Majatran Economic Association (MEA)

[Drax]

Hamad al-Nasir, Minister of Finance, Jumhuriat al-Badara:

Are there opinions on whether to ratify the arrangement between Dorvik and the MEA?

[Rogue]

Amalasuntha Liuvigild, Minister of Finance, Deltarian Federation

Deltaria will vote in favour of the agreement and shall ratify it. As for chairman elections. They should be scheduled after the vote

[Drax]

Hamad al-Nasir, Finance Minister, Jumhuriat al-Badara:

We welcome back our chair and look forward to proceeding to ratification. Before voting to do so, we really do need clarification on whether the 10 billion reference in the clause on oil products was barrels or LOD. If LOD it is doable.

We believe now that the session has resumed, Seleucia may have some suggestions concerning the arrangement as well.

[Rogue]

Juhász Nándor, Chairman of the MEA

It concerns LOD, currency, not barrels. Just for clarification

[Drax]

Finance Minister Hamad al-Nasir, Jumhuriat al-Badara:

We expected that would be the case and appreciate our chairman confirming it. Jumhuriat al-Badara will ratify the agreement.

[XanderOne]

Federico Gionata, Istalian Representative

Colleagues,
Istalia would like brough attention to this issue raised within the World Congress and my Government would like underline that actually for too much time probably this organization never faced such situation.

My Government cannot ignore anymore the fact that for decades my country and most of the rest of the country of this organization had trade and economic relations with nations where questionable practices have been carried out for so many years.

My Government would like know if the organization and its Chairman wants to do something about.

The treaty with Dorvik was judged as interesting and Istalia is considering to ratify it in the next term of legislature. However, the situation we pointed out you now could freeze termporarly the ratification.

Thank you

[Drax]

Finance Minister Hamad al-Nazir, Jumhuriat al-Badara:

Jumhuriat al-Badara has great respect for Impero Istaliano as the most dependable voice of reason in international affairs over a long period. Further Jumhuriat al-Badara has great respect for the party raising the issue in question in the General Assembly to which reference is made.

On the other hand, Jumhuriat al-Badara would really like to see the MEA start to commence to begin to fulfil its potential of being truly beneficial to all Majatra as it was in our arrangement with Yingdala some time ago.

The truth is six nations of Majatra have been discussing this proposal including one that is pulling out of the MEA and one that has not joined.

Nonetheless Jumhuriat al-Badara would truly like to see the MEA survive. It would certainly be a shame if something happening in the World Congress of all places would be the cause of its demise. The World Congress? Seriously?

We too look forward to leadership from our chairman on this subject.

[John Cracker]

Minister of Finance Kazim Isa,

Badara calls for the immediate suspension of Pontesia and all other nations that practice slavery.

[Rogue]

Petr Hanuš, Deltarian Representative to the MEA

Goodday my fellow representatives. I come here before you today to make a proposal, a gesture to our fellow MEA member states and a way out of a possibly tricky situation. As you all have been a witness of the MEA has grown to be a economically and politically influential, possibly instrumental part of Majatra and its economies. Bringing a unrpecendented level of stability and economic growth to our continent. We have signed a comprehensive free trade deal with two large economies (Dorvik and Yingdala) and our free trade zone within member states themselves have allowed for innovation and creativity.

It is because of this fact, the fact that Majatra has grown out of economic troubles by itself and has created these new institutions by itself, that we believe we have to take the reigns on another important subject, pharmaceuticals. As many of you know 3M, a Endralonian multinational, has been expanding operations around the globe in an effort to gain a monopoly on the production, distribution and selling of pharmaceuticals. It is Deltaria's believe that such a megacorporation with immense resources and no real roots in Majatra could be a risk to public health by having a grip on the sector that is too large. For this reason Deltaria would like to propose the following.

We propose to put restrictions on 3M its right to conduct bussiness in MEA member states. These restrictions would include:
1. Putting a maximum on the amount 3M may charge for its products
2. Forcing 3M to invest its Majatran profits into other health projects within Majatra.
3. Forcing 3M to share its product data with MEA member state public health institutions to enhance treatment efficiency

Furthermore, to prevent 3M from expanding its monopolizing position within Majatra, we propose the creation of a semi-private pharmaceutical manufacturing company, put on the stock market of Romula and with all the shares owned porportionally between the MEA member states. This company would thus be fully owned by a collective of MEA member states but operate under a private structure. Its name would be "Majatran Pharmaceuticals" or MP and its goal: Producing low-cost and effective pharmaceuticals for Majatran citizens. It would not be allowed to charge above production costs for the medicine it produces and would have to be available for as many Majatran citizens as possible.

By doing this we dont ban 3M for doing bussiness in Majatra but do put a limit on how far its influence may reach and create a new, strong competitor to allow for a beneficial situation for Majatran consumers.

We would like to open a debate on our porposal before a vote is held and look forward to the opinions of other member states.

[Drax]

Finance Minister Magdalena al-Jabbar, Jumhuriat al-Badara:

A lot to say on this but let me start with four comments.

First, do believe we should contact all Majatran members and potential members because the very problem of some deals simply not having any meaningful application to this situation is addressed in the proposal to form some sort of Majatran pharmaceutical company. It could benefit all Majatra.

Second, Jumhuriat al-Badara is very appreciative of the efforts of the Deltarian leadership in bringing the MEA into existence and negotiating the two arrangements which have been very beneficial to Jumhuriat al-Badara.

Third, we would suggest considering the MEA itself as principal owner of the pharmaceutical operation rather than the nations of the MEA trying to imitate the 3M model. This is just an implementation suggestion.

Fourth, while we know it is anathema to the socialist nations who look on one of the largest corporations as scum simply because it is a large corporation, and anathema to those who sincerely believe 3M has overstepped the bounds of propriety and thus should be driven into the outer darkness, and anathema to 3M which believes it is being unjustly accused throughout Terra, it is the thinking of Jumhuriat al-Badara that within the parameters of this very proposal and particularly the Majatran pharmaceutical company and the focus on health improvement projects there is the possibility of benefit to every party to this discussion including the poor and ignored of Majatra we want to serve. We believe we should all examine it in this light.

We are very well aware this is not where this is currently headed.