Nuevo Meshiko restricts Vassan access to the Meshik Canal

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Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

The Neo-Meshikan Government has released a statement today urging the Cartagenan and Solstrani governments to “temporarily restrict access” to the Pruman Sea to vessels of Vassan origin, at least until such time as the Vassan government clarifies its intentions regarding the nation’s place in Europa, the rest of Zemlya, and its relationships with the Yuzanese Empire and the Euraziyan Confederation.

“Although Nuevo Meshiko always has and always will continue to support all nations’ right to self-determination, it strongly believes that a return to a capitalist model is inherently regressive and is reflective of the interests and power of an existing nation’s elite,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson this morning in a public announcement at the capitol. “Therefore, we believe this move is necessary to prevent any further escalation of tensions between Euraziya and the Yuzanese Empire, such as that of a conflict breaking out in the proximity of a Codeco member nation. We strongly urge both Euraziyan and Yuzanese leaders to pursue a diplomatic, rather than bellicose, solution to this conflict of interest; at the same time, we ask the Vassan government to reflect upon the interests and wellbeing of its citizenry, and to act accordingly, not brashly.”

As a preventative measure, effective immediately, Meshik Canal access to Vassan ships has been severely restricted. Vassan shipping lines will now have to seek an additional permit from the Central Canal Authority to be granted passage, and the range of goods authorized for passage has been greatly reduced.

The Meshik Canal was constructed from 1904 to 1914 during monarchical times, under the control of the Estinian government. After controversy lasting many decades, control of the Canal finally relinquished to the Sultanate’s hands in 1999. Following the end of the Revolution in 2013, the Central Canal Authority was created to administer the business of the Canal, through which an estimated 20,000 vessels cross annually, or nearly 7% of worldwide shipping traffic. The CCA has forbidden the passage of Yuzanese ships and those of its territorial possessions since 2015, due to the Yuzanese occupation of Western Estinia. The CCA also notably blocked the passage of Krasniyan ships from March to October of the same year, during a period of high tension between both countries, after which an agreement was reached.