April 4917Arise, Your GracePresident Abram Giorgadze offered DukedomThe Republic of Fortland has offered Hobrazia's President Abram Giorgadze an opportunity to become a Duke of Fortland, in recognition of his government's generosity in
offering Fortland a small piece of land on which to situate itself when the day comes the sea levels become so high it needs to be relocated.
In a statement, Fortland President Jeremy Briggs, a descendant of the nation's first President, Geoffrey Briggs, said "We look forward to a visit from President Abram Giorgadze when he is next in the region". He added that "Fortland will stay where it is for the moment" but that "the time may well come when we will want to take up the Hobrazian's generous offer".
Fortland offers silver statue of Mathis Barreau to Rildanor's Convention NationaleThe structure known as "Fortland" is an off-shore structure in the Odufart Sea, some distance off the coast of Noumonde. It was constructed as an anti-aircraft gun platform by Rildanor during the 2570s in order to protect shipping lanes between Noumonde, its newly-acquired colony, and south Seleya. It was originally known as the "Barreau Tower", after the architect, Mathis Barreau. It has long since been abandoned. Technically, it was built illegally as it falls outside of Noumonde's territorial waters, and under international law is considered "terra nullius" or "nobody's land".
Fortland President Jeremy Briggs has written to the presiding officers of Rildanor's legislature, the Convention Nationale, offering them a 12 foot statue silver statue of Mathis Barreau "as a gift from the people of Fortland", and encouraging them to display it "in a prominent place that will be visible to the public".
Mathis Barreau is considered a national hero in Fortland, as he was the architect of the structure, and also played a key role in overseeing its construction.