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Dearest Readers,

Sorry for the delay. Today, we have an interview with a prominent eMacedonian player. A six-time president, and a staple in the government of eMacedonia, Severrus Snape has made himself a well-known figure in the eWorld. Just as well, he is an old player that has a long history with MKD-USA relations. As such, many will note that he is a fierce critic of American foreign policy, and of certain people in the US Gov’t.

This interview is published in full, with no edits to the answers. It’s a long one. While no follow-up questions were asked, a follow-up interview may come down the line.

Enjoy.





1. Unlike the eUSA, the Macedonian people have a natural enemy in eRepublik. Macedonia has practically been at war with Greece since the beginning of the game. Your two countries have had real-life conflict, as Greece attempted to suppress Macedonian culture in the 20th century, to say the least. Early in the game, Greece tried to suppress the Macedonian baby-boom as well. Every now and then, an NAP appears. How has this constant “ping-pong” war informed Macedonia’s foreign policy over the years?

First of all, hello everyone! Hope you'll enjoy this. 🙂

Secondly, it was Bulgaria that initially tried to suppress our BabyBoom; at the time they created a political party in our country presenting themselves as Macedonians, and trying to PTO it that way, but they underestimated the amount of new players we would get, and we got like a lot. I remember even at the time I was confused who to vote for, so huge number of us voted for United Macedonia, which was our first CP as well.

Regarding our southern neighbor, it was them who attacked us first, assuming we were a new weak country, but we had strength in numbers (and allies). We successfully defended the attack on our cores, and started conquering every region of theirs without a battle lost (at the time there were 8 rounds, no divisions). It was our first major win against an older country and just the beginning for building our Empire where we kept our southern neighbors deleted for a long time, and obtaining regions all the way from Switzerland, Italy, to Egypt and Arabia, which for that period was a lot harder to maintain. This basically shaped our foreign affairs to always be the opposite from their side, and vise versa. Both sides wanted to fight against each other, thus we had to be in opposite alliances, naturally, and it has been as such ever since. Way in the past, there were some attempts to create a common "alliance" along with other countries, in which case we would not fight each other or share MPP, but share with all the other countries, but normally, it did not succeed.





2. The USA has long been a supporter of Greece, and vice-versa. Even when Greece switched back to Anti-Asteria, USA stood by her. When Macedonia was fighting for its freedom from Greece, the USA would often intervene and show support to Greece. In 2015, as Macedonia gained the upper hand, the USA retaliated with an airstrike to stop the war. Was that airstrike a turning point, a battle which forever poisoned relations with the USA?

Ever since I remember, eUSA has always been anti-Macedonia, or at least anti-Serbia, thus supporter of our southern neighbors, since EDEN times. When ONE broke up, and the brief period of the CoTWO era, in which even if in different alliances, countries from CoT (mainly Macedonia, Bulgaria and Chile) kept their relations from ONE alliance (Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary), all until things became fishy, and in the breaking of EDEN somehow, for some reasons which I will not get into now, long story short, CoT accepted eUSA as its member (hello Aliss Wonder), and TWO got Romania and our southern neighbors. Acceptance of eUSA may have been used as excuse to accept them in TWO, either way, it meant end of the CoTWO era, and thus began the fall of the Macedonian Empire. eUSA at the time was a... how do I put this so I don't insult you.. insignificant ally, and shortly after left the alliance, and turned to our southern neighbors, as history has it naturally for them.

Several times during our deletion, Macedonia as a country, and me personally when I started my political era, requested and attempted for safe landing in Canada in order for us to have Congress, and have at least some regions, but eUSA, our former member in the same alliance, kept making lame excuses and attacking us, even though I have said numerous times that we have no intention in attacking eUSA, we only seek refugee. Somehow eUSA felt threatened by a then wiped country, and didn't listen to our cries for freedom. Each and every time in that period in our wars, eUSA was the initiator and attacker.

Later in history, the year you mentioned, was when we started liberating ourselves, and Bulgaria decided to join the war, eUSA has made several Airstrikes against us, once successfully landing in our core regions, wiping us for like a week or so, and turning the tide for our southern neighbors in that war, which they then won. Then we liberated ourselves, and the eternal war continued. Second time was in Argentina, in Beach Bunny's term, I remember this explicitly, a glorious loss for eUSA that was.. So no, that specific battle you mention in your question was not the turning point which I quote "forever poisoned relations with the USA", but all the other previous stupid actions you did before, attacking a wounded country simply seeking refugee in Canada.

