Badara

[Drax]

BIER QASSEM COURIER BEACON


Foreign Minister Mustapha al-Makhtoum

PRESIDENT WILL ATTEND CORONATION

Bier Qqassem, November 14, 4845: Today Foreign Minister Mustapha al-Makhtoum was a panelist in a seminar, Career Opportunities for Women in Diplomacy, at Majatran University of Badara. Asked about the primary foreign policy focus for the Hizb Muasisiun administration, he responded:

Developing mutually beneficial ties to our Majatran neighbors is certainly our focus. The construction of an automotive traffic tunnel from Cildania has been economically and culturally a way to build friendship with our neighbor to the northwest. President Hamad el-Radwan will be attending the coronation of Cildaniia’s new Supreme Leader Cobb Axiaq next year. We are resuming contacts with other Majatran nations as well. We are a member of the Majatran Economic association from which we have benefitted. The Majatran Security Organization is a very promising vehicle for mutual defense.

Our ongoing desire is to be trading with Terra. We are trading with twenty two other nations and are looking for business with more. We have been gratified to be part of Gene and Seed Vault Project initiated by our Majatran neighbor Seleucia which can be a blessing to all Terra. And we are glad we were able to contribute to the recovery in Kundrati.

Asked about national security, the Foreign Minister said:

There are of course four pillars of national security. First, our people must feel well enough governed that they express discontent and political choices at the ballot boxes of our parliamentary democracy not violently in the streets. Second, diplomacy. We hope we can be on friendly enough terms with other nations that we are not attacked. Third, we have a military ready to repel invasion. Fourth our intelligence services try to keep us aware of potential threats.

When questioned about the world stage, al-Maktoum answered:

Well, unfortunately we are quite a way from observe and learn where we started. The government does understand neither the people of Terra nor its leaders want to be instructed or led by followers of the Ahmadi religion or people of Majatran extraction. So we will follow what is afoot abroad but are not in a position to seriously influence it for good or ill. Hopefully we can avoid being attacked by being alert to the possibility and by pursuing goals that can be easily seen as not threatening other nations. Akim willing, we will be successful.

[Drax]

BIER QASSEM COURIER BEACON


Foreign Minister Mustapha al- Makhtoum

MSO AND MEA

Bier Qqassem, June 14, 4846: Today Foreign Minister Mustapha al-Makhtoum met with senior staff and new employees of the Foreign Ministry in Bier Qassem including embassy staff appointees. His focus was on international organizations. His remarks included the following:

The Majatran Security Organization (MSO) has great potential for being the linchpin of our defense. Obviously if we are sharing the burden of defending with other nations the result will be stronger than if we each acted alone. Two ingredients are really necessary. First coordination; we need shared intelligence and a comprehensive plan for each member. The recent naval exercises indicate there is every reason to believe coordination is developing at the proper pace.

Second, as important as we may think we are, there are two nations that are critical because of their international standing to making the MSO successful as a security organization. Both are currently members. The dromedary can not cross the desert without its hump. What can we do? Well, that is the task diplomacy. And it is the task of the intelligence community to let us know how matters stand.

Be that as it may, the MSO may well be our most important external connection. What else is important? The Majatran Economic Association (MEA) has been very beneficial to Jumhuriat al-Badara. Under Deltarian leadership, two very beneficial trade arrangements were made and hopefully there will be more.

The MEA has always had a somewhat precarious existence. It was formed for Majatran free trade and promotion of Majatran prosperity. Whenever anyone has tried to go beyond that, conflict has followed. Trying to organize against piracy proved beyond us. Trying to carry on unrelated feuds made electing a chairman an ordeal. Our own effort to suggest an oil glut should be an MEA problem since three of the top 5 oil producers are MEA members was met with total silence and we pretty much were ready to depart over this.

The current issue is whether there should be minimum standards to insure there are no barbarians among us. Another less noticeable issue is how benefits can flow to members of the MEA who are not major oil producers. The MEA has been good to us and so Jumhuiat al-Badara will do all it can to help resolve these issues.

[Drax]

BIER QASSEM COURIER BEACON


FOOTBALL FINALS

Al’Buqiyaa, August 16, 4846: The final match of the season after the Muhafazah playoffs were the Al-Buqiyaa Ostriches versus the Ras el-Haram Flaming Swords. The first quarter saw numerous attempts to score but from distances both goalies easily handled. In the second quarter the Flaming Swords stars Mehmed Rajab and Bashir al-Mirza did their signature razzle hard pressure passing and each scored once. In the third quarter the Ostriches overpowered the Flaming Swords constantly taking the ball from them and scoring twice. In the fourth quarter Rajab fouled Ostrich high scorer Faisal bin Yusuf who successfully scored on a penalty kick.

The Al’Buqiyaa Ostriches are the winners of the 4846 winners of Two Island Football Cup by a score of 3 to 2. They are sponsored by Majatran Fishing of Al’Baharia.

The runner up team was the Ras el-Haram Flaming Swords sponsored by the Dromedary Hotel and Casino.

[Drax]

BIER QASSEM COURIER BEACON


Finance Minister Hamad al-Nazir

CHANGES COMING?

