Opposition Ministerial Report Card: Foreign (M - Malnicaivleu/Unacceptable)

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Bentxami Puntmasleu (Foreign Affairs)


The Green Party presents its third Opposition Ministerial Report Card. This time for the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Foreign Affairs Ministry received seven terpelaziuns during the previous Cosa term. All of which were from the Green Party. There were two instances where terpelaziuns were not answered in a timely fashion with the Seneschal being required to step in to answer twice. Answers were always respectful but not always informative. Minister Puntmasleu appeared to go on unannounced absence for months before it became public knowledge as a result of one of the below-mentioned terpelaziuns. The Opposition notes there were many announcements of things but not very many tangible results. The Seneschal also demonstrated a concerning lapse of judgment in not accepting the Minister's resignation after months of unsatisfactory performance. Evaluation Note: There were three different officials acting in some capacity for the Foreign Affairs Ministry over the course of the Avant Coalition term: Bentxami Puntmasleu as the original appointee, Mic'halgh Autofil as acting appointee during the primary's absence, and Antaglha Somelieir as the near-end term replacement. This evaluation most concerns the activities of the primary and original appointee.
Upon review of responses from the specific terpelaziuns listed below we noted the following highlights:

August 6, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3446.0

On August 8, 2024 Minister Puntmasleu responded as follows to our terpelaziun concerning participation in the next MicroCon: "Thank you for your question, S:reu Trazacomprada. Indeed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking steps to participate in MicroCon 2025. Details will be forthcoming as developments occur."

The Opposition notes this response was timely but not at all informative. The Opposition took this reply to mean there were no developments at the time of answering.

September 10, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3484.0

On September 10, 2024 Minister Puntmasleu responded as follows to our terpelaziun concerning updates on preparations for MicroCon 2025: "Before I speak to the matter of MicroCon 2025 directly, I am pleased to announce that Talossa now enjoys full diplomatic recognition from the Aerican Empire. In the opinion of the current government, Talossa should cautiously but progressively engage more with the micronational community. Relations with Aerica represent a good starting point. Not only are they hosting MicroCon 2025, but with a rich 35-year history, a vibrant culture, and over 250 active citizens, they represent a respectable member of the micronational community.

As regards plans for our participation in MicroCon 2025: I have signaled our intent to participate to both His Imperial Majesty Eric Lis, the Aerican Emperor, and His Excellency Tristan Glark, Head of the Diplomacy and Foreign Ministry. I am also closely observing the MicroCon 2025 group on Facebook for event details. The event is planned for June 26th through 29th (with the main conference on the 28th) in Montreal. The venue is not yet confirmed but Ruby Foo's Hotel (7655 Decarie Boulevard, Triangle Neighborhood, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough) appears to be the leading contender. I am awaiting the opportunity to officially register a delegation. This opportunity likely will not come for a couple months. We will build our delegation around that time."

The Opposition notes this was an informative reply indicating recognition by the Aerican Empire but also notes no use of the Landing Pier by representatives of the Empire or other interactions between the Kingdom and the Empire. The Opposition notes the report of good progress, however, on preparations for MicroCon 2025 participation.


October 2, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3555.0

On October 7, 2024 Minister Puntmasleu responded as follows to a terpelaziun concerning a list of appropriate micronations to establish contact: "In short, the list of fellow micronations with which it might be appropriate for us to establish diplomacy is growing, though at a slower pace than originally anticipated. As I mentioned last month, we are now recognized by the Aerican Empire. In conducting research for additional suitable diplomatic partners, the approach thus far has been to look through MicroWiki and, if warented, the websites of possibly appropriate micronations. Although much valuable information has been gathered this way (it was pleasant to see, for example, that the Holy Empire of Reunion appears to have similar criteria as us, see: https://micronations.wiki/index.php?title=Holy_Empire_of_Reunion&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop#Ideology), the process has proven tedious and inefficient. A new approach being considered to augment, not replace, the current is to ask of our new friends in Aerica to put us in contact with other nations. Another approach being considered is to apply for membership in an intermicronational organization (perhaps LoSS, as we had a role in forming that, or GUM). There is also the possibility of working on a joint project with other micronations in order to 1.) build our reputation in the micronational community and 2.) do general goodin the world. The cabinet has discussed a project involving climate change in Antarctica, given our territorial claims there. A logical partner for us would be Westarctica, although we would have to put aside, at least temporarily, our competing claims."

