This press message was released by the Government of the Federated States of Rutania.
President Daatman speaks out on Vanuku Crisis, calls for cool heads
PORT NELSON – Rutanian Federal President Jan Willem Daatman today used a televised address to deal with recent diplomatic sparks between members of the Nationalist Party and the government of Vanuku. In his speech he refused to condemn the Nationalist Party, but stressed the importance of maintaining good bilateral relations.
"Rutania has absolute freedom of speech, and I am very proud of that," he told the nation, "this President, and the Freedom Coalition as a whole will always defend the right of everyone to speak out, whether they are members of the opposition or not. I endorse an open and honest debate in the Federal Parliament about any issue that representatives may wish to bring to the fore." Daatman claimed he has had "frank and open discussions" with President Bartlet of Vanuku (LDP) who, like himself, is a liberal democrat. "I told him to understand that this is a Rutanian issue […] and that this government will uphold the law. The ball is now in their court, to show that Valruzia does not have hostile intentions against the Federal Republic."
At the same time he stressed that there was absolutely no reason to expect the diplomatic row to escalate militarily. "This is a conflict of words. The Rutanian government certainly does not support military resistance against democratically elected governments – in Vanuku or anywhere else. It would be undemocratic to suggest otherwise, without a vote in the Federal Parliament."Signed,
the Government of the Federated States of Rutania