Re-elected Prefect Aims to Work More Closely With Terra's Great PowersDr Trmékez says Deltarian Nuclear Programme Illustrates Why 'Free' Nations Must Co-ordinate Efforts To Enhance Global SecuritySatellite imagery reportedly showing one of Deltaria's remote nuclear weapons programme development sites.
January 4457 - Vanukean Prefect Ershébef Trmékez has revealed she will use her fourth and final term in office to work more closely with the other great powers to ensure a new era of global peace and prosperity.
She said the recent rise of rogue totalitarian nations, such as Deltaria - which is now moving towards
possessing nuclear weaponry - and oppressive racial supremacist governments, such as those encountered recently in Alduria and Zardugal, continued to destabilise Terra.
Dr Trmékez, who has served 18 years as head of government in a long-standing coalition between her Z-MJP party and the Greater Nationalists, said over the next six-year term she would focus on achieving co-operative and collaborative solutions.
In a state of the nation address to the Grand Council following the January election she said: "Vanuku's domestic prosperity continues to grow in all sectors and our citizens flourish under our progressive policies... but it is not so rosy beyond our borders.
"We have, on several occasions over the last decade, been called upon to defend the rights of people on this continent who have been oppressed or had a way of life or foreign ruler forced upon them by a militarist and totalitarian regime. This is mirrored by similar despotic actions on all continents around the globe.
"We have worked closely with continental allies such as Istalia, Cobura and Cildania, to name but a few, to fight against the oppression in many shapes and forms. But it is my belief that it is time to work more closely with the other large and influential nations around the world to achieve what has to be a common aim - that is to end oppression and allow self determination to flourish and personal and economic prosperity to increase.
"We have already seen a warming of relations with Hutori and our recent visit to Valruzia has set the seeds for growing relations with other Seleyan nations.It is my intention now to continue with this relationship building and to approach many more states, including those considered to be the northern hemisphere's greatest powers, to ensure we can co-ordinate our efforts against these despots of oppression.
"Whether this will be through the World Congress or through bi-lateral agreement is not clear but I am determined to make this happen and I hope my co-operative overtures will be welcomed."
Asked about claims that Deltaria had retrieved enough parts of the VAK-03 tactical nuclear weapon dropped by Vanuku in Jelbania earlier this century to kickstart its own nuclear weapons programme, the Prefect said: "That dark event [dropping the nuclear bomb] is something our nation has had to try come to terms with over the decades and we have done everything in our power to put things right and to support the people of Jelbania, who have lived with its aftermath. But we are two generations on and it still haunts us... perhaps, rightfully so.
"However, it is our belief that while Deltaria is evidently stepping up its own nuclear missile programme the research for this cannot be directly linked to the deployment of the VAK-03 tactical weapon and the likelihood that any fragments of the device were left to be salvaged is very, very low. It has long been the belief of our nation and many others that at the time of the Deltaria-Vanukean war, Deltaria was backed by a powerful ally looking to challenge Vanuku by proxy.
"It is our conclusion that this nuclear programme is most likely the result of technology provided to Deltaria through this secretive alliance or is the result of technological acquisition on the black market, or even a combination of both.
"Whatever the case, the idea that a totalitarian regime is aiming to produce its own nuclear weaponry should be even more reason that we work closely with allies and other free nations around Terra to combat any future danger."
The Prefect ended her speech by talking about the declaration made by international observers that the election in the People's Democratic Republic of Jelbania were
free but not entirely fair.
She said: "We thank the international observation team established by Selucia for its tireless work and the final report. It is our belief that there are glimmers of optimism in all of this and the people of this regime have been offered a limited form of self-determination despite the caveats. But as we have clearly stated we cannot and will not recognise the PDRJ as a sovereign nation until, or if, that is decided upon in conjunction with the government of its de jure mother nation - Jelbania.
"Without that approval any act of secession will ultimately remain illegal.
"So we call on the Social Revolutionary Union administration in the PDRJ to now open dialogue with the central Jelbania government and come up with away forward to achieve a mutually-beneficial outcome to this situation."