Zardugal

[Auditorii]

Zardic World Report
End of an Era: Miroslavido administration drydocks all Zardic carriers for foreseeable future.
September, 5347

Beleco, Federal District - Director-General Kosara Miroslavido and Secretary of Defense Razmo Zenobido announced the formal dry-docking and modernization efforts of the entire fleet of Zardic aircraft carriers. The move comes at a time when the Zardic government is improving its relations with its neighbors and becoming more geopolitically involved. The Director-General gave a speech at Kostandia Bay Naval Shipyard where she discussed the future of the Zardic Navy and her intention in playing a more "...active..." role in world affairs, continuing the trends from previous administrations and a Neo-Mozbido Doctrine. The Director-General gave no timetable for the return of the Zardic Navy's aircraft carriers but stated that her administration as well as the Department of Defense and the Zardic Senate were working to develop "...alternative and similar options to our aircraft carriers. While the power of the Zardic aircraft carrier cannot be shaken or denied, we must be realistic about our goals, our abilities and our intentions. Zardugal will become a great power once again and we will have a role in this world one way or another. Projection at sea is fundamental to that mission and we're going to do what we can in order to accomplish that mission." Naval experts except the modernization and re-fit program to take anywhere from 10 to 15 years and another 5 to 10 years before the Zardic Navy is capable of carrying out regular blue-water operations throughout the globe. Members the Center for Zardic Power, a think-tank based in Beleco, FD noted that the Zardic Navy is far from its "...previous fighting capabilities..." but has restored some confidence in their mission of local projection.

Radomiro Kabasilo, a former Zardic Navy Captain and now member of the Center for Zardic Power, believes that the Zardic leadership in the recent MSCO Maritime Security Group is fundamental for the way that the Zardic Navy handles cooperation with regional partners and allies. Kabasilo also believes that the logistical experience will be beneficial to the Zardic Navy's overall capabilities.

[Auditorii]

Beleco Post
LATE EDITION | February 5354 | Zardic and Deltarian leaders signal new era of bilateral relations.

Beleco, FD - In the wake of a subtle condemnation by Beiteynu, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Deltarian President Valentin Hovicky would be attending a state visit in Beleco, FD to meet with Director-General Kosara Miroslavido in addition to other senior members of the Miroslavido administration. The state visit, which took place between February 3rd and 5th 5354, comes at a time when both the Zardic and Deltarian governments have sought closer cooperation in developing economic and regional ties. The Zardic economy has been recovering steadily since the February 5292 election where Ptolemajo Kabako was elected as the head of state and later Director-General of the revived Zardic Federation. The Kabako, Theoktistido and now Miroslavido administrations have focused on rebuilding Zardic's domestic industry while also focusing on rebuilding the once formidable Zardic military that was a potent force for good in the world. Deltaria has undergone radical transformations in the same time and the two nations have found themselves as unwitting partners in a period of regional development and uncertainty.

According to press conferences following the state visit the Zardic and Deltarian leaders discussed deepening economic cooperation, Lake Majatra cooperation and greater security cooperation in the wake of the Beiteynu policies and potential pushback from Jelbania regarding Deltarian Navy's decision to drydock their carrier. "While both Zardugal and Deltaria are members of the MSCO, and have pushed for greater reform and revival of the Majatran Economic Association, we are developing independent ties with each other." Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that the Zardic government is preparing a comprehensive partnership agreement with Deltaria that will focus on the development of closer economic cooperation, potentially eliminating trade barriers on Lake Majatra, cooperation on EEZ matters in Lake Majatra and mutual economic investment and development. Security cooperation will likely extend towards patrolling Lake Majatra, the Sea of Majatra and potentially mutual air patrols while expanding exercises and defense-related cooperation as best as possible.