Bier Qassem, December 15, 4847: Finance Minister Hamad al-Nasir responded to questions about the likelihood of changes after the next election:

Well, the only item that is a controversial item among Hizb Muasisun delegates in the Majlis is whether to continue the salary caps long in place. Salary caps are very popular in some circles but as you are likely aware have led to very exotic compensatory arrangements within corporations thanks to the efforts of Aziz, al-Akim, Wallenstein, Bourguiba and Vasilevskii and other law firms following in their wake. If the Majlis or a Muhafazeh majlis tried to legislate a tax on or prohibition of, shall we say, a deferred stock purchase enhancement option, we would discover those concoctions no longer exist but had been replaced by an anticipatory stock purchase enhancement option. So we have salary caps but not compensation caps.

Hizb Muasisun expects the next election to be very close and there are three fairly major changes that could follow our defeat should it occur. It is our understanding most casinos plan to cease operations some months before the election hoping to avoid seizures. Central Bank has informed the Finance Ministry that Royal Oasis has repaid all its loans to the government. We rather suspect most of their executives will be out of the country on election day.

In view of the possibility of legislation confining defense production to government owned industries, we are aware of several developments. Ground Forces Weaponry is setting up a management plan so transition from a privately owned corporation to a state industry is as seamless as possible. The National Institute of Technology is very close to completing this task. South Ocean Shipyard has been discussing building some naval vessels with the Naval Staff but will delay any contracts or anticipatory machine purchases or reorienting til after the election. Majatran Fishing of Al’Baharia will likely spin off its patrol boat division so it can avoid being taken over by the government. New Dawn Nashwa is not currently producing any military aircraft in Jumhuriat al-Badara and will not consider any Defense Ministry contacts until after the election.

Then there is possible legislation to have the government go into policing religious thought and sex. It may happen. Frankly, if it does all Hizb Muasisun can do is watch it happen from its opposition benches. So it goes.

[buddyking]

Badara News

Tie in Reelection
After the July 4848 election, Badara's Rayyis was from Hizb Muasisium and largest party in the Majlis was Hizb Muahafizeen, the latter asked for reelection. Using the majority in the Majlis the bill was passed and reelection took place. The new elections proved to have a rare result with both parties having equal votes in the Majlis while Hizb Muasisium. It is to be seen what can be done. Making laws in the future will be very tough in some areas. Will there be another reelection? According the polititions from Hizb Al-Muhafizeen, the parties are still to meet and decide what is to be done?

[Drax]

MONSOON COURIER BEACON


Rayiys Farrah al-Sharif

PRESIDENT SUGGESTS COALITION

Bier Qassem, June 13, 4850: President and Justice Minister Farrah al-Sharif appeared at a reception for her at the Justice Ministry after being reelected President in the snap elections which also gave Hizb Al’Muhafizeen and Hizb Muasisiun equal representation in the Majlis. Commenting on this, the President stated:

Obviously this is a surprise development. With it come some opportunities. There are at least two. First, it may well be that we can agree that some things should be left to the Muhafezah rather than constantly re-legislated by the Majlis. I can confirm Hizb Al’ Muhafizeen and Hizb Muasisiun are at least discussing this.

Second, when the parties have equal representation in the Majlis, the people know we should have both parties represented in a Cabinet. Hizb Muasisiun is open to this and we have had some discussion. Do think the people will understand we will have to have some common understanding of foreign policy and national security to prevent chaos. It could happen.

Muhafazeh Majlis, Al'Samania

[Drax]

MONSOON COURIER BEACON


Hizb Muasisiun Secretary Salman Duqaq

COALITION SAID TO BE LIKELY

Ras el- Haram, December 21, 4850: At a meeting of Hizb Muasisiun donors at the headquarters of South Ocean Shipyard, party secretary Salman Duqaq indicated that a government cabinet of both parties was now very likely. Duqaq indicated an agreement in principle had been reached although some details were still under discussion. Further, it is possible some policy agreements which were under discussion could reach a compromise. Duqaq was optimistic as were most of the party donors.

[buddyking]

Badara News

Hizb Al-Muhafizeen confirms formation of Coalition cabinet[size=150]
29th Feb 4851, Bier Qaseem Today, Abdullah bin Ammar, the deputy leader of Hizb Al-Muhafizeen announced;

A coalition has been agreed upon. We still have our differences but we will focus on common ground until the elections next year.

[Drax]

MONSOON COURIER BEACON


Foreign Minister Duqaq

ASSISTANCE OFFERED CAHTICE AFTER DLO TERRORISM

Bier Qassem, June 23, 4852: Foreign Minister Salman Duqaq has notified the Federace Deltarska that Jumhuriat al-Badara is ready to join Impero Istaliano in giving assistance in the wake of the murderous terrorist attack by the Dovani Liberation Organization (DLO) under the terms of the Majatran Security Organiation Treaty providing for mutual defense. The Foreign Minister stated:

We have no reason to believe that the government of Federace Deltarska does not have the situation in hand; however under our mutual defense treaty we are making available our military as well as the special response commands in the Ministry of Internal Affairs created in the wake of international terrorist action some years ago.

Response teams are prepared for sniper fire, bomb detection and deactivation, assaulting a position, other levels of forceful intervention up to destroying an airplane or building with vehicle based missiles.

Our intelligence services report to date only speculation over possible future targets of the DLO.

[Drax]

MONSOON COURIER BEACON


President (Rayiys) Mustapha al-Makhtoum

CLIC

Bier Qassem, January 14, 4853: President Mustapha al-Makhtoum indicated today he had just become aware of the splendid work of the Council of Localities for International Cooperation (CLIC) which pairs cities of different nations as twin cities. The President said this was the way too get cooperation; getting to know each other.

President al-Makhtoum just became aware of this program and is encouraging a city of Jumhuriat al-Badara to apply to be a sister city for interchange of culture and understanding.