Osvaldo Aranha Memorial Building of the Dept. of External Affairs

[Hash]

Welcome to the Osvaldo Aranha Memorial Building of the Department of External Affairs
Bienvenue au ministère des Affaires extérieures
Bienvenido al Departamento de Asuntos Exteriores
Willkommen in der Abteilung für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Bem-vindo ao Departamento de Assuntos Externos
Welkom bij het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
Zapraszamy do Departamentu Spraw Zagranicznych
Benvingut al Departament de Relacions Exteriors
ברוכים הבאים ל המחלקה לקשרי חוץ
مرحبا بكم في وزارة الشؤون الخارجية
Добро пожаловать в министерство иностранных дел^*

Welcome to the Department of External Affairs. Do not hesitate to post in this thread with your questions, comments, issues and insults.

^* The DoEA does not take responsibility for unfortunate errors in translation. Blame Google.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Incredible, but Polish translation is proper.

[Barnes]

I've always liked this building! Welcome back.

[Hash]

Press Conference - Nyman D.C.

My friends;

I'm pleased to be back in one of my all-time favourite spots, dealing with foreign policy and diplomatic issues. Some people may have issues about my nomination or my abilities, but my role here isn't to pick fights. I'd like, however, to make a few remarks concerning my priorities and goals for the next few weeks and months.

First, I'll be going through the current FPR soon to see where I think our policy needs to reviewed, updated, revamped or changed. Obviously, I don't expect there to be much changes on that front. Second, I will be continuing what I had started in May concerning foreign and humanitarian aid; and exploring where changes need to be made. I also want to make it known that I believe that Atlasia should contribute more than 0.07% of its GDP to foreign aid, and I will try lobbying the Senate for a small increase in the DoEA's foreign aid budget.

Afterwards, I will start setting up groundwork for the operation of the DoEA as a 'deputy GM' for foreign affairs and look into finally taking up that role. I want to use this role to provide timely reports of foreign events and of Atlasia's diplomatic vision; and also as a bid to give foreign affairs a larger role in daily politicking.

On that matter, I also wish to work towards an active policy which involves actual work besides useless communiques and nice speeches. I believe a lot of that can be achieved with the DoEA playing the role of a deputy GM for foreign affairs.

I wish to involve citizens and officeholders more in the diplomatic process, by hoping to get input from Senators and others on issues such as foreign aid policy, GTO policy or other matters. I don't have high hopes for massive Senate or outside involvement, given my past experiences, but I'll try again.

I was also reminded recently that when I was writing my speech to the GTO back in April, I was in high school during spare at the library and my alleged girlfriend asked me what I was doing; and that I felt like a weirdo saying that I was a powerful cabinet member in an online game. I know this makes no sense and has no relevance to the matter at hand, but I've been in a nostalgic mood (again) for the past three days or so.

I'll take any and all questions you may happen to have.

[HappyWarrior]

Any sort of aid relief that you would like submitted to the Senate Hashemite, feel free to come to me.

[Barnes]

Any sort of aid relief that you would like submitted to the Senate Hashemite, feel free to come to me.

The same can be said for me.

Giving just 0.07% of our GDP is really deplorable.

[tmthforu94]

I have a question.

SoEA Hashemite, what do you think makes Osvaldo Aranha worthy of having a building named in his honor?

[Hash]

SoEA Hashemite, what do you think makes Osvaldo Aranha worthy of having a building named in his honor?

He's a cool dude and fascinating figure. And diplomatic role-model.

[Hash]

The GM's office has released numbers for the budget, and I'd like to repost the numbers which concern the DoEA, that is military and foreign affairs-related spending.

Military Spending ($446.11 billion)
$106.57 billion ... Military personnel
$153.62 billion ... Operation and maintenance
$80.84 billion .... Procurement
$68.13 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation
$16.15 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other
$17.99 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities
$2.81 billion ..... Defense Related activities

Iraq and Afghanistan Operations ($111.85 billion)
$105 billion ..... Military Operations
$6.85 billion .... Reconstruction aid

Military Retirement ($115.48 billion)
$40.83 billion .... Military retirement
$36.34 billion .... Income security for veterans
$3.24 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation
$34.35 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military
$0.72 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services

International affairs ($31.59 billion)
$13 billion ........ International development and humanitarian assistance
$9.47 billion ...... International military aid
$7.97 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities

My first step right now will be to review our international aid commitments given that there is now an additional $3 billion on the table for such activities. I foresee there being cuts in aid to countries such as Chile (which was allocated $45 million following the earthquake, funds which we judge to be no longer necessary) and major increases to countries such as Haiti (which has $200 million in regular aid plus a special $100 million following the earthquake). I will cut the regular aid for Iraq and Afghanistan which currently comes out of our 'international development and humanitarian assistance' pocket and use the $6.85 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction specially for those country thus freeing up more regular aid for other countries and organizations. Second, I will look at reviewing the expenditures allocated to all projects to see which needs cuts and which need reallocation.

