Zardugal

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PROTESTERS HINDER CLEARING WORKS AT KASTELETO FOREST


In order to expand nearby vineyards operated by KVS (Kooperativo Vito kaj Spiko) the Supreme Council granted permission to clear out parts of the Kasteleto forest. The decision caused an outcry among nature conservation associations, which quickly set up camps around and on trees to prevent workers from cutting them down. They criticize the decision had been made without consideration of lasting impacts on the ecosystem. Their claim is supported by researchers from the Kasteleto Institute of Zoology. According to them local wildlife has not been studied enough to ensure the clearing efforts do not have the potential to extinct certain species. They state that to this day formerly unknown lifeforms, especially insects are found in all of Kasteleto Forest on a regular basis and that the area that is to be cleared posseses a very unique climatic and botanic environment. Scientists therefore argue that it is very likely that the planned works might lead to the eradication of yet unexplored wildlife.

Amabesto Sojknabo, Commissar of Agriculture defends the measures in a statement issued to the press this afternoon:

The area currently in question marks only a small fraction of the whole ecosystem that is the Kasteleto forest and is partially separated from the rest of it by the Glorabio mountain range. Only the north side of this mountain range is affected by clearing works. This rather contained zone has been thoroughly screened for endangered wildlife species. Dozens of individuals of three species have been secured and will be reintroduced into the wild in other parts of Kasteleto forest once the project is finished. I can reassure you that this is not a mindless endeavour driven by desires to stimulate the economy at any cost. I therefore see the behaviour of protestors in the area as unjustified. My commissariat will make an effort to reach out to them and find a solution through dialogue, while also discussing with our colleagues from the Commissariat of Internal Affairs about strategies that need to be used in the event of a lack of willingness to cooperate on the part of the squatters. For the time being we have already agreed to again order an evacuation of the clearing zone and cordon it off to prevent any more protesters from entering the forest camps.

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"NO ONE WILL BE LEFT TO SIT IN THE DARK"

Cost for electricity is at an all time high. In view of the overwhelming amount of cases of insolvency on the part of private customers, the National Network Agency has demanded an intervention by the Executive Committee to avoid the necessity of shutting down connections.

In a press conference called at short notice, Director Diarmaido commented on the critical situation and acknowledged failings on the part of the Executive Committee

Before we get into the economic details, let me assure you of one thing: 

No one will be left to sit in the dark!

The whole EC is currently working flat out to avert this crisis. To counter the currently evolving precarious situation for some citizens the National Network Agency will receive extraordinary financial subsidies from the EC to lower the cost of electricity for the time being. However this solution can only be short lived as these funds can only be gained by increasing national debt. The underlying, structural problems need to be adressed as well. I speak on behalf of the whole Executive Committee when I say: It is the state who is at fault for the current situation. The impact of our economic development on the national power grid was heavily underestimated and we failed to act earlier. As a first measure to strengthen the Zardic energy grid the ongoing construction of a nuclear power plant in Ilerto will be sped up as much as possible with additional funding. Supplementary oil refining companies among them NafRaf-Veneto and Alkafraksi will receive subsidies in order to modernize equipment and processes. The resulting increase in efficiency is expected to relax the Zardic mineral oil market somewhat. A long term solution will still need intense planning by the Executive Committee and the Supreme Council. For now we do everything in our might to combat the symptoms 

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FIRST ECONOMIC RECESSION AND INFLATION SINCE THE THIRTIES


Although the financial aids granted by the Executive Committee managed to cushion the effects of high electricity and oil prices on the economy it is ultimately declining. According to a paper released by the Commissariat of Trade and Industry nominal GDP sunk by 1,1% compared to August 5565. In order to fulfill the promised subsidy policy which aimed at corporate as well as private electricity users, an increase of national debt and domestic money supply was necessary. The Spesmilo's value shifted from 10,3 LFR to 10,15 LFR over the course of just a few months and is expected to plummet even further til the end of the year it might fall below 10 LFR. 

