Zardugal

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Zardic News Network
In a departure from the Mozbido Doctrine, Zardugal provides aid to WCHM in Rildanor
July 5298

Beleco, FD - Zardic Secretary of Foreign Affairs Vespera Nazarido confirmed rumors that the Zardic Federation had approved aid to be a component of the World Congress Humanitarian Mission in Rildanor, a clear break from the previous governments who have practiced the so-called Mozbido Doctrine. The Mozbido Doctrine, a doctrine of being aloof to the World Congress was laid down by former Secretary of Foreign Affairs (formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs) Lindsa Mozbido, has shifted, especially underneath the Kabako administration that has often proclaimed itself to be "Neo-Mozbido" when it comes to foreign affairs. The announcement that the Department of Foreign Affairs had provided foreign aid as a component of the World Congress mission is notable and might signify that the Zardic Federation is prepared to involve itself with the World Congress, perhaps at an arms length. Director-General Ptolemajo Kabako spoke regarding the involvement shortly after the story broke and he stated that the World Congress mission in Rildanor was to assist the people of Rildanor and while Zardugal was fixing its own problems, the Zardic Federation had a duty to assist fellow people in need. The Kabako administration has taken a much more direct foreign policy stance than previous administrations and has welcomed cooperation with Majatran and foreign allies.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs officials elements of the Zardic Third Fleet, assigned to CENTCOM, undertook the humanitarian mission with an armed escort and several logistical vessels to be temporarily based out of Lourenne's naval air base in Rildanor. CENTCOM's commanding officer, General Katholiko Bogoslavido, noted that the success of the mission was wholly dependent on the logistical efforts being made by the Zardic Navy and assistance from other humanitarian aid forces that were being deployed. "The Zardic Navy is far from where it was and it might take us centuries to return to the status we once had as a true blue ocean-navy but limited operations, supported by allies, allows us to do what we need to do to assist the people in Rildanor."

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Defendaj Novaĵoj
Breaking defense news from Zardugal, Majatra and the World
Defense Cooperation Agency agrees to F-16 sale outside Zardugal.
February, 5300

New Verham - Leonido Mano Aeronautics, a subsidiary of Venetio Aeronautics Corporation, announced that the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) had approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 10 F-16 export variant fighter jets, to be designated as F-16NV (for New Verham), to New Verham's air force. Colonel Kralo Aŭksitido, a spokesman and representative for the DCA, noted that the cooperation between the two nation was a first and he greatly welcomed the new security cooperation. "We're always in partnership to assist allies in developing new security cooperation. The F-16 is a formidable fighter aircraft and will greatly expand the security capabilities of New Verham and we hope that in the future we'll expand security cooperation with them." The sale of 10 F-16NV's to New Verham costs approximately $3.5b LOD to be paid over the next decade or so, the financial details were tightly kept by the DCA and representatives from Leonido Mano Aeronautics. Political experts speculate that the sale might be part of a wider partnership or perhaps a pure foreign military aid to New Verham but that remains to be seen by the Kabako administration. According to LMA officials, the deliveries will begin next year and are expected to take several years for complete delivery. Leonido Mano officials and the Zardic Air Force from the Zardic Eastern Command (EASTCOM)'s air force contingent will arrive in New Verham and begin training New Verham's air force on the new aircraft.

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Zardic World Report
Defense Secretary testifies in front of Senate Armed Forces Committee; Secretary Nazarido in Beiteynu
August 5301

Beleco, Federal District - Secretary of Defense Zenobio Maksiminido has concluded a service-wide review of the Zardic Armed Forces which began during the first days of the Kabako administration. In testimony before the Senate Armed Forces Committee the Defense Secretary stated that the Zardic Armed Forces has suffered "significant bloat" over the years and has several hundred "paper units". Paper units, the secretary explained, are units that are massively under-strength or exist simply on paper and announced that at his direction and the direction of Director-General Kabako, they disbanded most if not all of these units. The most notable was the Zardic Air Force which is by far, organizationally, the largest of the Zardic Armed Forces branches and has been something of a "pet project" for the Defense Secretary and the Director-General. The reforms to the Zardic Air Force come as the Zardic Armed Forces seek to re-establish themselves as a regional power within Majatra and some suspect that the Federation Movement and their benefactors wish to see a return to the Zardic domination of the continent. The Zardic Navy and the Zardic Marine Corps are likely to be the next focus of the service-wide review as the the powerful lobby from the Zardic shipyard building industry has sought to expand the Zardic Navy and civilian shipbuilding industry over the past several years. The Zardic Army, the "mainstay" of the Zardic Armed Forces, has been under-going a structural review and transformation to adopt to the modern battlefield. The Secretary is expected to return to the Senate Armed Forces Committee several times over the coming year as the Zardic Armed Forces complete their "reform" phase.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Vespera Nazarido announced that she would be attending the Hashim Conference in Beiteynu to discuss the future of the Majatran Economic Association (MEA) and the Majatran Security Organization (MSCO), both of which the Secretary had made a goal for enhancing regional stability, security and economic prosperity. The Secretary, a graduate of the University of Beleco's International Affairs College, wrote extensively on the need for regional, not international, based organizations to protect independent continental and national sovereignty. Secretary Nazarido has proposed the election of a new Chairperson for the MEA and a new meeting for the Majatran Economic Association Council, currently based in Deltaria, to move forward. The Secretary noted she supported expanding the trade deal with Dorvik to the wider Artanian Union and "tabling" the deal with Yingdala after a review of relations between the MEA and Yingdala. The Secretary noted that she supported reforming the MSO, an organization based out of Zardugal, and appointing a new Secretary-General and perhaps a wider reform at the organization. The Secretary announced that her plan for reforming the organization would be the development of a new dedicated regional organization known as the Majatran Security Cooperation Organization (MSCO) with council of both heads of state and defense ministers, the reform of the Majatran Security Division (MSD) into the Collective Majatran Response Force (CMRF) which would expand cooperation militarily between Majatran nations as a whole. "The CMRF would primarily consist of military police and military security personnel who are dedicated to peacekeeping efforts and responding to conflict zones, both in Majatra and around the globe."