I am unclear as to whether the DoEA's budget, once revised, must be approved by the Senate.

[Badger]

The GM's office has released numbers for the budget, and I'd like to repost the numbers which concern the DoEA, that is military and foreign affairs-related spending.

Military Spending ($446.11 billion)
$106.57 billion ... Military personnel
$153.62 billion ... Operation and maintenance
$80.84 billion .... Procurement
$68.13 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation
$16.15 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other
$17.99 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities
$2.81 billion ..... Defense Related activities

Iraq and Afghanistan Operations ($111.85 billion)
$105 billion ..... Military Operations
$6.85 billion .... Reconstruction aid

Military Retirement ($115.48 billion)
$40.83 billion .... Military retirement
$36.34 billion .... Income security for veterans
$3.24 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation
$34.35 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military
$0.72 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services

International affairs ($31.59 billion)
$13 billion ........ International development and humanitarian assistance
$9.47 billion ...... International military aid
$7.97 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities

My first step right now will be to review our international aid commitments given that there is now an additional $3 billion on the table for such activities. I foresee there being cuts in aid to countries such as Chile (which was allocated $45 million following the earthquake, funds which we judge to be no longer necessary) and major increases to countries such as Haiti (which has $200 million in regular aid plus a special $100 million following the earthquake). I will cut the regular aid for Iraq and Afghanistan which currently comes out of our 'international development and humanitarian assistance' pocket and use the $6.85 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction specially for those country thus freeing up more regular aid for other countries and organizations. Second, I will look at reviewing the expenditures allocated to all projects to see which needs cuts and which need reallocation.

I am unclear as to whether the DoEA's budget, once revised, must be approved by the Senate.

Not really. Unless the Senate and President have a firm disagreement about whether the numbers reflect Atlasia's current budget situation (rather than what it should be) The budget is as stands until the Senate and President change it. It currently doesn't appear there's any objections to what the Budget Process Committee calculated.

From there, unless the Senate and President decide they want to do the budget as an annual or regular process to vote on as a whole (and I suspect they wisely won't go down that road to start at least), the budget will be basically a "tally sheet" of expenditures and taxes. If a spending or tax measure isn't given a specific expiration period (e.g. 1 year) funding/taxing will be deemed to continue at the same level (adjusted nominally for inflation and population growth when applicable) unless the government changes the law or outside events intervene (e.g. a spike in joblessness forcing up unemployment payments).

As far as this goes, Hash, you'll simply need to get a senator to introduce a resolution with the changes in funding you wish.

[Hash]

Department of External Affairs: November 2010 Foreign Aid Review

Overview

As per the Budget, Atlasia allocates $13 billion (13,000,000,000) for nternational development and humanitarian assistance.

Details

Special Considerations

Haiti earthquake relief: $100,000,000 allocated as per the Emergency Initiative for Haiti Earthquake Relief Act. All aid to Haiti will come from the DoEA's budget
Chile earthquake relief: $45,000,000 allocated as per the Emergency Initiative for Chile Earthquake Relief Act. The DoEA judges that further aid to Chile is not necessary.

DoEA Foreign Aid: The Americas

Belize: $60,000,000
Bolivia: $110,000,000
Colombia: $200,000,000
Dominican Republic: $55,000,000
Ecuador: $70,000,000
El Salvador: $70,000,000
Guatemala: $65,000,000
Haiti: $500,000,000. The DoEA considers the Haitian crisis to be an emergency, and stands ready to re-evaluate this specific number at any point in time.
Honduras: $80,000,000
Nicaragua: $80,000,000
Peru: $180,000,000
Venezuela: $120,000,000

DoEA Foreign Aid: Europe

Albania: $30,000,000
Armenia: $70,000,000
Azerbaijan: Governmental foreign aid to Azerbaijan is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: $70,000,000
Georgia: $60,000,000
Kosovo: $55,000,000
Moldova: $40,000,000
Turkey: $10,000,000
Ukraine: $60,000,000