Meanwhile the EC is struggling to defend their position in the Supreme Council.
While Diarmaido and involved Commissars are still supported by a majority, voices against the current course are getting louder by the day. Director Diarmaido stoically defends his policy and states that the attempts he has made to ease the energy market in the long term will take at least until the end of the year to make a noticeable difference. Furthermore he declares that ongoing modernization of the currently outdated powerline and transformer net will have an impact and that the EC is currently striking a deal with Nihaton-Solar, a producer of solar energy systems from the Dual Republic in order to utilise large areas of fallow land near the Jelbic border for the national grid. The Commissariat of Infrastructure is also evaluating the re-activation of older coal power plants which are not close to urban centers. These would not fulfill current pollution standards, however in the current situation Commissar Daminido is confident that the Supreme Council will support making an exception.
The construction of the nuclear power plant "Ilerto-Orientherbejo" is expected to be complete not earlier than 5569.

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WEEKLY EDITION


Diarmaido pays Mordusia a visit

Although the Director is a busy man these days, Diarmaido has confirmed that he intends to accept Mordusia's invitation in person. Accompanied by the diplomatic corps, the main aim is to evaluate opportunities for economic cooperation. In government circles, it is speculated that agreements on sulphur supplies, which are still urgently needed, are one of the main topics of discussion. The requests on the Mordusian side are more difficult to assess so far. However, it is conceivable that a general increase in the volume of trade in civilian goods on both sides and possibly also an expansion of FARMAKON-Z into Mordusia's market are being sought.
Deeper relations between the two nations would mean Zardugal's first political and economic point of contact with South Seleya. The course and outcome of the state visit are therefore being followed with great attention by both the Supreme Council and leading business representatives


Police removes last protestors from Kasteleto Forest, clearing works finally commenced

Although the binding decision to clear parts of the Kasteleto Forest in order to expand nearby agriculture had been made long ago, protestors managed to avert damage to the affected area for quite a while. Even though the responsible Commissar Sojknabo initially made offers to find a compromise, the occupants of the woodland did not co-operate and were now completely removed by force this Wednesday. Deforestation works could already be started on Friday.


Economy takes a slight breath

Current statistics confirm that the Executive Board's economic interventions are beginning to have an effect. Even though inflation is still progressing at a much slower pace, the economy has recovered to a temporary level of stagnation. Forecasts based on the current trend predict a return to slight growth while maintaining the Spesmilo's value at LFR 10,0 from the middle or end of the year.

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Commissariat of Foreign Affairs:
On the ongoing events in Trigunia

The Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Mario Gropo hereby wishes to inform the national as well as the international public that the Republic of Zardugal hereby officially recognizes:

-The Vrosnok Council Republic (La Konsiliarespubliko de Verosnoko)
-The Kozaki People's Free Republic (La Kosaka Libera Popolarespubliko)
-The Brakav Free Democratic Republic (La Libera Demokratia Respubliko de Brakauo)
-The Lesnovian Soviet Socialist Republic (La Lesnauja Soveta Socialista Respubliko)

as sovereign national entities

Furthermore the Republic of Zardugal condemns all acts of violent oppression of beforementioned nations committed by the Tsardom of Trigunia

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SPESMILO AND ECONOMY STABILISED: EC IS ABLE TO WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY AGAIN


Director Diarmaido during an open question and answer session on the nation's economic future


The financial support for private insolvent electricity consumers is scheduled to end in August of this year. Thanks to numerous optimisations of the network, a foreseeable completion of the first nuclear powerplant, improvements to production processes in the chemical industry and the additional purchase of electricity from Vanuku, prices have fallen to a level that makes this step possible. In view of the cancellation of this probably unprofitable public expenditure, the currency markets reacted with an immediate calming, so that the value of the Spesmilo will remain at LFR 10 for the foreseeable future.
Even though the Executive Committee plans to continue its financial policy, which critics have labelled as too lax, any new money generated in the foreseeable future will be channelled exclusively into infrastructure projects aimed at developing the inland economic area. In response to a concerned enquiry from foreign and domestic banks, Director Diarmaido assured them that a long-term expansion of the welfare state from ‘printed’ funds was not in the EC's interests. This was merely a ‘short-term intervention to prevent the accumulation of individual strokes of fate.’ According to the Director during his open question time.

According to unofficial reports from the Commissariat of Trade and Industry, the vaguely announced plans consist of expanding the civil infrastructure in the regions away from the coast. In particular, the aim is to increase coverage in the areas of health, childcare and education, as well as a core refurbishment of the intersecting railway lines in order to make the area a more attractive place to live. The latter is also intended to support and strengthen the movement of goods between the Zardic coasts.

