Exclusive Interview to FM Stella Bechthold
The Nordenhausen Allgemeine Zeitung sat in a interview with the Foreign Minister.
November 5471
From left to right: Jörg Ritter, Zeitung's top political journalist, Stella Bechtholdt, Foreign Minister and Olaf Kreisler-Schumacher, a former DSDP Chancellor in the 30s and 40s.
DUNBURG, ODERVELD - The past 20th August, following a provocation from the Beiteynuese Navy, the Lourennais Navy fired in self-defence against a Beiteynuese boat, marking the start of the Lourennais-Beiteynuese War, a conflict that sees everyone in Terra very concerned for broader military and economic repercussions, including in Dundorf; for this reason we decided to interview the Foreign Minister, Ms. Stella Bechtholdt, with the purpose of reassuring our readers on the complicated World Situation:
Jörg Ritter, interviewer: Thank you for receiving us, Frau Foreign Minister
Stella Bechtholdt, Minister: It’s my pleasure, I’ve always had a lot of respect for your newspaper.
R: Everyone in Dundorf is concerned about a spillover of the Beiteynuese-Lourennais conflict that involves us, what can you say to our concerned citizens?
B: The Federal Republic will maintain an alliegance to our provoked friend, the United Kingdom of Lourenne, but our policy in regards of military involvement doesn't change: we'll use armed forces only in the case we need to respond to an attack against Dundorf. In 253 years of Republic, that policy was triggered only once, when we suffered an attack from the former Kirlawan Junta.
R: Maintaining an Alliegance likely means that Dundorf will show support in some ways to Lourenne, if not militarily, how?
B: First of all, we are left with no choice but to recall home the Dundorfian diplomatic delegation in Yishelem. The provocation from the Homeland State is untolerable, but a line of contact will remain in place between my office and the Beiteynuese Government for emergency communications. We already received assurances that our delegation will be allowed to leave safely the country. Secondly, we will place a powerful humanitarian contingent that will service the wounded Lourennais people, with top doctors, nurses and social workers ready to allievate the sufferances of our attacked friends. We are not ruling out other economic help for the United Kingdom, but I can't disclose further.
R: What kind of economic help?
B: [...]
R: I sense I won't get an answer. But what about other countries in Artania who would support Beiteynu?
B: I can confirm that we do not intend to cease relations with them, we understand their alliegance, but I think they also recognize who provoked who. Instead, Dundorf, as already stated, will offer its leadership and willingness to work with them to maintain peace in the continent, and that is a shared objective with leaders like Narikenland & Darnussia, Kundrati and Luthori.
R: Your past announcent has made mount rumours that Dundorf is working for a candidacy for the W.C.'s Security Counicl Seat A. Do you have anything to say about that?
B: Uhm...[pause]
R: Are you not willing to respond to that, either?
B: Actually, I can. Yes, I can confirm that the work of this Office in the past months was to prepare a candidacy [to the Seat A] and soon we'll release a official statement. I just wasn't sure if giving you an exclusive news or not, but I like you.
R: Well, should I thank you? [small laughter from both]
B: There's also another thing I'd like to speak about, Jörg.
R: What is it, Minister?
B: It's about the fact that the withdrawal of our diplomatic mission from Yishelem is not irreversible: we're ready to re-establish it as soon as the military conflict ends from their part, and also that the trade relation, while it will suffer a lack of confidence and natural decrease, will not be ceased fully. That's about the fact that Dundorf is serious when it says it doesn't search for conflict.
R: I understand. Now, about the standing of your party in the polls...[interrupted]
B: What about it? I'm not here to discuss domestic issues.
R: But...
B: But, you can interview the Federal Secretary of the Party for that. Are we done?
R: My next questions were about domestic pol...[interrupted]
B: Then my understanding is that we're done. Thank you very much, Jörg, it was a pleasure.
R: Likewise, Minister.