January 4460General Blanchard responds to Valruzian ultimatumFollowing the
breakdown of talks at the Nowogard Summit and the ultimatum issued by Valruzia, General Blanchard has addressed the Noumon people on television to deliver his response.
He forcibly condemned Valruzia and the Canrille Federation for "aggressive warmongering" and also hit out at
Istalia for "cravenly following the beat of the war drum and appeasing international law-breakers who are failing to respect either international law or the normal procedures of the World Congress".
On the other hand, he praised the "voices of moderation" in the international community who were calling for restraint, making specific mention of
Selucia and
Deltaria.
He described Valruzia's ultimatum as "disrespectful" and its terms as "unrealistic", insisting any international agreement on the situation in Noumonde would need to be based around
Malgy and Canrillaise Working Together for a New Noumonde, a policy document issued by his regime proposing to move Noumonde towards Malgy Majority Rule in small incremental stages over a 400 year period.
The General did, however offer some last minute concessions:
- he offered to host elections for a National Consultative Assembly, which would not hold formal legislative powers but would act as an advisory chamber to the military government. However, persons connected to armed groups such as the Malgy Liberation Front would be prohibited from standing. This would, in effect, rule out the participation of almost all of the senior figures from the former
Alliance for Progress.
- he offered to set up a Civil Rights Advisory Council, which would include representatives from the international community, including representatives from the World Congress and the Canrille Federation. He also promised Malgy members would be appointed to the Council, and suggested that
Mahafaly Randrianasolo, a tame pro-junta Malgy member of the Supreme Court, could become the Council's first chairperson. He suggested also that the Council could begin work on drafting a Bill of Rights to ensure "all Noumons, whether Canrillaise or Malgy, are treated fairly".
- he offered to release a number of former Alliance leaders who are now in prison or under house arrest, provided they give a commitment not to supported illegal insurrection against the government in any way. This includes
Masoandro Androkae, the Alliance's last chairperson, who also at one time served as Health Minister under the old power-sharing arrangement.
- he offered to create a new Cabinet position of Minister for Malgy Affairs and to establish a Malgy Community Council comprising "legitimate representatives of the Malgy community".
- he indicated "I am an elderly man, and whilst I am determined to fulfil my responsibilities to Noumonde, I am not intending to go on and on forever", which was seen as a hint that he might potentially be prepared to step down from office in favour of another military leader, if this was necessary in order to reach a peace agreement.
However, all of this came with one strict provisio, which he delivered at the end: "Under no circumstances will my government continue to negotiate with Valruzia, because they have no understanding whatsoever of my country or its history or its culture or its situation, and they have treated us with disrespect and acted in bad faith". He did say, however, that he would be prepared to negotiate with the Canrille Federation, with the World Congress and with "representatives of concerned, responsible nations".
He repeated this point later in an interview with journalists, demanding "Valruzia must take its aircraft carrier back home where it belongs and stand aside - they have no business in Noumonde and it is time for them to step aside". He also commented "I heard their aircraft carrier was manufactured for them by Istalians, so it will probably sink before it gets here anyway".