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Vorto de la Sinjoro
The Terran Patriarchal Church's largest media outlet in the former Augustan Empire.
June 5310 | Archbishop of Beleco calls on the Papez for return to original Augustan Rite


Saint Mikelo's Cathedral in Beleco.

Beleco - Archbishop of Beleco Georgio IV (Real name: Foebammono Jagaro; t. June, 5290), also a Cardinal in the Holy Sabor, has called on the Augustan-based Terran Patriarchal Church (TPC) to revert to strict Augustan Rite of the old Augustan Church for those Zardic-based TPC. This is in lieu of the modern practiced Augustan Rite which has several Deltarian influences, something that has been a point of contention between the two nations historically but has, in recent centuries, fallen to the wayside as Deltaria has struggled with domestic political issues. The Archbishop of Beleco, the primes inter pares (first among equals) in the Zardic Terran Patriarchal Church is well known for his desire for autocephalous (self-governed) control over the TPC in Zardugal, the former Augustan Empire. The Archbishop most recently called on the Papez to formally ban same-sex marriage within the church as several Archbishops and Cardinals have pushed for allowing same-sex marriage throughout Terra. While the government in Zardugal is secular and often stays away from religious affairs, the words of the Archbishop drew criticism from the Kabako administration in which he condemned the outlawing of same-sex marriage. The Holy Synod, an informal gathering of Archbishops, Bishops and Parochial Priests within the Zardic TPC has loosely supported their Archbishop of Beleco, the primes inter pares (first among equals) in Zardugal.

Despite the tensions, the Kabako administration and the Archbishop have maintained an amicable relationship and were recently spotted together at the Cathedral of the Nation (Augustan: Katedralo de la Nacio), better known as Saint Mikelo's Cathedral, the administrative and religious headquarters of the TPC in Zardugal.

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Zardic World Report
General-Director Kabako to step down, crowded field going forward
January 5318

Beleco, Federal District - 7 term General-Director of the Zardic Federation, Ptolemajo Kabako, announced that he would not seek re-election for the General-Directorship at the age of 77 and would step down from leadership of the Federation Movement overall and allow a new generation to take over. The debate has raged within the Federation Movement for the past several years about successors, should the party divide, the growing issues between the Federation Faction and the Purple Faction and the direction going forward for Zardugal as a nation overall. The Kabako administration took office in February 5292 and has radically shifted the landscape of a nation that was plagued with corruption, violence and overall mismanagement throughout every level of government. The Federation Movement and their various regional and local affiliates have dominated local elections but have made a notable impact on the development of Zardic politics going forward. Representatives from the Federation Election Committee, the component of the Federation Movement responsible for campaigning and elections, noted that several dozen candidates have registered and in late 5318 there would be primary elections for offices and in the year before the election formal campaigning would be conducted. The election of February 5320 a number of topics are going to be fielded: the economy of course taking center stage, foreign policy topics such as a resurgent Deltaria, the Majatran Security Organization and the Majatran Economic Association as well as others.

In a first, several minority candidates have registered to stand public office. Tabor Wakeyo Tibebu, a Mallan business enthusiast; Slaven Dapčević, a Tokundian right-wing labor organizer and several others have registered and are likely to break into local politics as a whole according to polling reports by Zardic World Report and Zardic News Network.

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Vorto de la Sinjoro
The Terran Patriarchal Church's largest media outlet in the former Augustan Empire.
June 5322 | Archbishop Georgio IV takes stand against radical, "progressive" nature of new Arch-Patriarch.

