an outright denial.

"Froa-what, now?" said Nodthakorn Jivacate, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, when asked about the WJZR demand that South Dovani renege on the sale. "I'm afraid the story there is more about who, exactly, bought that submarine, because it simply wasn't us."

The startling claim was met with audible gasps in the conference press pool. Since the initial reporting by Neset, the Prasert administration has refused to comment on the report, with several spokespersons prior to today stating that they would need to circle back with press on the topic. The Neset reporting claimed that the buyer had been "vetted extensively", a quote that Nodthakorn seized on as the more interesting story, here.

"I think the world deserves to know, and I hope you all will ask, what exactly that vetting process entailed. The Republic of South Dovani has made no purchases from Himmelshtern, now or ever. Who bought that sub?"

International commenters have struggled to interpret the response. Though news outlets and government entities in the former Beiteynu are largely still held to be trustworthy, it is demonstrably true that since the alleged purchase no submarine has been observed delivered to South Dovani. Whether the Prasert administration's own claim denying the purchase could be trusted is another question - the government hangs on a razor edge and faces elections later this month where polling has shown an ascendent right seems poised to fare well. Online message boards have been alight with rumors that South Dovani did purchase the sub and is docking it overseas to avoid scrutiny. When the purchase was first announced, regional states expressed concern over the possibility of an IRBM-capable South Dovanian navy, and a denial is seen by some experts as an attempt to assuage concerns from neighboring states.

"I'm very concerned, very concerned," finished Nodthakorn. "It would seem someone has dragged the reputation of the Republic of South Dovani into what appears to be an international arms proliferation cover up. We had nothing to do with it. Someone ought to look into that."

#FroahikoForSale
#WhoBoughtTheFroahiko
#Froawhat

@UdonNakhonPost