ZARDIC-COBURAN ROW DEVELOPS OVER 'INCOMPETENT' AND 'RACIST' TREATYPoliticians accuse Zardic Foreign Minister of peddling Augustan supremacist policy 4 April 4337
People from Mallan communities in south-west Zardugal protest over government proposals to establish an Augustan union. Growing concerns over attempts to revive the Augustan Empire in western Majatra have led to a top-level diplomatic row between Zardugal and neighbouring Cobura.
There have been repeated calls for the Zardic Foreign Minister Gerdina Hicona to resign after a controversial proposal to create a political union between the two nations backfired dramatically.
Opposition parties in Zardugal have been joined by the governing coalition in Cobura in condemning the move, which is seen as a step towards Augustan supremacy in the region.
The Governor-General of Cobura Amoun Khairēmōn branded the proposed treaty as a "nightmare" while Ali Azmera Melos, Prime Minister of the United Governorates said it was a "racist violation of national sovereignty".
In Zardugal, both the Socialisma Respubliko Partio and Klara Sablo - Populara Movada branded the move as incompetent and called for the Foreign Minister to resign over the diplomatic faux pas.
Tamrat Iskinder, Leader of the Opposition, said: "Minister Hicona must go now for the sake our our country and our international reputation. The lack of common sense in making this proposal is truly gargantuan. It also underlines the unsavoury supremacist undertones of the Minister's party (the Sankta Partio de Renaskiĝo) and demonstrates a clear lack of ability to act on the world stage. I feel I must apologise on behalf of my nation to the government of Cobura and millions of my own people who are threatened by this. "
However, despite the outrage, Minister Hicona refused to stand down and said the backlash to the treaty of union was "completely unnecessary."
Mr Iskinder said: "If the minister will not stand down it is up to the Chief Minister to force the resignation; either way, if the change is not made quickly the rift with Cobura may widen."
The row led to protests in many parts of south-western Zardugal, which is home to many ethnic groups who were historically persecuted under the old Augustan Empire.