News Archive:
Events
of 10520 (2001)
11 Nonus, 10520 (30 October, 2001)
Emperor Leaves
Imperium ProperThe Office of the Emperor today vacated its base at the Imperium Proper in Sydney, ahead of the commencement of major construction work designed to ensure that the Empire's administrative headquarters more appropriately reflects its role as the visible face of the rapidly expanding Empire.
Above: Elevation showing some of the construction work to be undertaken at the Imperium Proper in coming weeks.
The work, to be undertaken by Sydney firm Project Constructions has been in planning since the establishment of the Imperium Proper itself in mid 10518, and is expected to be completed before the end of the current year. The design was completed by Paris-trained Jean-Henri Morin, of Sydney architects Atelier One.
In a statement released today Emperor George II said that whilst it was unfortunate that the Empire's imminent 20th Anniversary celebrations could now not be conducted on the 'home territory' of the Imperium, and that administrative disruptions experienced over recent months would likely continue in the short term, the wait would be a worthwhile one. The Emperor noted increased official and tourist traffic to the Imperium Proper during 10520 (2001) and stressed that it was imperative that Imperial Capital properly reflect the status of Atlantium as one of the world's most innovative and fastest growing sovereignties.
The Imperium Proper, located near the centre of the city of Sydney, was acquired on 7 Quintus 10518 (2 June 1999), and has functioned as the global Capital of the Empire of Atlantium since that time.
15 Septimus, 10520 (22 August, 2001)
Further Details of 20th Anniversary Coin Released
The Ministry of Finance today revealed the final design and details of the first coinage to be minted by Atlantium in its two-decade existence.
Contrary to an announcement by the Ministry in Nonus 10519 (November 2000), the Empire's inaugural coinage issue will now consist of a single 10 Imperial Solidi (equivalent to US $10) piece, to be released on 3 Decimus (27 November).
The coin will be produced in a limited minting of 500 units as a 32mm diameter brass piece plated in 9 carat gold. It will be manufactured at the Aquila Mint in Sydney. A limited number of pieces will be available in a boxed and numbered edition.
The obverse design features a likeness of the Emperor with an inscription featuring the Titles of the Sovereign and the Motto of the Empire, whilst the reverse features the Imperial Eagle, a 20th Anniversary inscription and the denomination.
The coin will be available to Citizens and coin collectors alike, and the Ministry expects to publish complete pricing and pre-release ordering policy within the next ten days.
For further information contact: ministryoffinance@atlantium.org
13 Sextarius, 10520 (14 July, 2001)
Magister Aequitas Sworn In
Atlantium today moved a step closer to the return of fully devolved Constitutional rule as Emperor George II formally transferred the Judicial Authority held directly by him since the Constitutional crisis of 10509 (1990) to Andrew Doohan.
Doohan, a Sydney resident who was named as Magister Aequitas (the Empire's senior judicial officer and head of the Senatorial Court) several days ago, was sworn in by the Emperor at a ceremony conducted at the Imperium Proper and attended by representatives of the international news media earlier today. The Magister Aequitas later announced that the codification of a revised and extended Imperial criminal code would be his first priority - a statement strongly endorsed by the Emperor.
Left: With hands resting upon the Constitution, and flanked by the State Flags of the Imperium HIM George II swears in Andrew Doohan (right) as Magister Aequitas at the Imperium ProperFor further information contact the Office of the Magister Aequitas or the Office of the Emperor
26 Quintus, 10520 (21 June, 2001)
Government Rocked by Sacking
The Imperial Administration was today rocked by the announcement of the sudden removal from office of Patrice Chairoff as the Empire's acting
Director of External Affairs.Chairoff, an alleged internationally-recognised expert in micropatrological and diplomatic affairs, was appointed by Emperor George II early in Quartarius, but a public announcement confirming the the appointment had been delayed while standard reference checks were conducted.
The Office of the Emperor today confirmed the appointment - and the sacking - in the form of a tersely-worded Executive Decree. A more detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident - the first forced removal of a government official in the Empire's history - is expected to be released within the next few days.
The Directorate of External Affairs is the organ of State with responsibility for all matters of Atlantian foreign policy, and is considered an extremely sensitive portfolio within the Ministry of State. The Minister of State was unavailable for comment.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
25 Tertius, 10520 (8 April, 2001)
Hutt River Prince and Atlantian Emperor Meet
In an event of unique historic significance, the Heads of State of the Empire of Atlantium and the Hutt River Province Principality met yesterday for the first time.