DoEA Foreign Aid: Africa

Angola: $100,000,000
Burkina Faso: $90,000,000
Burundi: $70,000,000. Continuation of governmental foreign aid to Burundi is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Chad: $15,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Chad is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Comoros: $25,000,000
Cote d'Ivoire: $90,000,000
Democratic Republic of the Congo: $50,000,000. Continuation of governmental foreign aid to the DRC is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Egypt: $30,000,000
Eritrea: $3,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Eritrea is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Ethiopia: $250,000,000
Ghana: $150,000,000
Kenya: $300,000,000
Lesotho: $50,000,000
Liberia: $290,000,000
Malawi: $95,000,000
Mali: $290,000,000
Mauritania: $150,000,000
Morocco: $60,000,000
Mozambique: $200,000,000
Namibia: $90,000,000
Niger: $110,000,000
Nigeria: $225,000,000
Rwanda: $50,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Rwanda is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Senegal: $35,000,000
Sierra Leone: $135,000,000
South Africa: $290,000,000
Sudan: $40,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Sudan is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections, recognition of basic human rights and a solution to the Darfur conflict.
Swaziland: Governmental foreign aid to Swaziland is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including recognition of basic human rights.
Tanzania: $60,000,000
Uganda: $50,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Uganda is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Zambia: $200,000,000
Zimbabwe: $100,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Zimbabwe is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.

DoEA Foreign Aid: Asia and Oceania

Bangladesh: $300,000,000
Cambodia: $90,000,000
India: $250,000,000
Indonesia: $150,000,000
Jordan: $95,000,000
Kazakhstan: $30,000,000. Full governmental foreign aid to Kazakhstan is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Kyrgyzstan: $40,000,000
Nepal: $95,000,000
Pakistan: $250,000,000
Palestine: $150,000,000. Continuation of governmental aid to Palestine is conditional on continued negotiations with Israel and a condemnation of violence and terrorism in achieving independence.
Philippines: $130,000,000
Sri Lanka: $95,000,000
Tajikistan: $30,000,000
Uzbekistan: Governmental foreign aid to Uzbekistan is conditional on major democratic reforms in the country, including free elections and recognition of basic human rights.
Yemen: $50,000,000

DoEA Foreign Aid: Multilateral Development

African Development Bank: $600,000,000
Asian Development Bank: $400,000,000
BancoSur / Bank of the South: $250,000,000
Caribbean Development Bank: $250,000,000
World Bank Group: $700,000,000
United Nations and specialized agencies: $800,000,000*
AtlasiaAid administration: $1,000,000,000
GTO: $760,000,000
DoEA Emergency Fund $807,000,000*

* the DoEA gives the UN discretion on its allocation of these funds between is specialized agencies, such as UNICEF, UNHCR or the FAO.
* surplus fund set aside for extraordinary circumstances included but not limited to natural disaster relief, urgent temporary additional aid or for other DoEA responsibilities needing additional funding

DoEA Foreign Aid: Special Cases

In addition to the $13 billion total allocated for international development and humanitarian assistance, the DoEA's budget also includes $6.85 billion for reconstruction aid in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of Atlasia's special Iraq and Afghanistan Operations budget.

Iraq is allocated $2,310,000,000 and Afghanistan is allocated $4,540,000,000. Due to concerns over corruption by local government authorities, AtlasiaAid, the Atlasian government's agency responsible for distribution of such funds, shall take full control and responsibility on the ground for allocating these funds. It shall be held responsible for any wrongdoings.

[Badger]

All good, Hash, but remember the Senate and President don't have to spend $13 Billion in aid. That's just what was last budgeted. The government can raise or cut that number from here on in as much as you can convince them.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

All good, Hash, but remember the Senate and President don't have to spend $13 Billion in aid. That's just what was last budgeted. The government can raise or cut that number from here on in as much as you can convince them.

Be careful though, as some methods of "convincing" that can be particulary "successful" in the short term, can lead to 30 years in the long term.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Am I bitter that Hashemite was given the numbers I spent 4 months trying to get?  No, not at all.  Am I angry that he got the numbers?  Yes.  Do I fault him?  No.  Do I think the total budget for foreign aid should be massively increased?  Yes.

I urge the Senators to allocate at least $20 billion in foreign aid.

[Badger]

Am I bitter that Hashemite was given the numbers I spent 4 months trying to get?  No, not at all.  Am I angry that he got the numbers?  Yes.  Do I fault him?  No.  Do I think the total budget for foreign aid should be massively increased?  Yes.

