The Commander General, Yuri Schechan has warned that the country faces an ‘unprecedented threat’ as military action continues in the Long Sea against the rogue Solarian regime in northern Lierland. After a crucial meeting with both President Lukyanov and Prime Minister Gruaman, the outspoken leader of the Polascianan Armed Forces said that he had a ‘responsibility’ to protect the nation and would increase the military alert level to its highest point since the Munsau terrorist bombings in 2007. As a consequence naval and air patrols of the Polascianan island and border regions have doubled.
In a statement the Prime Minister assured the Polascianan people that the nation was not ‘in a state of war’ but was ‘anxious’ over developing events in the Gallian region. Speaking earlier in the week the President had attempted to cool speculation that Polasciana would condemn the Gallian Defence Federation’s actions in the Lierland, but instead came under fire from Foreign Minister Ludvig Fedorov who suggested the country ‘must’ cooperate with GDF forces and allow the Federation access to military installations on the southern Polascianan islands of Olkshoi and Samsucha – some of the largest landmasses in the Long Sea which are critical to access of the region by air. Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Eiffelland, Mr Fedorov said that the situation was ‘distressing’ but went on to suggest that he was determined to support the GDF military action, following Solarian attacks on Lorraine and Nicosia. Speaking during a press-conference in Belev, the Foreign Minister said that the country could ‘not back down in the face of terror’ and suggested that Polasciana must ‘play its part’ in ‘liberating the Solarian people’ and building a ‘united Lierland’.
Keen to distract attention from any potential military action close to Polascianan shores, the President issued a statement in which he turned his attention to the aftermath of conflict. ‘We must work with our closest neighbours to find a solution to this crisis’, President Lukyanov said, ‘But we must not forget that the people of the the conflict need a future, we must not forget that their rights to self determination cannot be destroyed.’ When questioned on Mr Fedorov’s comments, the President agreed that Polasciana could play a part in finding a solution to the reconstruction of a state in the Lierland, following any crisis. ‘I, like many other Gallian and Centrican Head’s of State, want to see a fair, free and responsible Lierland.’ The acting leader of the opposition, Lazar Ulanov, took a stronger line on the Long Sea conflict suggesting support for Mr Fedorov’s suggestions of cooperation with GDF forces in what would signal cross-party support for a Polascianan intervention. A senior advisor to the President suggested that the country is considering raising funds for an infrastructure and reconstruction fund for the Lierland, as well as the island nation of Nicosia.
In an attempt to suggest a potential diplomatic role in the conflict, the Prime Minister urged ‘regional neighbours’, the Western States, Carentania and Uttania, to join Foreign Minister Fedorov and Eiffelland Vice Chancellor Rudolph Kögler in Belev to discuss the unfolding conflict and ‘ensure’ a peaceful resolution that ‘strengthened the resolve’ and ‘stability’ of the entire region. Under pressure from island Governor’s, Prime Minister Gruaman has also committed the government to supplying a military reserve fund to increase the military presence in the southern regions of the nation. The Polascianan Air Force has redirected two squadrons of Vapor-29 fighters, from Arkhangel and Gomli on the eastern border, to Ursa and Belev in the south.