His Imperial Majesty's two-day State Visit to the Victorian Capital of Melbourne coincided with a visit by His Royal Highness Prince Leonard to officiate at the opening of a Hutt River philatelic exhibition, where the two initially met. His Imperial Majesty then joined His Royal Highness, members of the Hutt River Nobility and a number of other guests for dinner at Le Meridien Hotel.
His Imperial Majesty George II and His Royal Highness Prince Leonard share a toast over dinner at Melbourne's Le Meridien Hotel.
The Emperor later described his informal discussions over the course of the evening as cordial, broad ranging and illuminating, and stated that he hoped that the meeting with His Royal Highness Leonard would assist in the forging of stronger ties between the Empire and the Principality.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
23 Tertius, 10520 (6 April, 2001)
Imperial Regalia Revealed
The Office of the Emperor today publicly announced the creation of the first piece of the Atlantian Imperial Regalia.
The commission to produce the Grand Imperial Star of His Imperial Majesty George II (pictured below) was awarded to specialist awards and regalia manufacturer G A Miller Metal Industries of Sydney, Australia.
The Grand Imperial Star is intended to be worn by the Emperor on formal Occasions of State as a unique and visible symbol of the Sovereignty of the Atlantian People. With a design derived closely from the Imperial State Signum, the Grand Imperial Star takes the form of a 9 carat gold 32-pointed sunburst which signifies the vigour of the Atlantian State in the dawn of its existence.
The five-pointed stars that encircle the head of the Imperial Eagle represent the three co-Founders of Atlantium, and His Imperial Majesty is additionally acknowledged as Principivm, or Principal Founder.
For further information contact: emperor@atlantium.org
20 Tertius, 10520 (3 April, 2001)
Acting Ministers Appointed
The Office of the Emperor today announced the first Ministerial appointments to the Transitional Government.
The Imperial Legate to East Asia Robert Kee CI, has assumed the additional responsibility of Acting Minister of State, while the new Acting Minister of Communications is The Right Honourable Peter Meyer.
For further information contact:
ministryofstate@atlantium.org or ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org or visit the Ministry of State and Ministry of Communications pages.
19 Tertius, 10520 (2 April, 2001)
Noble Investiture
The Office of the Emperor today announced the Investiture of the Imperial Legate to East Asia, His Excellency Robert Kee, as a Comes Imperium, or Count of the Empire, for his "selfless, extensive and ongoing material and practical support of the activities of Atlantium."
His Excellency joins the select group of Nobles whose role it is to electorally determine the Imperial Succession.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
16 Tertius, 10520 (30 March, 2001)
State Visit to Melbourne
The Office of the Emperor today announced that His Imperial Majesty would make an inaugural Imperial State Visit to the capital of the Australian state of Victoria on 23-24 Tertius (6-7 April). His Imperial Majesty expressed the hope that in addition to fulfilling his formal activities as representative of the Atlantian State, he hoped to be able to meet privately with local Citizens during the course of his stay.
For further information contact: emperor@atlantium.org
13 Tertius, 10520 (27 March, 2001)
First Stamp Issue in 16 Years
The Ministry of Communications today announced that it intended to bring forward the planned reinstitution of a regular postage stamp issuing programme from Decimus (November).
Previous plans were for a single 10520 (2001) release to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Atlantium on 3 Decimus (27 November). The ongoing campaign of cultural vandalism perpetrated by the current Afghan regime has however spurred the Ministry to issue a set of four stamps featuring some of the pre-Islamic artwork under threat of destruction.
All profits from the sale of the "Afghan Cultural Heritage" set (proposed design shown above), with an expected Sextarius (June) release date, will be donated to the UNESCO Special Emergency Fund for Afghan Cultural Heritage. It is also envisaged that the release will form the first instalment of an ongoing annual "World Cultural Heritage" series.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
35 Secundus, 10520 (12 March, 2001)
Empire Condemns Afghan Cultural VandalismWith the release of a strongly-worded foreign policy statement, the Empire of Atlantium today added its voice to the chorus of international outrage directed at Afghanistan's Taliban regime for the proposed campaign obliterate that country's extraordinarily rich heritage of ancient non-Islamic art.