I urge the Senators to allocate at least $20 billion in foreign aid.

Sorry, man. The Budget Committee took time to get things done. Nothing personal at all.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Since I'm not good in budget stuff, can someone explain to me what is the whole deal?

[Badger]

Since I'm not good in budget stuff, can someone explain to me what is the whole deal?

The whole deal is the current budget shows what is being spent and taxed as of this moment. The Senate and President can change that however and whenever they want. The GM will merely keep tabs of any changes.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Since I'm not good in budget stuff, can someone explain to me what is the whole deal?

The whole deal is the current budget shows what is being spent and taxed as of this moment. The Senate and President can change that however and whenever they want. The GM will merely keep tabs of any changes.

I meant what Ben said.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Since I'm not good in budget stuff, can someone explain to me what is the whole deal?

The whole deal is the current budget shows what is being spent and taxed as of this moment. The Senate and President can change that however and whenever they want. The GM will merely keep tabs of any changes.

We will be correcting the record on what that budget thing actually is unto infinity.

[Hash]

DOEA Communique

The DoEA is concerned by allegations of fraud in the Haitian general elections held yesterday, but will withhold further comments until electoral results are published and foreign observers make final conclusions on the vote. We urge calm in the meantime, but we stand ready to take actions if necessary and we shall support the invalidation of the results, as has been called on by 12 candidates thus far, if they are deemed to be fraudulent.

Given the continued humanitarian catastrophe, the DoEA does not foresee the reduction or cancellation of development aid to Haiti even if we deem that the election was not organized acceptably.

----------

DOEA Communique

Though the results are not fully known, the DoEA is concerned by the results of the Moldovan election seeing that political deadlock (eg; the inability to elect a President) is likely to continue if circumstances do not change. We urge all parties to work together to achieve a) political stability necessary for Moldova's economic well-being and role in Europe as well as b) urgent constitutional reform.

[Hash]

DOEA Communique

We are concerned by the delay in the communication of the second round results of the Ivorian presidential election. We call on the Independent Electoral Commission to do its job and release results as soon as possible. We also call on all parties to exercise calm and restraint until results are known.

[Hash]

DOEA Communique

We have received word of the results in the Ivorian election, albeit they do not seem to have been communicated officially yet. We will delay comment until they are published, but we are pleased by the apparently successful, fair and free organization of the vote.

[Hash]

Department of External Affairs: December 2010 Foreign Policy Review

Definitions of the DoEA's Foreign Policy Review

Economic/Trade Restrictions:

Normal/None: Atlasian government and corporations are free to due business unhindered by government enforced restrictions.

Partial: Specific restrictions such as selective tariffs or partial embargoes are to be in place to attack the government and not the regime. Foreign aid can be granted if the regime shows signs of progress towards democracy.

Full: Complete embargo and trade is forbidden with the nation in question. Corporations in violation may face fines decided by the Senate.

Military Restrictions:

Normal/None: Any military hardware produced by private firms, or by the government of Atlasia may be sold to the government in question. However, nuclear material, technology and nuclear weapons may not be sold unless the Senate agrees with the sale of atomic technology to the nation in question.

Partial: Personnel weapons may be sold by private corporations or the state to the country in question. Personnel weapons are weapons, which are carried and operated by one man, i.e. assault rifles, mortars, RPGs, etc. No vehicles, armour, aircraft, or ships may be sold.

Full: No military equipment of any nature may be sold privately or by Atlasia, i.e. no uniforms, guns, vehicles, nothing.

DoEA Policy: The Americas

Antigua and Barbuda: Normal
Argentina: Normal
Bahamas: Normal
Barbados: Normal
Belize: Normal
Bolivia: Normal, though we oppose any secessionist movements in Santa Cruz province and other eastern areas of the country.
Brazil: Normal
Canada: Normal
Chile: Normal
Colombia: Normal, though we have concerns over corruption, illegal narcotics and the FARC.
Costa Rica: Normal
Cuba: Normal. Atlasian policy regarding Cuba is currently F.L. 18-6, Cuban Relations Act, and we have no intentions to change the policy.
Dominica: Normal
Dominican Republic: Normal
Ecuador: Normal
El Salvador: Normal
Grenada: Normal
Guatemala: Normal
Guyana: Normal
Haiti: Normal, though we have concerns regarding corruption and political instability. We will be reviewing our policy as more information about the organization of the recent elections are known.
Honduras: Normal
Jamaica: Normal
Mexico: Normal, though we have serious concerns about the drug warlords conflict.
Nicaragua: Normal
Panama: Normal
Paraguay: Normal
Peru: Normal
Saint Kitts and Nevis: Normal
Saint Lucia: Normal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Normal
Suriname: Normal
Trinidad and Tobago: Normal
Uruguay: Normal
Venezuela: Normal

