Department of External Affairs

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Preliminary copies of the Foreign Policy Review and Foreign Aid Review should be released late tomorrow night, Friday July 30.  Any suggestions are still welcome, and can be sent to me by PM or by directly posting in this thread.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Department of External Affairs: August 2010 Foreign Policy Review

Definitions of the DoEA's Foreign Policy Review

Economic/Trade Restrictions:

Normal/None: Atlasian government and corporations are free to due business unhindered by government enforced restrictions.

Partial: Specific restrictions such as selective tariffs or partial embargoes are to be in place to attack the government and not the regime. Foreign aid can be granted if the regime shows signs of progress towards democracy.

Full: Complete embargo and trade is forbidden with the nation in question. Corporations in violation may face fines decided by the Senate.

Military Restrictions:

Normal/None: Any military hardware produced by private firms, or by the government of Atlasia may be sold to the government in question. However, nuclear material, technology and nuclear weapons may not be sold unless the Senate agrees with the sale of atomic technology to the nation in question.

Partial: Personnel weapons may be sold by private corporations or the state to the country in question. Personnel weapons are weapons, which are carried and operated by one man, i.e. assault rifles, mortars, RPGs, etc. No vehicles, armour, aircraft, or ships may be sold.

Full: No military equipment of any nature may be sold privately or by Atlasia, i.e. no uniforms, guns, vehicles, nothing.

Countries in red have seen change in policy (specific policy noted in parenthesis)

DoEA Policy: Africa

Algeria: Partial military and no economic restrictions.  We have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruption.
Angola: Normal
Benin: Normal
Botswana: Normal
Burkina Faso: Normal, though we are concerned about corruption and certain political freedoms.
Burundi: Normal, though we are still concerned about ethnic violence, corruption and certain political freedoms.
Cameroon: Normal, though we are concerned by the political situation and corruption.
Cape Verde: Normal
Central African Republic: Partial military and partial economic restrictions. We are concerned by the lack of political freedoms and certain civil liberties.
Chad: Full military and partial economic restrictions. We are concerned by the lack of political freedoms, certain civil liberties and the political situation.
Comoros: Normal, though we are concerned by the current political situation
Congo: Full military and partial economic restrictions. We are concerned by the massive corruption and lack of political freedoms (partial military to full military).
Cote d’Ivoire: Partial military and partial economic restrictions until political issues have been resolved and free elections held as soon as possible.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Full military and economic restrictions because of serious concerns about the political situation, continued violence, basic rights, corruption and treatment of women.
Djibouti: Full military and partial economic restrictions
Egypt: Normal, though we have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruption.
Equatorial Guinea: Full military and economic restrictions
Eritrea: Full military and economic restrictions. We have strong concerns about the current situation, civil liberties and illegal weapons trading with Somalia.
Ethiopia: Normal.  We have concerns about political freedoms, internal violence and relations with Somalia (Partial military and no economic restrictions).
Gabon: Partial military and partial economic restrictions until democratic institutions are respected and civil liberties recognized.
Gambia: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruption.
Ghana: Normal
Guinea: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruptions. We support a return to civilian government.
Guinea-Bissau: Normal, though we have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruption.
Kenya: Normal
Lesotho: Normal
Liberia: Normal
Libya: Full military and partial economic restrictions. We have serious concerns about political freedoms, basic rights, and corruption.
Madagascar: Normal, though we are concerned by corruption and political instability.
Malawi: Normal
Mali: Normal
Mauritania: Partial military and no economic restrictions.
Mauritius: Normal
Morocco: Normal, though we are concerned about certain political freedoms. On the matter of Western Sahara, we demand immediate negotiations concerning the status of Western Sahara, and the failure of Morocco to engage into talks will results in recognition of Sahrawi independence.
Mozambique: Normal
Namibia: Normal
Niger: Normal, though we have serious concerns about political freedoms and basic rights.
Nigeria: Normal.  There needs to be serious political reform and we are also worried about violence in the Niger Delta and the situation in the north (Partial military and no economic restrictions).
Rwanda: Partial military and no economic restrictions, though we have concerns pertaining to freedom of the press and politics (Normal).
Sao Tome and Principe: Normal
Senegal: Normal
Seychelles: Normal
Sierra Leone: Normal
Somalia: Full military and economic restrictions. We have strong concerns regarding piracy and continued violence.
Somaliland: Normal. We strongly appreciate the government's co-operation with Atlasia in regards to piracy.
South Africa: Normal, though we have concerns over corruption and their response to the HIV/AIDs epidemic.
Sudan: Full military and economic restrictions. We strongly condemn the situation in Darfur.
Swaziland: Full military and economic restrictions
Tanzania: Normal
Togo: Partial military and no economic restrictions.
Tunisia: Partial military and no economic restrictions.
Uganda: Full military and partial economic restrictions. We are concerned by the political situation, human rights and corruption.
Zambia: Normal, though we are concerned by the political situation and corruption.
Zimbabwe: Full military and economic restrictions