Secretary of the Interior Vigilio Kalivazo announced that, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, the Zardic National Guard would be wholly reformed. The Zardic National Guard over the period of the past several years has experienced an identity crisis as the Zardic Armed Forces have undergone a massive transformation. Secretary of Defense Razmo Zenobido announced that the Zardic National Guard would be transformed into the State Guard (Augustan: Ŝtata Gvardio) and would be based within each state with the Governor of each state having control over the State Guard as an additional resource and the Department of Defense could utilize them only in times of emergency or in a period of war. The State Guard will be divided into two formations: State Guard Army units and State Guard Air Force units, these formations would be formed similarly to their respective "parents", the Zardic Army and the Zardic Air Force but would be locally organized and dedicated to more civilian and law enforcement duties. The State Guard will fall underneath each respective state's Governor and whatever leadership that they decide as a whole. The decision to re-form the State Guard also comes at a time when the Department of Defense has authorized the Zardic Sea Guard (Augustan: Zardic Margardisto), also known as the Zardic Coast Guard, to fall underneath the Department of the Interior in times of peace and underneath the Department of the Navy in times of conflict or war.

[Auditorii]

Defendaj Novaĵoj
Breaking defense news from Zardugal, Majatra and the World
Deltaria and Zardugal plot maritime exercise in the Sea of Majatra.
September, 5354


Zardic and Deltarian military officers and officials meet to discuss the upcoming maritime exercises.

Zardic Federation - Secretary of Defense Razmo Zenobido announced that Zardugal and Deltaria would be undertaking a series of maritime exercises in the Sea of Majatra and formally informed the Majatran Security Cooperation Organization (MSCO) that they would be doing so in the near future. Representatives from the Zardic embassy in Čahtica were spotted departing the Ministry of Defense and there has been a buzz surrounding several Zardic military bases according to local reports in different local newspapers. The Department of Defense spokeswoman, Sidonia Olibrido, noted that the timetable for exercises had been formally planned but the exercises would be maritime in nature and focus on local replenishment, cooperation between the Zardic Navy and the Deltarian Navy as well as general maritime operations. "Deltaria and Zardugal find themselves in the same boat of being painted as the "boogeymen" of the continent, something that we find a massive mischaracterization. We're happy to be cooperating with the Deltarian Ministry of Defense in these matters and we're eager to see what happens going forward. I can confirm that the Zardic Navy and Zardic Marine Corps will be deployed on a maritime exercise in the coming weeks." The Department of Defense also confirmed that elements of the Zardic Army and the Zardic Air Force will participate in the exercise.

Sources close to Castle Majatra cite logistics and underway replenishment as the key focus of the exercise, especially within the Deltarian Navy which has undergone a similar period of transition. Logistics play a fundamental role in the success of any warfare operation, especially in blue-water operations and the Zardic Navy's focus has been on building those logistical abilities to sustain operations in Majatra and potentially abroad. Critics of the Zardic Navy cite that the lack of "combat-based training" for the purpose of exercises but the Secretary of the Navy, Raŝo Damaskinido, waves that off. "Logistics win wars. That's it." Kostanida Bay Maritime Corporation, which builds nearly every vessel in the Zardic Navy has received large orders for repairs, refits and replacements of older Zardic Navy logistic vessels as a means to sustain future combat operations. It is likely that the MSCO Maritime Security Group, which is currently comprised of Zardic and Deltarian Navy forces will participate as well as the sole operational Zardic Marine Corps units, the Marine Expeditionary Unit "Andronicus".

Planning for the exercises is likely to take sometime as both the Deltarian and Zardic Navy's continue their development and transition.

[Polites]

★ La Suda Stelo ★
The Southern Star is an online platform offering high-quality coverage of Zardic topics for an international audience.

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November 5361
United Opposition
Left-wing opposition parties establish coalition.
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For nearly seventy years the Zardic Federation has been governed by the Federal Movement, a coalition of several right-wing and conservative parties and political factions. Its long reign has been marked by heavy militarization, coupled with the revival of the so-called "Mozbido doctrine", an isolationist and militarist foreign policy doctrine, though the revived Mozbido doctrine has suffered some adjustments. During this time Zardugal has also become an active member of the Majatran Security Cooperation Council and a close albeit reluctant ally of Beiteynu. Opposition to the Federal Movement has been timid and suffered from disunion and infighting, allowing the Movement unchecked control over Zardic policy.

This month two of the largest opposition parties, the Communist Party of Zardugal and The Greens, have overcome their significant differences and formed a joint electoral platform. The Communist Party of Zardugal is a Metzist-Leonidist political party that has been active in opposing the Federal Movement from an anti-capitalist standpoint, while The Greens is a centre-left green party that has been opposing Federal Movement ecologic policy while supporting minority rights. In spite of some common ground and joint opposition to the government these two extra-parliamentary parties have not cooperated in any meaningful way until now.