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RELOCATION OF SUPREME COUNCIL COMPLETED


interior views from the new seat of the Supreme Council

Fajroturo is now finally Zardugal's capital city in every conceiveable way. The decision was made years ago however, the construction of necessary buildings that meet the requirements of the Supreme Council and the Executive Committee has been severely delayed by the economic crisis. Even though minor work still needs to be completed, the interior is now ready for occupation to such an extent that the official inauguration was celebrated by the councillors.

The control centre of the state apparatus has thus been transplanted, but will be followed by subordinate authorities in the coming month. The LDRE office and the OSR are currently among the stragglers. According to the authorities, the effort involved in transferring the archive, which is still largely on paper, was simply underestimated.
Together with the plenary chamber, the buildings of the Commissariats and the office of the Director, they will also have a seat in the completely new government quarter, which has been given the name ‘Popola Palaco’

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CK-LK GENERAL ASSEMBLY: ALL NEWS





Criticism from Sojknabo received the most applause

Even if the CK-LK always endeavours to demonstrate unity to the outside world at its plenary meetings, these are also always an occasion for more or less discreet criticism of the government's course. Commissar Sojknabo seemed to have struck a nerve with the audience with his speech about what he described as an ‘occasional lack of successful communication with the public’ on the part of the SK and the EC in particular. The commissioner's rather diplomatic paraphrase reflects well the displeasure of top politicians which, according to individual reports from the capital, is primarily triggered by the work of the director. Behind closed doors, accusations of ‘lack of planning, lack of vision and lack of assertiveness’ are allegedly being levelled.
The director, on the other hand, missed the opportunity to address the smouldering discord during his speech and seemed rather encouraged by the renewed, albeit increasingly weak, confirmation in office to continue his policy of ‘managing the status quo’ as some call it.
Commissar Gropo, from whom less veiled criticism of the director was actually most likely expected, remained quiet and only said a few obligatory words of congratulations in passing.


PAVPLAN Chairman states political ambitions

Having already experienced a steep rise in the company he currently heads, Lisergio Surfungo today won a place on the list for the upcoming elections with the strong support of the CK-LK General Assembly. The doctor of pharmaceutical biology thanked all members of the assembly for the opportunity to put his skills and expertise at the service of the nation in the future. In his acceptance speech, Surfungo also confirmed rumours that he would also be available for a position on the Executive Committee. The announcement was met with strong approval from the floor, suggesting that his ambitions could become a reality after the next SK election

A Number of Positions to be filled

During the meeting, several current members of the Executive Committee announced their retirement from politics. The political veterans received laudatios for their political work a year before the actual end of their careers. The next SK will decide which of its members will follow in their footsteps.

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THE F-2100 IS BACK: MORE CONSTRUCTION ORDERS EXPECTED



Since the construction plans and licenses have been held by the Zardic state since the dissolution of the KGMK, it was only a matter of time and financial means before construction of the F-2100 could be resumed. With help of the special budget granted to modernize the military, three new frigates were ordered at the time and have now been launched. Another three are still being assembled. The revived model is intended to completely replace existing ships of the very outdated Konstanco class over the next few years. 
The ship's launching ceremony was carried out by Commissar Kraco. In his speech, he indicated that the overwhelming success of the project would be groundbreaking and that a similar approach to reactivating old models was also planned for other classes such as the K-1000. He also took the opportunity to reiterate his plan to expand the Zardic Navy to at least 100 operational ships by 5580.

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September 5570
MANY NEW HEADS ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE



The elections to the tenth EC have been finalised. In addition to Director Diarmaido and other well-known members such as Augusto Kraco and Mario Gropo, some newcomers are now bringing a breath of fresh air to the political course. Unlike the last major ‘personnel change’, the director seemed very pleased with the new additions this time. He announced that he was very much looking forward to the start of the collaboration and was already excited about the new impetus from his colleagues.
The new Commissioner for Agriculture, Lisergio Surfungo, was a little more pointed and less politically cloistered in his inaugural speech: ‘Now I'm keen to get the place up to scratch and maybe even turn it inside out in some places if necessary. Zardugal has so much untapped potential and it's time to change that’