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Department of External Affairs: August 2010 Foreign Policy Review

Definitions of the DoEA's Foreign Policy Review

Economic/Trade Restrictions:

Normal/None: Atlasian government and corporations are free to due business unhindered by government enforced restrictions.

Partial: Specific restrictions such as selective tariffs or partial embargoes are to be in place to attack the government and not the regime. Foreign aid can be granted if the regime shows signs of progress towards democracy.

Full: Complete embargo and trade is forbidden with the nation in question. Corporations in violation may face fines decided by the Senate.

Military Restrictions:

Normal/None: Any military hardware produced by private firms, or by the government of Atlasia may be sold to the government in question. However, nuclear material, technology and nuclear weapons may not be sold unless the Senate agrees with the sale of atomic technology to the nation in question.

Partial: Personnel weapons may be sold by private corporations or the state to the country in question. Personnel weapons are weapons, which are carried and operated by one man, i.e. assault rifles, mortars, RPGs, etc. No vehicles, armour, aircraft, or ships may be sold.

Full: No military equipment of any nature may be sold privately or by Atlasia, i.e. no uniforms, guns, vehicles, nothing.

Counties in red have seen change in policy (specific policy noted in parenthesis)

DoEA Policy: The Americas

Antigua and Barbuda: Normal
Argentina: Normal
Bahamas: Normal
Barbados: Normal
Belize: Normal
Bolivia: Normal, though we oppose any secessionist movements in Santa Cruz province and other eastern areas of the country.
Brazil: Normal
Canada: Normal
Chile: Normal.
Colombia: Partial military and no economic restrictions, we have concerns over corruption, illegal narcotics and the FARC (Normal).
Costa Rica: Normal
Cuba: Normal. Atlasian policy regarding Cuba is currently F.L. 18-6, Cuban Relations Act.
Dominica: Normal
Dominican Republic: Normal
Ecuador: Normal
El Salvador: Normal
Grenada: Normal
Guatemala: Normal
Guyana: Normal
Haiti: Normal, though we have concerns regarding corruption and political instability.
Honduras: Normal
Jamaica: Normal
Mexico: Normal, though we have serious concerns about the drug warlords conflict.
Nicaragua: Normal
Panama: Normal
Paraguay: Normal
Peru: Normal
Saint Kitts and Nevis: Normal
Saint Lucia: Normal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Normal
Suriname: Normal
Trinidad and Tobago: Normal
Uruguay: Normal
Venezuela: Normal