Beleco - Archbishop of Beleco Georgio IV (Real name: Foebammono Jagaro; t. June, 5290), also a Cardinal in the Holy Sabor, has announced his intention to stand against "...egregious ecclesiastical violations..." of Arch-Patriarch Maria Ignatia I in the recent Church Council convened in Dolinka, Deltaria. The Archbishop, a potential candidate for the position of Arch Patriarch, was defeated by Papisa Maria Ignatia I in a fiercely contested election. While the Archbishop has not gone as far as declaring himself the "rightful" Arch-Patriarch of the Terran Patriarchal Church, the Archbishop has made it known that the "...progressive nature..." of the Papisa will not be tolerated and she will have to moderate her intentions should she wish to remain an active participant in the church. Some members of the Holy Sabor from the TPC in Trigunia and elsewhere have called on the Archbishop to take back his comments, some see them as threatening towards the Papisa and the unity of the TPC as a whole. Georgio IV has the backing of several prominent conservative members of the council, including some within the TPC branch of the Trigunian delegation that have replaced the more "progressive" wing of the TPC in Trigunia.

The Archbishop of Beleco, the primes inter pares (first among equals) in the Zardic Terran Patriarchal Church is well known for his desire for autocephalous (self-governed) control over the TPC in Zardugal, the former Augustan Empire. While the Archbishop is not endearing himself to the current Papisa, it is possible that a schism occurs and the Archbishop declares himself the rightful Arch-Patriarch and grants himself autocephalous control over the Zardic branch of the TPC as a whole, an issue that would force the wider TPC and the Papisa to deal with. The Archbishop was most recently in the news for calling on the former Papez to restore full, original Augustan Rite to the Zardic TPC as well as a call on the banning of same-sex marriage; the Archbishop has added the prohibition of women being ordained as a component of his grievances at the Council of Dolinka.

The Archbishop has sought to lash out at the Papisa and cited document he claims to be written by her calling for the elimination of the wider pantheon and a radical agenda including approval of same sex marriage, female clergy as well as other "Un-Patriarchal" behaviors and beliefs.

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Defendaj Novaĵoj
Breaking defense news from Zardugal, Majatra and the World
Zardic Army to receive M1 Augustan upgrades.
June, 5323

New Verham - Secretary of Defense Kralo Haĝievalido announced that the Zardic Army would be upgrading a large number of their M1 Augustan main battle tanks to the M1A2 SEPv3 and a limited number to the newer, more modern SEPv4 standard. The upgrade and modernization program is expected to take 5 to 7 years with the additional option for a 2 year extension to Imperial Dynamics’ Land System. The decision was taken as activity throughout Majatra and the world have seemingly come alive. The Zardic Armed Forces over the past several years have undergone a dramatic shift, a series of programs and reforms have taken place underneath former Secretary of Defense Zenobio Maksiminido and the recent, current Secretary of Defense. The initial focus was on the development of a robust basic training program and establishment of an effective corp of non-commissioned officers. The second stage began with retention programs, the development of advanced training courses and the beginnings of stable, motivated officer leadership and training, the third phase detailed the plans and structure for the armed forces and the final stage begins with modernizing and updating the swathes of mothballed and otherwise neglected equipment.

While the phases have taken shape over the course of several years, others advanced at different paces. The Zardic Air Force and Zardic Navy received much greater attention largely due to the presence of a more stable defense industry around the two of them. The Zardic Navy has undergone a transformative process where a bulk of the Zardic Navy finds itself drydocked and undergoing significant repairs and modernizations. Sources within the Department of Defense cite that nearly 2/3 of the Zardic Navy is drydocked and likely to remain that way until shifts in budgets and policy allow it to be. The Zardic Air Force remains the anomaly in that they received significant attention due to the patronage of Director-General Kabako and his administration. The same could be said of the current Theokistido administration who has made the Zardic Navy’s revival a top priority.

The Zardic Army and the navy’s land-based wing, the Zardic Marine Corps, have received steady attention but less so in the so-called lime light.

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Zardic World Report
Foreign Affairs Department confirms ascension to new MSCO
January 5324

Beleco, Federal District - Secretary of Foreign Affairs Valora Agnellido welcomed the recent Hashim Conference in heralding a new age of Pan-Majatran cooperation and noted that the new Majatran Security Cooperation Organization (MSCO) would be met with "...great enthusiasm..." by the Theoktistido administration. The former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and new Chief Secretary (HoG) of Zardugal, Vespera Nazarido, pushed hard for the reform of the former Majatran Security Organization and welcomed the decision. "It is a great day to be a Majatran. We're very excited for this new age in pan-Majatran cooperation and we're eager to get to work setting down the foundation of the Majatran Security Cooperation Organization as as whole. I've spoken extensively with the Director-General and he's very pleased with the progress we've made and continue to make." Zardugal will be first in the rotation to become Secretary-General of the MSCO and it is likely that the Permanent Representative to the Hashim Conference, Arhanglo Olibrido, will be the premier candidate for the position. Olibrido has studied International Affairs with a specialty in Majatran Affairs and has a degree in law in International Relations, he is also a former Captain in the Zardic Army.