Seeking to capitalize on recent cracks within the governing coalition the two parties have decided to overlook their differences and jointly participate in elections. An extraordinary joint congress of the two parties has been held this month that approved the coalition and a common electoral program. The Communist Party temporarily abandoned its commitment to the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat in Zardugal and agreed to peacefully participate in the electoral process, while the Green Party has dropped some of its more centrist policy proposals and shifted further left on the economic spectrum. The resulting KPZ-V coalition (Komunista Partio de Zardujo - La Verduloj) is jointly chaired by the leaders of the two parties, Communist chairman Roĥo Bruttulo and Green Chairwoman Susano Fiŝkaptulo, and they will jointly contest elections on a single ticket.

Ideologically the new coalition campaigns for nationalization and cooperativization, post-growth economics, secularism, feminism, and LGBT rights. It specifically opposes Augustan nationalism, which it condemns as a reactionary and imperialist ideology, and proposes "Zardic patriotism" as an alternative. In terms of foreign policy KPZ-V opposes Zardugal's ties with Beiteynu and is sceptical of its continued membership in the MSCO.

Zardugal has a long history of militarism and conservatism, and historically left-wing challenges have been weak and ultimately failed due to disunity. Whether KPZ-V will succeed where its predecessors have failed may be wishful thinking, but the growing cracks within the federal government and the newfound unity of the opposition may well present the perfect opportunity for a radical change in Zardic policy.


The joint congress of the two parties that established the KPZ-V platform.

[TRA]

Beiteynu
Navy to inaugurate the MSCO's patrols in the Migrant's Pass and Majatran Sea
January 5362 - As Majatra takes 2 important steps towards continental security and stability - active defence operations and heightened organisational structure - the Beiteynuese Naval Command prepares to lead the charge under the direction of Beiteynu's Secretary-General of the MSCO

[Polites]

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The Southern Star is an online platform offering high-quality coverage of Zardic topics for an international audience.

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May 5362
Communist-Green "Revolution"
KPZ-V sweeps to power.
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In an uncommon turn of events in Zardic history, the incumbent conservative and militaristic government of the Federal Movement was defeated by the left-wing progressive and pacifist coalition between the Communist Party of Zardugal and The Greens known as KPZ-V. The elections this January returned a constitutional KPZ-V majority, allowing the coalition to alter the Federation's constitution, while the chairs of the two member parties, Communist Roĥo Bruttulo and Green Susano Fiŝkaptulo, were elected as head of government and head of state, respectively.

The new governing coalition wasted no time in implementing its radical reform of Zardugal's constitutional structure. Although the Communist members of the coalition had pledged not to support efforts to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat in Zardugal, the constitutional reform being voted on is no less radical. KPZ-V had campaigned on a radical opposition to Augustan nationalism, and now every hint of Augustan identity is being wiped out. With the impending approval of this constitutional reform the Zardic Federation will be abolished, to be replaced by a unitary semi-presidential Republic of Zardugal. A new flag, anthem, and national motto are being implemented, and the titles of public officials are being modified.

KPZ-V has promoted "Zardic patriotism" as an alternative to Augustan nationalism, and the new constitutional reform gives a clearer glimpse into what the Communist-Green coalition understands by that phrase. Augustan nationalism is a political and identity movement in Zardugal and Cobura that came to prominence after the string of Zardic defeats in the Southern Hemisphere War and the Lake Majatra War in the 34th and 35th centuries, and which claimed the people of the two nations as direct descendants from and heirs to the ancient Augustan Empire. In the wake of Zardugal's loss of its colonial empire and its Majatran hegemony, claims of descent from a mighty and influential empire came to the forefront as revanchist and militarist sentiment was on the rise. Though it has had peaceful manifestations, Augustan nationalism is most closely associated with Zardic wars of aggression and expansion against its neighbours, starting with the ill-fated revival of the Empire in 3607 and culminating in the so-called Orderist Revolutions of the 44th century. This bloody and violent history may be enough to discredit Augustan nationalism, but there are also doubts on the descent of the so-called "Augustan people", the dominant ethnic group in Zardugal, from the old Augustan Empire. Zardugal was, after all, a peripheral part of the old empire, and most of its territory was never part of it. And while the modern "Augustan language" is descended from the Selucian spoken in the Augustan Empire, its modern form was only codified in the 19th and 20th centuries when it was known as the "Zardic language", the name under which it is now being officially recognized by the new regime.

