The World Outside Our Borders

Day 706, 17:04 • Published in Ireland Ireland • by Irish Foreign Ministry

Goooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening to you all! The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes you a wonderful evening full of sweets, and joy .... and joyness.

(Please note I have just gotten erepublik plus, so expect some eccentricities 😛 *cough* back to the update, which certain people are awaiting with bated breath)

I would like to apologise for the lack of updates thus far, both Tarazis and myself have been struck down with e-swine flu over the course of the month, and Tarazis is still recovering. None the less, I'm here and the Department's plans will be moving forward over the remainder of the month.



Now, Item 1. Our in depth ambassador program, this month this has been the priority of both Patton and myself, we have appointed an unprecedented number of ambassadors. I created a guide for the ambassadors, which has been passed around to every diplomat, it is available here:

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddgqhcc6_2hdf9mthh

There are still a few countries recruiting ambassadors, please message this organisation to apply:

Bulgaria
Estonia
Israel
Lithuania
Pakistan
Serbia
Uruguay
Belgium (newly liberated)

2/3rds of ambassadors have been submitting their reports, a check up is on-going and if you would like to apply for a country, but not one of the above, please message me as those Ambassadors who have not submitted reports will be removed. Overall, the program has been a huge success, the 2/3rds of ambassadors have PMed their Country Presidents and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, several of whom have PMed me in turn commending them. There is no doubt they have improved our standing worldwide and have certainly not been a waste of time. An effective ambassador system is the root of an effective FA department, ask ANY major nation. Do we not have excellent relations with Canada because of OShaudy? The US with Chris Stanwick? Finland with Kanervikko? I am pleased and proud of the team we have assembled, and they are certainly changing the department for the better.



Department Deputy Kolshire is compiling a spreadsheet of every nation's Country President & Cabinet and we will be re-commencing Operation "PM a President", I have already PMed many Presidents and MoFAs around the world, held chats in their languages and changed their opinion of our fair Isle. The fact is FA has stagnated lately, and with all of this proactive meeting and chatting is getting it running, and improving our standing.

A request has been made on the Sol board to get us full Observer Status, in accordance with the Dail vote on the subject, Unfortunately they are in the midst of getting some procedure ready as a norm to accept applicants and so our application has been delayed. I have been told by Snakye that it should take longer than 2 or 3 days.



Wargames are an ongoing topic at the moment in the Private Dail as the PEACE contract expires in Early November. TDs should divert their attention there, and the public be aware they're input will be requested shortly. We are currently addressing the issue from a purely financial aspect. What I can say however, is that the trend is strongly for the idea of 24 hour wargames, meaning we take part in 2 sets rather than one. Indeed this trend is popular worldwide of late, since we now have three options to choose from - PEACE, Mushroom and Sol. As I said, there will be more on this later, once the Dail has finished it's deliberations.



There has also been talk of joining an alliance, we recognise the activity and innovation of several members in this matter, while their actions are not officially sanctioned they provide alternatives for consideration and should be congratulated.

While you may believe that the international relations section of our work is only between ourselves and our counterparts you are incorrect, I, and several of my predecessors have chatted with citizens in their IRC's, and you can also do this if you have a spare moment please venture into one of the IRCs mentioned in my guide and have a chat with the people, interaction is my favourite part of the game, and I have no doubt you will enjoy it too!



Lastly, I have something of a personal friendship with the Austrian President, and in his recent article he has said he intends to set up some form of international games, and already has a small amount of Interest from other countries, I think this is an idea that has much merit, and have said Ireland would certainly consider participating.



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Darragh O Faolain TD
Minister for Foreign Affairs