The Director-General is expected to take a major foreign affairs-related trip in the near future and the Department of Foreign Affairs has been setting up the foundation for both Majatran, and foreign visits. The new Direcotor-General has remained at the forefront of the economic revival of the Zardic people. In recent years he has touted foreign investment into Zardugal, mostly aimed at reviving the major technological sectors of Zardugal and assisting in driving public-private investments into the technology sector. While the technology sector continues to have its ebbs and flows, the Zardic defense sector continues to experience its massive boom. Several nations have approached Zardugal about the foreign military sales (FMS) regarding the top-tier, state of the art equipment of the Zardic defense industry. It is speculated that a number of these deals will be signed off on in the next couple of years. This is combined with a serious rearmament effort being conducted by the Zardic Army and the Zardic Marine Corps in the face of "...growing threats..." across the world, when asked about those growing threats the Defense Department spokeswoman did not offer examples but noted that one could "...read the winds of change."

Director-General Theoktistido announced that Ingomo, the Zardic epicenter for manufacturing, would become home to a new semiconductor foundry that is expected to be partially funded by the State of Ingomo, the Federal government and Chief Microsystems Inc, a conglomerate of several semiconductor and microelectronic companies that has formed over the past several years through mergers and buyouts. The facility is expected to take anywhere from 5 to 7 years to build and the total cost is estimated to be at approximately $11b LOD.

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Zardic World Report
Director-General monitoring Barmenistan situation.
July 5325

Beleco, Federal District - Director-General Workneho Theoktistido has offered the assistance of the Zardic Armed Forces, notably in humanitarian aide, to the Barmenian government in the wake of civil disorder. "We are actively monitoring the situation in Barmenistan and we're aware of reports of civil disorder. While the issues in Barmenia are a chiefly internal matter the Zardic government and people stand vigilant in being prepared to offer assistance." The Zardic Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning to avoid traveling to Barmenistan and has begun working with the embassy in Barmenistan to evacuate any non-essential personnel from the country. The Director-General noted that he has reached out to Shophet Tahir Gido to discuss any assistance that he or the nation as a whole might require. The Director-General has called upon Secretary-General Arhanglo Olibrido, the new Secretary-General of the Majatran Security Cooperation Organization, to monitor the situation.

Zardic Majatran Command (MAJCOM), formally known as Zardic Western Command (WESTCOM), has upped the readiness of several units that are designated to undertake both humanitarian and rapid response duties and Admiral Niŝterooŭo Bonifatido, the head of MAJCOM, noted that he was in constant communication with the Director-General, the Chairman of the Joint Defense Staff and the Secretary of Defense regarding operational readiness to handle any issues that might arise in Barmenistan. In recent years the Zardic Armed Forces have undergone a radical transformation. This transformation has been mostly subtle the rest of the world but major for the professionalization of the Zardic Armed Forces as a whole.

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Defendaj Novaĵoj
Breaking defense news from Zardugal, Majatra and the World
Zardugal forms the Barmenistan Security Assistance Force in wake of request by Barmenian government.
July 5326

Barmenistan - Director-General Workneho Theoktistido announced that the government of Barmenistan had formally requested the assistance of the Zardic government in assisting in the re-organization of their armed forces. The Department of Defense confirmed this and announced that Lieutenant General (Army) Sarapammono Razmido had been appointed to lead the Barmenistan Security Assistance Force (Augustan: Barmenio Sekureca Asista Forto; BSAF). The Barmenistan Security Assistance Force will be comprised of approximately 150 officers, ncos and soldiers from the Zardic Army and the Zardic Marine Corps and will provide training and assistance in the Armed Forces of Barmenistan, notably the Barmenian army/ground forces. Lt. Gen. Razmido has been assigned to posts within the Directorate of Force Assessment, Doctrine and Training and the Directorate of Strategic Planning and Operations and has been considered one of the more prominent Zardic military officers involved in the re-organization of the Zardic Armed Forces a whole. Former Secretary of Defense Zenobio Maksiminido announced that he had been contracted by the Barmenistan Security Assistance Force and the Department of Defense to provide consultation to the re-organization efforts. The former Secretary of Defense announced the formation a consulting firm, Maksiminido Strategia Defendo, which provides military and security-based consultation services to governments, government organizations and others who qualify underneath strict regulations placed on the corporation by itself.

The Director-General did not comment on if the Zardic government would be providing material aid, but the Director-General did not rule out such assistance.