DoEA Policy: Europe

Albania: Normal
Andorra: Normal
Armenia: Normal
Austria: Normal
Azerbaijan: Full military and economic restrictions until free elections are held, civil liberties respected and transparency is restored.
Belarus: Full military and economic restrictions until free elections are held and civil liberties respected.
Belgium: Normal
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Normal. Atlasia welcomes the apparent political stability and peaceful ethnic relations.
Bulgaria: Normal
Croatia: Normal
Czech Republic: Normal
Denmark: Normal
Estonia: Normal
Finland: Normal
France: Normal
Georgia: Normal, though we have concerns over civil liberties and notably about the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The DoEA reserves the right to military restrictions if we feel that it is needed in view of current events in the country or the Caucasus.
Germany: Normal
Greece: Normal
Hungary: Normal
Iceland: Normal
Ireland: Normal
Italy: Normal, though we have concerns about corruption.
Kosovo: Normal
Latvia: Normal
Liechtenstein: Normal although we call for a complete transition to democracy and full transparency in banking.
Lithuania: Normal
Luxembourg: Normal
Macedonia: Normal, although we have concerns about corruption, ethnic minorities and relations with Greece.
Moldova: Normal. Atlasia is pleased overall with democratic evolution in Moldova, though we have serious concerns about corruption, political instability, drug trafficking and the Transnistria issue.
Monaco: Normal
Montenegro: Normal
Netherlands: Normal
Norway: Normal
Poland: Normal
Portugal: Normal
Romania: Normal
Russia: Partial military and economic restrictions. We have serious concerns about democracy, civil liberties, press freedom and the situation in Chechnya and the Russian Caucasus.
San Marino: Normal
Serbia: Normal, though we should warn Serbia against any attempt to go against the recent UN ruling on Kosovo.
Slovakia: Normal, though we have some concerns about worrying nationalist trends in the country and their negative effect on internal and external ethnic relations.
Slovenia: Normal
Sweden: Normal
Switzerland: Normal
Turkey: Normal, although concerns remain about treatment of Kurds, and increasing trend away from secularism.
Ukraine: Normal, but we have concerns regarding current political stability, corruption, and various other problems
United Kingdom: Normal
Vatican City: Normal

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Department of External Affairs: August 2010 Foreign Policy Review

Definitions of the DoEA's Foreign Policy Review

Economic/Trade Restrictions:

Normal/None: Atlasian government and corporations are free to due business unhindered by government enforced restrictions.

Partial: Specific restrictions such as selective tariffs or partial embargoes are to be in place to attack the government and not the regime. Foreign aid can be granted if the regime shows signs of progress towards democracy.

Full: Complete embargo and trade is forbidden with the nation in question. Corporations in violation may face fines decided by the Senate.

Military Restrictions:

Normal/None: Any military hardware produced by private firms, or by the government of Atlasia may be sold to the government in question. However, nuclear material, technology and nuclear weapons may not be sold unless the Senate agrees with the sale of atomic technology to the nation in question.

Partial: Personnel weapons may be sold by private corporations or the state to the country in question. Personnel weapons are weapons, which are carried and operated by one man, i.e. assault rifles, mortars, RPGs, etc. No vehicles, armour, aircraft, or ships may be sold.

Full: No military equipment of any nature may be sold privately or by Atlasia, i.e. no uniforms, guns, vehicles, nothing.

Countries in red have seen change in policy (specific policy in parenthesis)