DoEA Policy: Europe

Albania: Normal, but we have concerns with corruption, fraud and illegal drug trafficking.
Andorra: Normal
Armenia: Partial military and no economic restrictions. We have serious concerns regarding the situation of Nagorno-Karabakh and general instability in the region.
Austria: Normal
Azerbaijan: Full military and economic restrictions until free elections are held, civil liberties and transparency are restored.
Belarus: Full military and economic restrictions until free elections are held, civil liberties and transparency are restored.
Belgium: Normal, though we have concerns about political instability caused by internal divisions and the risk of secession by Flanders.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Normal. We are concerned about the radicalization in the Serbian community and wish to see the emergence of true multi ethnic cooperation and dialouge.
Bulgaria: Normal
Croatia: Normal
Czech Republic: Normal
Denmark: Normal
Estonia: Normal
Finland: Normal
France: Normal
Georgia: Normal, though we have concerns over civil liberties and notably about the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 
Germany: Normal
Greece: Normal
Hungary: Normal
Iceland: Normal
Ireland: Normal
Italy: Normal, though we have concerns about corruption.
Kosovo: Normal
Latvia: Normal
Liechtenstein: Normal although we call for a complete transition to democracy and full transparency in banking.
Lithuania: Normal
Luxembourg: Normal
Macedonia: Normal, although we have concerns about corruption, ethnic minorities and relations with Greece.
Moldova: Normal. We have serious concerns about corruption, political instability, drug trafficking and the Transnistria issue. Stable government would be a remarkably positive development.
Monaco: Normal
Montenegro: Normal
Netherlands: Normal
Norway: Normal
Poland: Normal
Portugal: Normal
Romania: Normal
Russia: Partial military and economic restrictions. We have serious concerns about democracy, civil liberties, press freedom and the situation in Chechnya and the Russian Caucasus.
San Marino: Normal
Serbia: Normal
Slovakia: Normal. We are pleased by the apparent normalization in relations with Hungary and its neighbors.
Slovenia: Normal
Sweden: Normal
Switzerland: Normal
Turkey: Normal
Ukraine: Normal, but we have concerns regarding corruption and various other problems
United Kingdom: Normal
Vatican City: Normal

Policy changes italicized

[Hash]

Important Message

Considering the level of confusion regarding the SoEA's role as Deputy GM in charge of foreign events; and to allow the public to understand the SoEA's role and for it to build expectations as to the work required of the SoEA; the DoEA finds it important to make a brief note about which events count and which do not count. Given that the SoEA-GM cannot cover all foreign events in official publications, it is important to note that most foreign events which happen in "real-life" are deem to happen to "Atlasia-world" as well.

"Real-life" events which happen unchanged* in "Atlasia-World"
*Natural disasters and other events caused directly by nature
*Scientific and cultural events which happen without considerable pressure by state governments
*Economic, social, political and military events and their effects which happen in all foreign countries
*Elections and referenda in all foreign countries
*Economic crises and panics unless they cannot realistically happen n Atlasia given past Atlasian legislation or activity

"Real-life" events which do not happen in "Atlasia-world"
*Any political and military events and their effects caused directly or indirectly by the "United States" and its "government"
*Any foreign social, political and military events and their effects which happen or have happened (post-2004, creation of Atlasia) directly due to the activities of the "United States" and its "government".
*Events which cannot realistically happen in Atlasia given past Atlasian legislation or activity (eg: lifting of Cuban embargo, Colombian-Venezuelan conflict and overthrow of Chavez)

*This does not preclude the SoEA-GM from altering the effects of these events. This also does not preclude the SoEA-GM for creating, within the limits of plausibility and reality, new events of any type.

[Hash]

DOEA Communique

We are very much concerned by the situation in Cote-d'Ivoire and demand a full investigation by a neutral organism into the results of the presidential election. In the meanwhile, Atlasia demands that all parties remain calm. If Atlasia deems this election to be neither free nor fair, we will re-evaluate foreign aid and impose sanctions.