The International Herald-Monitor, Atlasian Edition

[Emperor SJoyce]

Since I'm the new SoEA, figured I'd better make a new thread for the posting of updates. This is the official update-posting thread and should probably be stickied.

[For Oklahoma]

[Emperor SJoyce]

Iranian Nuclear Test Successful
May 17, 2012
Tehran, Iran

Atlasian intelligence has confirmed, despite previously denying they were pursuing a nuclear weapons program, that at approximately 5 P.M. Iran Standard Time today, the Islamic Republic of Iran conducted an underground nuclear test, the first test of a nuclear weapon by Iran. The test occurred after IAEA inspectors were expelled from the nation, and despite sanctions on the Iranian economy. The test, carried out near the city of Yazd in the massive and uninhabited Kavir-e Namak salt desert, was believed to be successful, according to seismic data from the UN monitoring station in Turkmenistan and Iranian reports. The bomb was believed to have been completely manufactured in Iran with little to no foreign assistance. Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini was quoted as saying that "Iran is now on par with the leading nations of the world. This great advancement in our scientific and technological capabilities shall give us the status we deserve. This is a historic achievement for the revolution, and shall lead to regional peace and stability". As part of this statement from the Ayatollah, Iran also reiterated their desire of a negotiation of their border with Iraq, particularly concerning the area around the Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Rūd and the al-Fakkah oil field (including neighboring fields); they also called for support for demonstrators in Bahrain and objected to the presence of Saudi and Emirati troops in the nation, and called for the withdrawal of the Atlasian Fifth Fleet from the region.

[Emperor SJoyce]

SoEA To Ankara, Riyadh, Cairo, Tel Aviv
May 17, 2012
Nyman, Atlasia

Secretary of External Affairs SJoyceFla shall fly to Ankara, Riyadh, Cairo, and Tel Aviv, as well as other capitals of major nations in the Middle East following Iran's announcement of a successful nuclear test. An aide was noted as (anonymously) stating that, "He (SJoyceFla) is deeply concerned about the ripples the test could cause across the region. He wants to reassure Iran's neighbors that Atlasia is fully cognizant of the threat this poses to them, and that Atlasia stands with them. He'll likely talk about potential solutions to this issue, such as an extension of the Atlasian nuclear umbrella, establishment of regional security alliances, creating a nuclear-weapons free zone in the Middle East, cooperation in developing anti-missile defense systems, creating an Atlasian-Israeli defense alliance, or allowing Israel to join NATO, while reassuring them that this does not mean that they need to attempt to develop their own nuclear weapons or purchase such from another nation. He's most worried that Israel attempts to launch a military strike on Iran or that another nation will attempt to gain nuclear weapons."

[Emperor SJoyce]

Netanyahu: Israel and Israelis Are Well-Protected
May 17, 2012
Jerusalem
In light of Iran's recent nuclear test, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "Israel is well protected by an advanced military and will be able to respond if necessary." Netanyahu also stated that "nothing less than a quickly implemented round of total political and economic sanctions is the least that is necessary to make Iran reassess its policy". Additionally, Netanyahu proclaimed that "Iran is just as vulnerable to Israel as Israel is to Iran", and that the Gulf states are the ones who should be most concerned, as "Israel is fully capable of responding to an Iranian attack".

