User:Penstubal/Historic Newspaper Articles

Historic newspaper articles.

SNOWINY: PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER (23 March 2003)

WINSBURG - The Government of Snowiny agrees to a peaceful transition of power within a period of 30 days that would finally finish the normalization of the country following a seven-year standoff whose enormity and brutality shocked the international community.

"It is not in our interest to further prolong a frozen conflict" says Ashley Judge, a spokeswoman for exiled President Francisco Ferinco, "Besides that, there is always the threat of this conflict reigniting. We do not wish to see that."

The international community has long been involved in brokering a final peace deal between the rebel forces and the government of the country and as such welcomes the normalization of the situation in the country.

"What's important now is to ensure that this transition of power is peaceful and is fully in compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of Snowiny", says the USA ambassador to the United Antarctic Nations John MacKenzie.

An issue that still lingers in the country is what to do with the question of Penland. The international community recommends an autonomous state be established for the Pennese populations, under the protection of the UAN, in an effort to ensure that such a tragedy as the one during the late 1990s never occurs in the volatile region again.

"There's always potential for a new ethnic conflict in Penland and that's what we do not wish to see" said the Margatian and Tropicalian governments in a joint statement, "All parties in Snowiny must agree to constructive dialogue, brokered by the UAN, that would result in a peaceful solution to the problem with Penland and a restoration of normal inter-ethnic relations inside the country."

In Winsburg, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of Penland getting its autonomy.

"Even before the war, barely half the population was of Pennese ethnicity" said an army veteran from the conflict in Penland who wished to remain anonymous, "Now less than one third is. It's not normal to give the whole region autonomy. Let's maintain peace in the region, but let us all be equal, before the law, before our flag"

One of the most prominent opposition leaders during the conflict and Ferinco's potential successor, Geronimo Stanling, said any incoming government should be open to constructive dialogue to resolve any issues still remaining in the country.

"For Snowiny to move into the future and become a fully democratic country, we need to listen to all sides of the debate regarding Penland. And the international community is here to listen and they are obviously going to help us normalize our country, because that is what we have in mind".