I wont even mention the attack and wipe of eIndonesia in which we later had to intervene; I actually wrote a random shout saying I am gathering countries for collective Airstrikes on eUSA and Wild Owl's Government took it seriously and my shout made it in your newspaper, lol. Of course the attacks happened later that month. Wild Owl attacked eIndonesia, the oldest ally of eMacedonia clearly and deliberately poking us, explaining with "we feel threatened by the Indonesian BabyBoom so we will wipe them to suppress it". That is quite possibly the worst, lamest and most disrespectful excuse I have heard in my history of eRepublik for starting a war, a typical propaganda lead by Wild Owl which I sadly see still has effect even now.





3. As a multiple-term CP, and as someone who has spent a long time in government, do you think the bad relations with USA is a conflict that stems from personal relationships and interactions? Do you and other officials hold grudges with certain prominent Americans, or the whole country?

This is not something new for it to be personal. As I have explained thoroughly above, this has been building up for years and years of exquisitely bad actions and diplomacy (for some countries not present, depends on Wild Owl's mood). Speaking for myself personally, I don't know many eAmericans sadly, so I cannot say what I feel about the whole country, so it might only refer to your politicians. But then again, the people voted them for so long…





4. While many in Macedonia might say they hate the USA, I don’t think many in the USA actually hate Macedonia. Rather, a select few hate MKD, while the majority simply like Greece. Some Americans, in the past, have floated the idea of better relations with Macedonia, especially as we share common allies. Do you think it’s possible for USA and Macedonia to have a positive relationship?

We share what common allies? I mean, I have to ask, because I am very confused. Until recently you had allies on both sides, most of them our enemies.

(Editor’s Note: Common allies referred to Poland, Russia, Romania, France, Peru, Slovenia, etc. Enemies: Greece and Argentina, I assume)

About future relations, I cannot say certainly. Like one of my dearest eRepublik friends says "everything is possible", but eUSA needs to start from scratch. You have a lot and a lot of mistakes to repair, insults to apologize for, and time and time again to prove your intentions. Its how it works for everyone, and seeing your history, its kinda mandatory.





5. As the USA does not have any hostile and strong natural neighbors, we are not used to large-scale invasions. During occupations, we see citizens leave and grow inactive. Do you think the constant wars in the Balkans have made Macedonians a more resilient and stronger people?

Ah, yes.. I was to say the least, shocked to see Gnilraps' article. It came all of a sudden, and to be honest I did not expect that from him. I sent a message as well, but probably too late, so here's a public call, Gnilraps if you're reading this, come back, stay. You're probably one of the rare eAmericans I, and the rest of the eWorld respect and like. Hoping to hear from you again mate 🙂

For the rest, let me put it this way: what doesn't kill you, indeed makes you stronger. We had our early Empire, then we faced deletion (for way way longer than you, or any country in the game), but now again we have risen from the ashes.. so yeah, I do believe constant REAL wars, and occasional deletion can make you tougher, unless of course you run away from problems, instead of facing them.





6. This latest changeup has produced an interesting state of world affairs. MKD/BG work in concert with Croatia to attack USA, while working against each other in the Baltics. Meanwhile America is occupied by Bulgaria, but fought for Bulgaria to keep Russia safe. We truly live in odd times. What’s your take on this? What level of communication do you have with Croatia right now?

Let me make one thing clear, despite the numerous friend requests and messages I received from notable eCroatians days before their attack, to this day we do not, and I quote "work in concert". Its just common logic against common opponent. Outside eAmerican regions is other story indeed, as proven with your example, and also proven with Croatians starting Battle Hero wars with my players, so yeah.. I think you get the picture.





7. With the invasion of the USA, some spoke of an Anti-Pacifica bloc. They talked about ProAsteria nations, like Macedonia, and some Anti-Asteria nations working together to beat up Pacifica. Is this a possible outcome, or just an Anti-Asterian dream to weaken the general Asteria/Pacifica faction?

I have no intelligence of such rumors, we have never targeted any other country from Pacifica, except for eUSA, despite of eLatvia Airstriking us several times to aid eAmerican efforts. The rest regarding Anti-Asteria block's plans and hopes, depends on them, not me, as I do not take part in any of that.





8. Lastly, many Americans don’t hear from Macedonians very often, let alone prominent politicians like yourself. Is there anything you want to say to US Citizens, while you have their ear?

I would firstly like to apologize for probably the very long interview haha. I tend to express myself right for people to understand the situation better, so if you read all of it, congratulations, you made it to the end! And thank you for your attention!

For the eAmerican people I would like to say, thank you for having us, and I truly hope this situation will help you awaken, cast yourself in the past, reconsider and find your mistakes, as I see it happening already in your media, sort of. Also in the form of this interview, coming from a once bad ( 😛 ) troll, becoming a notable newspaper and worth to read articles.

Splendid questions, I very much enjoyed this. Thank you so much for your effort, and the readers' attention.

Cheers!! (beer)