Voskian Times, Autumn 2015

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Pūza • Kodre • Atun • Autumn 2015


Balkan countries criticise Voskia for blocking 'Italy route'

(17 November) - Domestic and foreign criticism is growing regarding the way the Voskian government deals with the refugee problem, even after last week's attacks in Paris. Ever since the large masses of refugees started their journey through the Balkan towards Germany, our country has kept its borders closed: Voskian territorial waters are heavily patrolled, especially in the east, where Voskia has sea borders with Greece and Albania, and any refugee that tries to enter Voskia is sent back without exception. A second route via Italy that could take away some pressure from the Balkans, is thus rendered impossible.

The government claims that our country cannot handle such a large current of refugees. "We lack manpower to organise an orderly passage", the ministry of domestic affairs commented several weeks ago already. "And there are always those who don't continue their journey straight away, but try to build a future here; our employment market isn't suitable for this, we already have a high unemployment rate, and our economy is just recovering from the economic crisis; accepting these refuguees would be economic suicide."

Leftist parties and organisations think however that our economic situation shouldn't matter. "Willingness to help is a virtue in every circumstance. The government's actions and the support that it gets from parliament are nothing more than selfishness and laziness", says Lukas Dòdziĕvs, the leader of the Voskian Pirate Party. Owners of hotels and restaurants on the Gurdian east coast aren't happy either, although for a different reason: "The increased presence of the military and the police in the area helps to keep away refugees, but also tourists. The government claims that refugees pose a danger for our economy, but this solution doesn't help either", says Arfita Bluşi, the owner of a restaurant in Korv. In the capital Divis the government policy lead to street protests by mainly leftist sympathisers, who are joined by disgruntled Gurdians. Until now these protests have been peaceful, although the local police is urging the crowd to go home.

There is also criticism from Balkan countries and Hungary. An alternative route for refugees via Italy could take a lot of pressure from these countries, but so far the Voskian government hasn't been willing to listen to the arguments and requests from the northeast, even after Hungary told the government that the Voskian attitude could have 'severe repercussions' for our country's bid to join the European Union. According to rumours our government are dealing with a lot of pressure however from Italy (and after last week's Paris attacks also France) to keep the borders closed, and that they are even receiving financial support to improve border patrols.

The question is if prime minister Apavia will give in to the Balkan countries' demands. It seems to be sure that she won't open the borders without active and tangible support by the European Union to assist Voskia with the operation. The fact that Voskia isn't a member of the EU yet may complicate matters.

Controversial security law approved

(16 November) - With a comfortable majority the Voskian parliament has adopted a controversial law today that provides the police with larger competences, allows more camera surveillance in the cities, and foresees other measures that should guarantee the safety of Voskian citizens. Although last week it appeared that the bill, which had been planned to be discussed today for a long time, wouldn't carry due to increasing doubt with government coalition partner MV (Centre Liberals), the attacks in Paris convinced many MP's to vote in favour. Even the PD (Republicans) who intended to abstain, approved the bill in the end. Most leftist opposition parties had asked for the vote to be postponed in order to avoid any appearance of external influence, but the vote took place as planned. The leftist opposition responded with disappointment to the result, several human rights organisations with dismay and shock.

FICT summit postpones decision on Free Trade Agreement

(8 November) - The 6th General Assembly of FICT that was held in the Yutyraman capital Porto da Mata, didn't manage to adopt a revised Free Trade Agreement, partially because the Voskian delegation didn't agree with it. Several member states proposed to lift the exceptions that are mentioned in the FTA and make the Agreement unconditional. The discussion was conducted effectively and without unnecessary delay, but the other delegations didn't manage to convince Voskia to be in favour.

"Although the abolishment of the currently applying exception on fish and agricultural products could provide a trade boost for FICT as a whole, Voskia fears that our country and fellow Mediterranean country Tarmorya would be each others competitors more than it will be the case for other member states", foreign minister Hasan Aliçka explained. "In principle we agree with the changes, but in that case the member states should decide for themselves whether or not they want to participate in the Agreement or not; in the current situation, all FICT members are automatically a part of the Agreement. If no exception on the Agreement had been possible three years ago, this government would probably not have chosen to join FICT in the first place. We hope to find a solution during the next summit on 7 May 2016."

During the meeting it appeared that prime minister Oliver Keridavian of the Republic of MAS had been incorrectly informed about the proposal, thinking that the introduction of exceptions was discussed. This confusion lead to a sudden change of opinion of the MAS delegation, which contributed to the necessity to postpone the decision.

The rest of the General Assembly was mainly dedicated to sports. After test editions in 2013 and next month, the FICT Games will take place every two years as of 2017. The 2017 edition will be hosted by Kaupelan. Apart from this, the GA invited the member states to open international sport events for FICT member states; these won't be known as FICT Games. Voskia proposed to hold a rugby tournament in 2016 for a maximum of sixteen teams, including Voskia. Peter Bezzola, the minister for sports affairs, said that this is a brilliant idea to put our country on the map in the international sports community.

Fire in intercity Ēdeza-Rāģidz: two dead, 37 wounded

(3 November) - This morning a fire broke out in the 7.14 AM intercity between Ēdeza and Rāģidz when the train was driving between Kvēvuste and Megvidz, causing two people to die and 37 others to be taken to the hospital in Kvēvuste; other travellers managed to escape the train unharmed. Officials of the local fire department suspect that the fire was lit, on purpose or not, with help of an easily flammable product, due to the fact that it spread rather quickly. The police excludes the possibility of a terrorist attack; according to witnesses several youngsters (one of whom is among the two persons who died) were playing with an aerosol, although further investigation should reveal what happened exactly.

The fire, which took place in the middle of the morning rush, halted the trains north of Rāģidz for several hours; after that, one track was released and train traffic resumed, albeit with major delays.

Success for Peter Vejsiu's Sinfonia Oeconomica

(23 October) - The world premiere of the large scale Sinfonia Oeconomica for solo voices, mixed choir and orchestra by Voskian composer Peter Vejsiu (*1961) that took place in the Opera House of Rāģidz yesterday evening, was well received by the listeners. The work, which consists of ten movements, is a collection of songs and texts in Voskian, Gurdian, Russian, and English describing in both tragic and comic ways modern kapitalism with all its positive and negative aspects, bears and bulls, drama and euphoria. The Sinfonia Oeconomica, which is Vejsiu's fourth symphony, is already considered as a course change in the Voskian classical music scene: it ends the national tradition of complexly dissonant and inaccessible music in which Voskian composers usually like to express themselves. The symphony is almost entirely tonal and uses vivacious melodies and harmonies that are supported by a strong brass section.

"It promised to be an experimental programme, with Krzysztof Penderecki's Fluorescences and Luvidz Neģas's Square in the first half of the evening, so there were many empty seats, but I don't think that one of those present expected the sound change that this symphony provided", a critic wrote afterwards in the Voşkiko Loģuzvĕ newspaper. The chairman of the Union of Voskian Composers Ubertas Kizidzas dismissed the work however as 'not very innovatory shoddy' that is purerly aimed to be liked by the large masses. The Sinfonia Oeconomica will be performed in several concert halls in Voskia during the ongoing season.