Sources inside the Israeli Ministry of Defense suggest that Israel is speeding up research on the Arrow 3 antiballistic missile, with the goal of getting one operational within the next year.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Atlasia-Turkey Talks Bear Little Fruit
May 18, 2012
Istanbul, Turkey
After a lengthy round of talks related to the Iranian nuclear test with Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan, Secretary of External Affairs SJoyceFla was seen leaving visibly frustrated with the Turkish stance. Later that day, the Prime Minister's office released a statement: "We oppose Iran's move but support the desires of the Iranian people." Practically the only bright spot for the Secretary following that was Turkey's call for renewing talks on a nuclear-free Middle East, which was tempered by Turkey's stance that they would reconsider their NATO membership if Israel joined. Turkey is believed to be the least threatened by a nuclear Iran, due to their economic and political good standing with the Iranians and the 40 nuclear weapons Turkey is believed to possess from NATO weapons sharing. The SoEA has left for Cairo.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Egypt To Redouble Efforts To Build Reactor
May 19, 2012
Cairo, Egypt
Following talks with the Secretary of External Affairs in Cairo, the Egyptian government formally requested the government of Atlasia assist them in developing a 1,000 megawatt nuclear reactor at the El Dabaa site. Egypt also requested a public Atlasian commitment to extend Atlasia's nuclear umbrella over Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. According to sources close to the Secretary of External Affairs, though he is worried that Egypt has goals other than civilian power in mind, he is encouraged by ideas floated at the talks, such as a regional security alliance between the three major Sunni powers (Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia).

[crypto-fascist superhero]

Egypt already has several nuclear power plants, just as an FYI.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Egypt already has several nuclear power plants, just as an FYI.

At this point in time, Egypt has two comparatively small research reactors, each capable of producing ~22 megawatts of power (IIRC); this would be development of a large-scale energy plant.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Saudis To Seek Deterrent
May 20, 2012
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that it requires a nuclear deterrent to defend its natural resources and Islam's holy places following the Iranian test. Saudi Arabia is concerned about whether it can continue to maintain its security and work with Western powers in the region in light of what it considers to be a very real threat to the continued existence of the Kingdom. The Kingdom believes that Atlasian military action against Iran, or at least extension of the nuclear umbrella over Saudi Arabia, is needed; Saudi King Abdullah is expected to visit Islamabad this week to plead for assistance for the Kingdom from Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani in the event that Atlasia does not extend the umbrella.

[Emperor SJoyce]

SJoyceFla-Netanyahu To Meet
May 20, 2012
Jerusalem
Secretary of External Affairs SJoyceFla is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in order to discuss the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu is believed to want Atlasia to declare that any nuclear attack on any nation by Iran would result in Atlasia and its allies to overthrow the Iranian regime, while the Secretary is in favor of a more diplomatic solution to the current tensions, rather than simply threatening Iran, which in the Secretary's opinion would make them more likely to hold on to their nuclear weapons. Israel will most likely also press for a total embargo on Iran and increased sanctions in an upcoming UN Security Council resolution condemning the Iranian action and demanding disarmament. Proposing a formal alliance with Israel is also still on the table. Closer cooperation between Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries, and through them the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Atlasian Missile Defense Agency, could be another result of these talks.

[Senator Clarence]

You would favor a diplomatic response if Iran launches a nuclear attack on another nation? At that point- there is only one option and that is to eliminate their capability to do so again

[Emperor SJoyce]

You would favor a diplomatic response if Iran launches a nuclear attack on another nation? At that point- there is only one option and that is to eliminate their capability to do so again

Sorry, that was unclear. What I meant was that Netanyahu wants Atlasia to make that declaration, while I'm more in favor of trying to reach a diplomatic solution for disarmament, rather than threatening them, which only makes them more likely to cling to their nuclear weapons. The more we threaten them, the more they feel like they need those weapons. While I would recommend military action if Iran used nuclear weapons against another nation, I feel that at this point making a massive public proclamation would hinder our efforts to try to achieve Iran's disarmament.

[Senator Clarence]

I respectfully disagree- however I understand your point of view...
My belief is- if diplomacy failed to stop them from attaining nuclear weapons, it will fail to stop them from using them

[Emperor SJoyce]

UK, France, Germany, Portugal Support Atlasia's UNSC Resolution
May 20, 2012
New York, Atlasia
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Portugal have signed on as sponsors of the Atlasian resolution condemning Iran's nuclear test and imposing strict new sanctions on the nation, and are expected to edit it to make it palatable for Russia and China to support. The Secretary of External Affairs of Atlasia is expected to travel to Beijing to try to work out a compromise with senior Chinese officials.

