The continent of Ardia is made up of 24 large nations and countless others. 15 of those nations have joined the Ardian Assembly, an organisation that was designed to help nations overcome its differences and challenges. Yet in the last two months that has not happened as threats, escalation and demands are levelled between one power group and another. It is actions such as this which can easily spiral out of control and escalate to war something no nation wishes.
At present we have the SANE alliance with New Derusmia, Quintelia and Republic of China making up its membership. Like any nation they are more than welcome to seek out closer co-operation with each other in order to bring about a better set of conditions for their people, but not at the expense of others. We now see a situation where having removed a key part of their organisations charter another nation now feels threatened. Yet some would say these nations only joined together because they themselves felt threatened. We live on a continent that has seen splits in the past, be that between East and West, between nations near the Horn and the rest of Ardia and even over railway lines. The continent faces unique challenges that should be pulling us together. We are perhaps the largest continent in the world full of diverse people and diverse cultures. We are a continent that has seen one of the longest and most brutal occupations in modern history in the Unified Iwi and they are a people that are still facing challenges of persecution globally. This is a situation that we as a continent that wishes to come together should stand squarely behind, instead we are threatening each other and this is unacceptable.
I call upon the members of SANE to give a public undertaking that they in no way shall target a first strike of any kind against Rokkenjima as n article in one nations media has suggested has been planned. I also call upon Rokkenjima to give a written assurance to SANE that it too is not planning any military action against them and their members.
SANE could be a force for positive good in the region and I call on its members to focus on its social and economic policies rather than adopting militaristic stances. Rokkenjima have previously been leading lights in attempts to bring Ardia together, history shows attempts of several pan Ardian organisations yet now words emanating from the Empire are pushing wedges between the continent and I call on it to return to efforts of Pan-Ardian Co-Operation rather than looking inwards towards its sea.
I therefore submit this declaration to the membership for their opinions, comments and concerns.
Signed
Grand Duke Hugo Lascelles of Bakkermaya
With the statement from the Grand Duke read out to the membership it was time for their appointed ambassadors to begin the discussion.