NCO, 2016
Diet ratifies new FICT Trade Agreement
(12 May) - The Diet has ratified this morning the new Free Trade Agreement that was concluded on the FICT General Assembly that was held last Saturday in Bizet, the capital of the Republic of MAS. Prime minister Laila Miró-Rozenberga defended the agreement, claiming that it may cause a diversifying boost to the New Curonian economy that is dominated by the nearby Caribbean economies. "Since Saturday, FICT has thirteen member states, which gives our country access to almost every corner in the world. This is a great opportunity to benefit from them, and they from us", she said. The Diet also welcomed the foundation of the FICT scientific research institute during last Saturday's General Assembly.
Some members in the Diet criticised FICT for allowing Amargo and Pannonia to join the organisation, and the government for turning a blind eye. Both countries have dubious records regarding democracy, Amargo effectively being a dictatorship under king Edward, and Pannonia imposing socialist conditions on political parties' ideologies. Conservative Party leader Ilga Lieckalniņa emphasised the difference with the Exumbran Convention, that would have imposed restrictions especially on Amargo. "FICT does give the impression that 'anything goes'", Lieckalniņa said. "Does the prime minister not have moral doubts being in the same club with nations that oppress their people? By ignoring the situation in these countries, won't New Courland be accessary in oppression?" Prime minister Miró called Lieckalniņa's attack preposterous. "Despite ongoing claims that Amargo and even Pannonia are dictatorships, both countries have regular elections, multi-party systems and so on. Their government system is different from ours, but there is no evidence that these countries' peoples are oppressed; if there is, we will of course address it in any diplomatic way possible."