Perhaps the clearest manifestation of the KPZ-V government's radical break with the past is the new national anthem. Originally an pacifist poem penned in the early 20th century, L' Espero (The Hope) has become a potent anti-war symbol and a rallying cry for critics of Zardic militarism. The recognition of L' Espero as the national anthem of Zardugal is a clear indication of KPZ-V's views on the military and may foreshadow its future military and foreign policy.


Rendition of L' Espero, the new national anthem of Zardugal.

[Polites]

★ La Suda Stelo ★
The Southern Star is an online platform offering high-quality coverage of Zardic topics for an international audience.

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December 5362
"De-Augustanization"
Zardugal moves away from Augustan legacy.
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The governing KPZ-V coalition has made no secret of its opposition to Augustan nationalism and its commitment to Zardic patriotism as a left-wing alternative. But until now, other than officially renaming the state language from "Augustan" to "Zardic", it has made no major attempt to enshrine its understanding of Zardugal's national identity into law, until now.

A constitutional amendment with far-reaching implications is expected to be approved by the KPZ-V dominated Leĝdonaro. Known as the "De-Augustanization Act", the constitutional proposal officially condemns "Augustanism" and "Augustan nationalism" as "a reactionary and chauvinistic ideology", denies Zardugal's exclusive claim of descent from the Augustan Empire, and declares as illegitimate and pseudo-historical the self-name "Augustan" for Zards and the Zardic language. Further, it also renames all five regions and almost all cities in Zardugal, restoring their original Zardic language names that had been altered millennia ago by the rising Augustanist movement.

The name of the constitutional amendment, "De-Augustanization Act", is indeed a direct response to the Augustanization Act of 3596 that first officially enshrined Augustan nationalism as Zardugal's national ideology and that replaced all Zardic toponyms with artificial Kalopianized "Augustan" names. Seen in this lens the "De-Augustanization Act", if approved by the legislature, will mark the end of an era, one started 17 centuries ago. Given the violent and militaristic character of Zardugal during these centuries, there are few in the country who mourn its passing and many who celebrate the new post-Augustan era.


Zardic language street art in Preĝejeto, Kastelo.

[Polites]

★ La Suda Stelo ★
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May 5363
A Farewell to Arms?
Zardugal abolishes its armed forces.
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For several times in its long history Zardugal has been one of the premier military powers of Terra, boasting a massive arsenal that at several points even included aircraft carriers. For all its size, Zardic military history is typically one of defeat or, at best, Pyrrhic victories. Ever since its colonial might was obliterated in the Southern Hemisphere War it has tried, unsuccessfully, to assert a hegemonic role in Majatra, only to be crushed by other aspiring hegemons,whether Deltaria, Vanuku, or, at one time, a Zardic general turned Jelbic warlord. Every time Zardugal suffered a humiliating defeat and saw its homeland occupied and its cities destroyed, it would rise again with an even larger and more powerful military, only to be humiliated again and again.

In spite of this history of defeat, Zardugal is still, for whatever reason, perceived as a sleeping military giant. It is this illusion that has fuelled Zardugal's over-bloated military budget, and it is this perception that has caused any increase in Zardic power, real or otherwise, to be seen as an act of aggression by its neighbours. This uneasy relationship with its own military-industrial complex have ultimately caused Zardugal to see the very existence of its armed forces with suspicion, especially now that Majatra and Terra are largely peaceful.

Under the previous regime Zardugal, predictably, did everything in its power to once again rise militarily, culminating in the modernization of Zardugal's entire fleet, a process initiated in 5347 and being completed now, 16 years later. Although Zardic military leaders were keenly aware that Zardic power was not what it used to be, they nonetheless harboured the belief that Zardugal would become a great power once again.