The Office of the Emperor confirmed that the Imperial Legate to South Asia was being directed to convey the Empire's stance in defence of the human cultural heritage and of the people of Afghanistan, to the regime in Kabul as a matter of urgency.For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
19 Secundus, 10520 (24 February, 2001 CE)
More Public Appointments
The Office of the Emperor today announced the appointment of the following diplomatic representatives, bringing the total of the Empire's overseas representation to seven:
Imperial Legate to South America:
His Excellency Yuri Ghenov, of Brasilia, Brazil
Imperial Legate to South Europe:
His Excellency Slobodan Naric, of Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Further information and contact details for the above Legatine Missions may be found on the Empire's Diplomatic Representatives web page: www.atlantium.org/diplomacy.html
Also announced today was the appointment of Erik White as the Empire's Acting Director of Protocol.Further information and contact details for the above Sub-Ministerial Directorate may be found on the Ministry of State's Directorate of Protocol web page: www.atlantium.org/protocol.html
11 Secundus, 10520 (16 February, 2001 CE)
Diplomats Appointed
The Office of the Emperor today announced the appointment of Atlantium's first diplomatic representatives in its ninteen-year existence. The action represents the first step in a policy of active international engagement that has been formulated in response to the Empire's recent unprecedented growth.
The newly-formed Imperial Diplomatic Corps is a responsibility of the Ministry of State's Directorate of External Affairs, and its Imperial Legates are responsible for acting on behalf of the Empire and its Citizens within nominated territorial regions.
The following Legatine Missions are operational effective immediately, and a new Diplomatic Representatives page has been added to the Empire's online presence with further details and contact information:
Imperial Legate to East Asia:
His Excellency Robert Kee, of Selangor, MalaysiaImperial Legate to South Asia, and Vice Legate to Mongolia:
His Excellency Sanjay Bhide, of Mumbai, IndiaImperial Legate to West and North Europe:
His Excellency Peter Voegtli, of Clarens, Switzerland
The above appointments are the first to be made to the new Public Administration and are expected to be quickly followed by further diplomatic, directoral and ministerial appointments in coming weeks.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
New State Flag
The Ministry of State's Directorate of Protocol has announced the creation by Executive Decree of a flag for the exclusive use of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps. The Vexillum of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps (left) may be flown by all Atlantian Ambassadorial and Legatine representatives and missions.
For a more detailed explanation of this flag's symbolism visit the Symbols of State page or email: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
28 Primus, 10520 (28 January, 2001 CE)
Emperor Announces Transition to Democracy
His Imperial Majesty George II today announced the long-awaited details of his plan to return the Imperium to full representative democracy. The plan includes the progressive appointment of a Transitional Government - a process expected to be completed by midyear. The Transitional Government is to operate under the direction of the Emperor in the leadup to a General Election which will result in the establishment of a new Imperial Senate - now expected by no later than Sextarius 10521 (June 2002).
In making today's announcement His Imperial Majesty stated his belief that so long as the population of the Empire continued to increase at its current rate any move to institute a democratically-elected Government in the short term (as previously announced) would be premature and counter-productive. The Emperor claimed that such a move would not only potentially exclude quality candidates, but also effectively disenfranchise an increasingly large section of the electorate:
"The creation of an appointed Transitional Government will give our leading Citizens the opportunity to gain experience and confidence in official roles and leadership positions, and allow them to familiarise themselves with the operations of the Imperial bureaucracy over a period of ten to fourteen months. This process will ensure that my eventual handover of Authority is seamless and effective, and that the Atlantian electorate is able to make choices based on real-life experience about people they know, when the Imperial Senate poll is eventually conducted."
Under the plan a group of Acting Ministers and Acting Sub-Ministerial Directors to whom the Emperor will temporarily devolve some Authority are to be appointed beginning Secundus (February-March). An Acting Magister Aequitas is also to be appointed, along with diplomatic representatives to a number of key regions, including West and North Europe, South Asia, Central Asia, North America and West Africa.
Emperor George II who has ruled Atlantium by Decree since mid-10509 (1990 CE), when he Constitutionally assumed Executive, Legislative and Judicial Authority as a result of an internal crisis has, since the Refundatio made no secret of his desire to return the Empire to its historic democratic basis.
For further information contact: emperor@atlantium.org
4 Primus, 10520 (4 January, 2001 CE)
Melbourne Visit
The Office of the Emperor today announced that His Imperial Majesty would make an unofficial visit to the capital of the Australian state of Victoria on 6-9 Primus (6-9 January). His Imperial Majesty expressed the hope that he would be able to meet privately with local Citizens during the course of his stay.
For further information contact: emperor@atlantium.org
Latin News Radio
In an effort to boost interest in the use of the Empire's second official language, the Ministry of Communications today announced the inclusion of a link from the official online presence to the RealAudio version of the weekly Latin language world news broadcast produced by Radio Finland. The Latin news service has been broadcast for over a decade, and reflects a growing - if unexpected - interest in the Latin language in Finland.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
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