DoEA Policy: Asia and Oceania

Afghanistan: Normal, though we are concerned about corruption, drugs, women's right and other issues.
Australia: Normal
Bahrain: Normal, though we want a full transfer to democracy. The DoEA reserves the right to partial military or economic restrictions if we feel that it is needed.
Bangladesh: Normal
Bhutan: Normal
Brunei: Partial military and partial economic restrictions
Burma (Myanmar) Full restrictions. We urge for a full transfer to democracy, and the respect for civil liberties and basic political freedoms.
Cambodia: Normal, though we are concerned about corruption and civil liberties.
China: Partial military restrictions and no economic restrictions, though we are very concerned over human rights, and political liberties. We realize that China is a major economic partner and full economic restrictions would be counter-productive to the Atlasian and global economy.
East Timor: Normal
Federated States of Micronesia: Normal
Fiji: Full military and partial economic restrictions (Partial military and no economic restrictions).
India: Normal
Indonesia: Normal
Iran: Full military and economic restrictions will remain in place until the Iranian regime makes full, honest and lasting overtures to democracy.
Iraq: Normal, though we have major concerns about corruption and other issues.
Israel: Normal
Japan: Normal
Jordan: Normal, though we want a full transfer to democracy.
Kazakhstan: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We want a full transfer to democracy.
Kiribati: Normal
Kuwait: Normal, though we want a full transfer to democracy. The DoEA reserves the right to partial military restrictions if we feel that it is needed.
Kyrgyzstan: Partial military and no economic restrictions
Laos: Normal, though we have concerns about human rights and basic freedoms.
Lebanon: Normal, but we have concerns about Hezbollah's role as a political and terrorist organization.
Malaysia: Partial military and no economic restrictions.
Maldives: Normal
Marshall Islands: Normal
Mongolia: Normal
Nauru: Normal
Nepal: Normal
New Zealand: Normal
North Korea: Full military and economic restrictions
Oman: Partial military and no economic restrictions
Pakistan: Normal, though we are concerned about corruption, security and other issues.
Palau: Normal
Palestine: Normal, though we are gravely concerned by the current political situation. Atlasia supports a two-state solution and would like a democratic and independent state of Palestine in the near future.
Papua New Guinea: Normal
Philippines: Normal
Qatar: Normal, though we want a full transfer to democracy. The DoEA reserves the right to partial military restrictions if we feel that it is needed.
Samoa: Normal
Saudi Arabia: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We are concerned about the human rights situation and urge the government to make major democratic reforms.
Singapore: Normal, though we would like a true democracy.
Solomon Islands: Normal
South Korea: Normal
Sri Lanka: Normal, though we are concerned about a few issues. We urge the government to build a modern, peaceful, democratic and multiethnic state with peaceful ethnic relations in the wake of the end of the civil war.
Syria: Full military and economic restrictions
Tajikistan: Full military and economic restrictions
Thailand: Normal, though we are keeping a close eye on the political situation and we will re-evalute the Free Trade Act with Thailand if need be.
Tonga: Normal
Turkmenistan: Full military and economic restrictions
Tuvalu: Normal
United Arab Emirates: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We are concerned about workers rights and political freedoms.
Uzbekistan: Full military and economic restrictions
Vanuatu: Normal
Vietnam: Normal
Yemen: Normal

I present the full FPR to the Senate and ask a Senator to assume sponsorship of this bill and urge the Senate to approve it, as per the terms of F.L. 32-18: Amendment to the SoEA Role Codification Act.

x Ben, Secretary of External Affairs

[Hash]

I'm sure our Colombian allies will be overjoyed to hear that we're putting military sanctions on them.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I'm sure our Colombian allies will be overjoyed to hear that we're putting military sanctions on them.

While the DoEA considers out relationship with Colombia to be very important, we have great concerns over the power of drug cartels, and we are concerned about how many weapons fall in drug lord hands.  If our Colombian allies are able to make strong progress against the drug cartels, meaning rooting out corruption as well as weakening and eliminating many of the cartels, then the restrictions will happily be lifted.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Personally I don't see the big problem with the change to Colombia.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I'm sure our Colombian allies will be overjoyed to hear that we're putting military sanctions on them.

While the DoEA considers out relationship with Colombia to be very important, we have great concerns over the power of drug cartels, and we are concerned about how many weapons fall in drug lord hands.  If our Colombian allies are able to make strong progress against the drug cartels, meaning rooting out corruption as well as weakening and eliminating many of the cartels, then the restrictions will happily be lifted.

What would you define as "progress" and what is your standard of comparison.

[k-onmmunist]

I am very critical of the economic restrictions on Libya, Zimbabwe and the DPRK.

[Badger]

I am very critical of the economic restrictions on Libya, Zimbabwe and the DPRK.

Really??!?

[k-onmmunist]

I am very critical of the economic restrictions on Libya, Zimbabwe and the DPRK.

Really??!?

Do you think letting North Korean children starve is the right thing to do?

[Mint]

There are no starving North Koreans, their glorious economic system is the envy of the spiteful white world.

[Hash]

I'm sure our Colombian allies will be overjoyed to hear that we're putting military sanctions on them.

While the DoEA considers out relationship with Colombia to be very important, we have great concerns over the power of drug cartels, and we are concerned about how many weapons fall in drug lord hands.  If our Colombian allies are able to make strong progress against the drug cartels, meaning rooting out corruption as well as weakening and eliminating many of the cartels, then the restrictions will happily be lifted.