[Emperor SJoyce]

President to France, UK--SoEA to Beijing
May 20, 2012
Beijing, China/Europe
President Polnut is traveling from his summit in Berlin with German PM Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin to talks with French President François Hollande and British PM David Cameron, while Secretary of External Affairs SJoyceFla is flying to Beijing to speak with President Hu Jintao; Polnut's talks are believed to cover a variety of topics, including Iran and the EU's financial woes, while SJoyceFla's are more narrowly focused on using China's economic heft to sway Iran.

[Emperor SJoyce]

China, Russia Condemn Iranian Test
May 21, 2012
Beijing, China
In a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao, which included a Skype appearance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Secretary of External Affairs SJoyceFla managed to persuade the Russian and Chinese governments to publicly condemn the Iranian nuclear test, including support for a weakened version of a UN Security Council resolution. Most likely, the Russians and Chinese have simply caved to international pressure and joined in UNSC sanctions, in an attempt to use their economic influence to both restrain Iran and tone down sanctions.

[Emperor SJoyce]

UN Security Council Introduces New Sanctions
May 21, 2012
New York, Atlasia
The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution concerning the Iranian nuclear test, condemning the test and prohibiting sales of nuclear/ballistic missile items or arms to Iran, purchasing Iranian government debt, dealing with Iranian government-owned shipping corporations, and also freezing the assets of senior Iranian officials. The resolution passed with Atlasia, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Colombia, Germany, Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Guatemala in favor, India and South Africa opposed, and Morocco, Pakistan, and Togo abstaining.

[Emperor SJoyce]

NATO Invites Israel To Join IPAP Program
May 22, 2012
Chicago, Atlasia
The North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, by a vote of 26-0 with 2 abstentions, has invited Israel to join the Individual Partnership Action Plan program, which, while not conferring on Israel full NATO membership, strengthens its military ties with Western nations in an attempt to provide Israel greater security.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Gulf Cooperation Council-New Name, New Members
May 23, 2012
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Gulf Cooperation Council, in response to Iran's nuclear test, has renamed itself to the Middle Eastern Cooperation Council. The new Council, widely thought to be expanding to present a united front against the Iranian threat, now counts Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey among its members, as well as a Palestinian delegation from the West Bank and a nonvoting Kurdish delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan. The Council may attempt to expand more in the coming days, primarily in the Maghreb, the Caucuses, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa; however, these areas are more likely to reject the Council's attempt to get those nations to join the Council (and implicitly oppose Iran, jeopardizing their relationship). Syria and Iraq have already turned down the Council's offer.

[Yelnoc]

Wait a minute, what?

[Emperor SJoyce]

Wait a minute, what?

GCC has added a few new members in an attempt to act as a sort of counterweight to Iranian influence.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Saudi Arabia Now a Major Non-NATO Ally
May 31, 2012
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-Nyman, Atlasia
The Department of External Affairs has officially designated Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally. This designation recognizes Saudi Arabia as a close ally with a strategic working relationship with Atlasia but is not a member of NATO. Although not necessarily a mutual defense pact, it gives Saudi Arabia a number of benefits, such as priority delivery of military surplus equipment, cooperative research projects, increased participation in counter-terrorism activities, and permission for Saudi corporations to bid on certain contracts for repairing and maintaining military equipment outside of Atlasia. This move is seen as an attempt to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypt and Turkey, on the part of Atlasia in light of the Iranian nuclear test.

[Emperor SJoyce]

SoEA to Moscow for Emergency Summit
June 13, 2012
Moscow, Russia
The Secretary of External Affairs is proceeding to Moscow with all due haste. He is to meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, regarding the increasingly worsening situation in Syria. The talks are believed to include serious concern over the success of the current ceasefire, and the regime's willingness to comply with the agreement.
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[Emperor SJoyce]

SoEA to Leave Moscow Sunday for Jeddah
June 13, 2012
Moscow, Russia
The Secretary of External Affairs has concluded talks with his Russian counterpart regarding Syria and shall be departing Moscow on Sunday; he shall fly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in order to pay his respects to the now-deceased Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.