KING FACES TRICKY COUNCIL APPEARENCE Today the King made his scheduled visit to the Representative Council where, as long as diplomatic duties permit, each Wednesday he answers questions from Councillors for a minimum of 60 minutes. Today however the King was in the chamber for a total of 97 minutes as topics ranging from the recent bomb attacks in Nya Aland to the Empress of Rokkenjima's verbal attack on East Moreland. The King began as always by laying out his itinerary for the next week which included attending Princess Rhiannon's parents evening tomorrow. Questions began when the representative of Silverhills Central, Giles Mitchell, asked "Does the King intend to send military forces to Nya Aland following the recent attacks that have seen members of the East Moreland military targetted at Red Base."
The King responded saying "We send our best wishes to the people of Nya Aland who at this time have lost loved ones. We gave a commitment many years ago that the Alanders and Morelanders would be friends and I see no reason that should change. The Alanders face uncertain times but they can be certain that we shall support them if requested. At the moment Sir Harry Samuelson is in contact with their military and should the situation change so would our force dynamics."
Next was Chief Councillor Lucas Blakeslee who asked. "The recent report in Rokkenjima of their Empress calling some kind of Northfort Experiment into doubt what kind of response can we expect from our own diplomatic service."
The King answered by saying "There is no experiment going on in Northfort, at least not diplomatically. Whatever the Empress was refering to clearly relates to manner in which we do business and as far as I am concerned business in terms of our international relations and decision making is good. There are no plans from my side to change the way in which we interact with other nations."
Simon Mannix from Portworth asked if there was " a return to the days of anti-Moreland hate within the Rokkenjiman nation."
To this question King David replied, "We've seen no polls like we did in the past. The Empress has spent time in East Moreland so while hopefully she may express issues with our administration then I would hope the respect for our nation still exists. The Empress has a long connection to our nation dating back to several incidents and I know she has spent time with my sister. It is these things that have therefore surprised me that we have been criticised."
Melissa Lusk, founder of International Refugee Support Agency (IRSA) and one of the Representatives for Freestone asked. "It would seem to those reading the Empresses address that there seems to be a move towards a new form of the CTO or similar. Do you believe such an organisation can be created and that it is sustainable?"
The King told the Assembly. "We took a decision to walk away from the CTO because it didn't work and our shoulders, along with Achkaerin, could not bear the load anymore. As such it worked out best for us to leave and walk away. I so far have seen nothing to make me walk back towards such a body. Nothing the Empress said would lead me to think otherwise. She has just spoken of her wishes and dreams of such a body but for dreams to become reality it takes hard work and dedication and I do not believe Rokkenjima are in a position to pull that off at the moment."
Next Sir Richard Ballen of Northfort Forest District asked "Do we put the Empresses words down to anything in particular or do we think her naivety on the world stage is showing?"
King David replied sternly saying "The Empress, like any royal, is in a position of privilege. While we may try to say young children deserve a normal childhood that is not going to happen for royal children. While I want Rhiannon to enjoy growing up, experience the fun of being a child, she is only too aware that one day she will be stood here before you. She is eleven years old and already being groomed for the crown. Rokkenjima should have, and probably did, prepare the Empress for the crown being on her head. The nature of royalty is that sadly the moment I go off to see Helus Rhiannon is in charge, while I pray that is in many many long years we also all know it could be tomorrow. While an eleven year old Queen of East Moreland would be unworkable I am confident that because of the support network around Rhiannon that on her 18th birthday she could run a nation. I am not going to disrespect Rokkenjima saying they have failed preparing the Empress for the throne but the situation there has been a complex mess for several years. I would also point out we have had leaders of similar ages who have been great leaders. Let us remember Queen Viktoriya of Lodja was 18 when she came to the throne and by 19 had helped redraft large sections of the MCUR, had helped forge the CNN and forged diplomatic links with a great number of nations and she was not born into a royal family. The Imperial Address is a key moment in Rokkenjima's annual calendar. The speech is written, drafted, practiced and revisited. While the Empress claims she spoke from the heart. It was a decision she made. She is in the business of making decisions and now must deal with what happens next."
Finally Sam Rushden from Keepton asked " What is the long term plan for East Moreland and Rokkenjima relations."
The King concluded saying, "I will borrow an often stated phrase from Rokkenjiman diplomacy. Our doors are open. We will not go cap in hand to Rokkenjima expecting them to solve this issue. We will continue our so called experiment by making deals throughout 2024 that benefit every Morelander, support those in need around the world and help bring peace and stability to people across Mundus. There are multiple ways of moving forward. Some have begun, others may happen in due course but I have more pressing and more important concerns than dealing once more with a spat from Rokkenjima. Much has changed from those examples in the past and we do not chase friends."
The King concluded his question and answer session by taking a question from Jack Robinson from Stoneton who asked whether the King supported "the ADSN call for independence for Troyes".
The King said. "I have always, and will always, support the idea that people should have the final say in how they are governed. Following the Regency Crisis here in East Moreland I put before the public the first constitution of this Kingdom. Within it is a mechanism for, if the people ever wish......and I hope they don't, making East Moreland a Republic. If the people of Troyes truly wish to be independent we must establish a way of fairly and openly gauge that. If the people truly then support rejoining Marseille and the removal of Seaforth forces then I'll support that. I always find it strange people travel around Mundus claiming territory and the Seaforth involvement in Troyes is yet another puzzling moment."