For all I'm critical of Santos/Uribe on a lot of fronts, it's undeniable that they've done much laudable work in terms of hashing out the drug cartels-FARC (they're interrelated, obviously). It seems pretty obvious to me that any sane government would certainly not cut out funding to a close ally who has worked in our interests in a region increasingly keen on breaking from the old line and has done, arguably, good work. It'd be like placing restrictions on your beloved Israel, see.

[Purple State]

I would support maintaining Colombia's "Normal" status and also hope that the Senate will consider including a distinction between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

If the Senate desires it, I will happily return Colombia to its prior status; I would also like to open relations with Taiwan, but I believe the Senate needs to authorize that.

[Badger]

If the Senate desires it, I will happily return Colombia to its prior status; I would also like to open relations with Taiwan, but I believe the Senate needs to authorize that.

What exactly is the current official status of Atlasian-Taiwanese diplomatic relations? I assume it is similar to RL US-Taiwanese relations (i.e. close diplomatic and military ties along with de facto recognition of the ROC as a separate entity from the PRC, but no formal recognition of Taiwan as a separate state and opposition to Taiwan outright declaring independence).

If not, perhaps we do need to consider something akin to the Taiwan Relations Act.

[Purple State]

If the Senate desires it, I will happily return Colombia to its prior status; I would also like to open relations with Taiwan, but I believe the Senate needs to authorize that.

What exactly is the current official status of Atlasian-Taiwanese diplomatic relations? I assume it is similar to RL US-Taiwanese relations (i.e. close diplomatic and military ties along with de facto recognition of the ROC as a separate entity from the PRC, but no formal recognition of Taiwan as a separate state and opposition to Taiwan outright declaring independence).

If not, perhaps we do need to consider something akin to the Taiwan Relations Act.

Well there is this, which is amending the TRA, so I assume the TRA is the de facto law.

[Purple State]

Would a senator consider sponsoring the FPR in the legislation thread so that official debate can begin?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Senators?  Can we get this voted on, with the reminder that Colombia's status has reverted to "Normal"?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Today's newspapers have just been delivered to the Secretary.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Communiqué

The Department of External Affairs offers its condolences to the families of all the victims of the bombing of our Embassy.  The Secretary is about to leave for Pakistan, where he will meet with the President.

As per order of the President, $50 million has already been appropriated for disaster relief, in addition to the $150 million already set out.  These numbers will change at the next presentation of the Foreign Aid Review.

[Hash]

'bout freaking time.

[Purple State]

'bout freaking time.

Technically there was no disaster in the region, as the GM had not created it until now.

I am going to propose legislation soon that will clarify things and make the direction of the game simpler for the government, the GM and the people.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Transcript of SoEA Ben's statement following the meeting with President Zardari :: August 16, 2010

Let me say that I am extremely pleased with my meeting with President Zardari.  First of all, he promised me that the Pakistani Government will do whatever it can to help us find the people who attacked our Embassy.  I do not believe, and indeed there is no evidence to suggest, that this attack was anything other than the word of extremists, and that the Pakistani Government is in no way responsible or even remotely culpable for this attack.  I have the utmost confidence in President Zardari, and I look forward to bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice.

No, turning to the flood crisis, let me emphasize that Atlasia will spare no expense to help one of its true allies.  As I noted yesterday, Atlasia is immediately committing $50 million in relief funding, in addition to the $150 million set forth by the Foreign Aid Budget.  In addition, Atlasia will be committing 15 helicopters for aid and search/rescue, in addition to hallal meals, makeshift homes, mobile water cleaners; all the things that Pakistan needs in order to overcome this crisis.  I remain confident that Pakistan, with the help of Atlasia and the World, will be able to defeat this challenge, as it has defeated challenges in the past.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

So, I'm in Europe IRL until this Sunday, and will have very limited internet access, so try to avoid having any international crises until then.  I can report, though, that I have met with Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy PM Clegg, and will be meeting with President Sarkozy later in the week, so stay tuned (even though the reports may not get out until Sunday/Monday).