The Opposition notes this was an informative reply but there were, beyond the announcement of such, no further developments on the climate change project or application to an intermicronational organization.

November 10, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3619.0

A major point of failure in November. There was no reply from Minister Puntmasleu within the required 7-day time period and there was no response from the Tuischach on request for moderation. The Seneschal stepped in to reply and announced that the Minister was absent (there is no information as to how long the minister had been absent before this news was forced to be announced via a terpelaziun) and answered for him that there were no updates on the creation of the Landing Pier discussion board.

December 7, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3680.0

The Opposition lodged a third terpelaziun concerning the establishment of the Landing Pier discussion thread. Acting Minister Autofil responded as follows on December 14, 2024:

"Estimadăs Tuischac'h, I thank the Member for this question.

I have begun making inroads with members of the MicroWiki community this past week. MicroWiki is one of the larger communities of micronationalists on the Web, and I believe the potential there for international relations is quite high. Namely, I joined their Discord server with three goals in mind, once I was integrated better with the community:

* Establish bilateral relations with interested nations, preferably ones with a relatively noteworthy population.
* Look into the existence of regional micronational organizations (their Wiki does list at least two that are focused on the Great Lakes region)
* Look into the existence of global micronational organizations (preferably a pre-existing one, as opposed to founding a new one, as you may be aware this is seen as sort of reason for derision in the broader sphere).

While the Landing Pier idea has obviously not yet been implemented, I believe I can work something out there with the Secretary of State."

The Opposition notes the informative and timely reply by the Acting Minister which was a major improvement for the Ministry as well as the concrete actions taken. This was considered a point of success for accountable government by the Opposition. 

December 27, 2024 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3724.0

On January 4, 2025 Minister Puntmasleu, for the second time, failed to answer a terpelaziun within the legally required timeframe. The Seneschal stepped in, for the second time, to answer the terpelaziun concerning the consideration of my own application to serve as BHAID PermSec:

"I thank the Member for his question and I apologise for the delay.

I have advised the Foreign Minister that a Permanent Secretary for BHAID is an excellent notion, and if the Member (or anyone else watching) knows of anyone keen to take up the role, I advise them to send me a PM with a suggested job description and the Foreign Minister (or I) will make an appointment at our earliest convenience."

Based on the lack of response from the now-confirmed present minister a supplemental terpelaziun was submitted to ascertain whether Minister Puntmasleu was indeed back in office. On January 9, 2025, the Seneschal responded as follows:

"I apologise for the slight delay. The Foreign Minister is *not* on leave again, but the extra-Talossan commitments which required him to take leave have sadly not gone away.

I can reveal that the Foreign Minister offered his resignation due to his periods of absence, but that I did not accept it. We are looking at a Cabinet reshuffle later this month, at which point the matter may be looked at again."

We express our sympathies to Minister Puntmasleu's difficulties in balancing extra-Talossan life with his Talossan responsibilities. The Opposition commends him for tendering his resignation which was the right thing to do but we express grave concerns with the judgment of the Seneschal in not accepting it and for the delay in addressing this matter until several weeks later especially since this issue had been ongoing for months.

February 14, 2025 https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=3827.0

On February 18, 2025, newly appointed Minister Somelieir responded as follows to a terpelaziun concerning the new Landing Pier discussion thread:

"Tuischach

I would like to thank the honourable member for their question and apologies for the delay, as I'm new to the role, I am still learning the ropes, but in due time the foreign affairs ministry shall look at how to maximise the use of the landing pier and will look at what micro nations we want to reach out to, in due course."

The Opposition must first note the successful establishment of the Landing Pier discussion thread. This was a commitment met by the Avant coalition but not, apparently, by the work of former Minister Puntmasleu. It appears to have been completed by the work of Acting Minister Autofil and the Secretary of State, Luc da Schir. The answer by the new minister was timely and respectful but less than informative.

Should any of the officials believe any of the information is inaccurate or wish to respond please feel free to do so in this thread.