The election of the pacifist KPZ-V coalition in 5362 has put an end to these dreams. Though the anti-military attitude of the Communist-Green coalition government has been evident since the beginning, it is only now that the extent of its opposition to Zardic military power has become clear. The Leĝdonaro is on its way to approve a radical reform: the abolition of the Zardic armed forces. If this radical bill is approved, Zardugal will have no more army, navy, or air force, no more defence industry, and its military budget shall be reduced to 0. Overall spend will remain the same, but the budget dedicated to defence will instead be allocated to Healthcare and Education, with a small increase in Internal Affairs as well. Additionally, considering the importance of Zardic military technology in fuelling and maintaining its military might, all military technology has already been released to the public domain, in accordance with current legislation that does not offer copyright protection to works of technology or art.

Unsurprisingly, Zardic military leaders have been highly critical of this move, calling it "naive, utopian, and dangerous" and a "harebrained attempt at social engineering that will fail horribly". There has been no indication that the armed forces will actively resist demilitarization, however, given the greatly weakened state Zardic military finds itself these days. For now, this policy enjoys a measure of popularity on account of the drastic increase in Healthcare and Education spending, and the former military is too weak to pose any threat to the government. But Zardic demilitarization is also predicated on the continuance of a climate of peace in Majatra under the umbrella of the MSCO. Though there is no reason to doubt that will change any time soon, Majatran geopolitics is notoriously fickle and unpredictable. If military conflict does arise in Majatra, a demilitarized Zardugal may find itself woefully unprepared.


All military technology has been released to the public domain.

[GreekIdiot]

Beiteynu
MSCO brings forward R002 to vote, to aggressively combat Ordosocialism
May 5364 - Heavily influenced by the Beiteynuese Government and the Kohav, the Office of the MSCO serving currently as the Secretary-General to the organisation, has introduced R002 in a drastic measure to detain and fight Ordosocialism, deemed as a "terrorist" ideology

[Polites]

★ La Suda Stelo ★
The Southern Star is an online platform offering high-quality coverage of Zardic topics for an international audience.

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November 5364
A Gift to Vascania
Zardugal gifts ships to Vascania.
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After the controversial demilitarization of the Zardic state in May last year, Zardugal has been left with a substantial quantity of materiel that its no longer existing armed forces can no longer use, and that due to a lack of a military budget can no longer be maintained. The Republic of Zardugal has made several attempts to sell most of its equipment, but few buyers have yet been interested or able to match the asking price. Perhaps motivated by desperation or maybe eager to establish a new diplomatic avenue, the Zardic authorities have this month given a surprising announcement. The Republic of Zardugal will offer a substantial portion of its navy free of charge to the Vascanian Empire as a gift, ostensibly in honour of the ascension of Emperor Dridhacyut to the Vascanian throne in July last year, but also as reparations for the long Zardic colonial rule in southern Vascania.

Zardugal had ruled the southern portion of Vascania between 2790 and 3355. It originally bought the colony from Deltaria and organized it as the Federated States of Temania, until it was forced grant it independence under Luthorian oversight in the aftermath of the Southern Hemisphere War, though in effect this constituted a transfer of the colony to Luthori. Zardic colonial rule was characterized by numerous abuses and the appropriation of substantial wealth by the metropolis, leading to calls for reparations that have been unheeded until now.

The designation of several ships as reparations for colonial rule is the first time in history that a former colonial power has granted any sort of reparations to a former colony, and may set a new precedent in the relations between the once colonized nations of Seat E and the rest of Terra. This particular transfer may be motivated by more pragmatic considerations, as in exchange for this gift the Vascanian Empire has pledged to defend Zardugal's security, independence, and territorial integrity. Although Zardugal is a member of the Majatran Security Cooperation Council and is thus offered a security guarantee from its members, Zardugal seems willing to hedge its bets and expand its list of protectors, especially now that it has no armed forces of its own. In spite of this more prosaic motivation, the Zardic government has also pledged to restore stolen Vascanian artefacts illegitimately moved to Zardugal during the colonial era, and has issued a formal apology for its role in the colonization of Vascania. Sources within the government are reporting that it is also considering similar arrangements with other countries formerly part of Zardugal's expansive colonial empire.


Zarfugal's gift on its way to Vascania.