As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to bring them up in the House of Commons. Or, if you prefer, approach me directly.

This report is complete up to 1:30 PM EDT, Aug. 24, 2004.

Power Without Opposition
- Another small region, called Power Without Opposition, approached Checkers with a request for discussions about a possible alliance with Canada. Checkers noted that they were a dictatorship with a population of 3.
- Cabinet unanimously voted against diplomatic relations with this region.

Deputy Ministers
- Micon noted that Freezing Cold Water had applied for every deputy position. Micon sent him a PM, asking, among other things, which position he would prefer.
- Checkers stated that we should have as many different people as possible in the deputy positions.
- Micon suggested that it might be a good idea to coordinate the appointments, so that duplicate appointments could be avoided.
- Micon reported that FCW's preferred position was "Foreign Affairs because I love to help other regions, like to talk to people and I am very very very passionate about the foreign affairs."
- There was some discussion of which candidates had applied for the different deputy positions,
- Drunken Hosers noted that OF was apparently under the mistaken impression that the DMoJ position had been filled. Micon PM'd him, but OF stated that he wasn't going to apply to the DMoJ position.
- Beaver-Country-Canada noted that one of her ambassadors had gone missing, and stated that a new one would be appointed. BCC is compiling a list of ambassdors-in-waiting. Checkers, Ess and Carbanousa thought this was a good idea.
- Micon stated that we had been appointing new deputies each term. He didn't think anyone had been deputy for more than one term.
- DH pointed out that there wasn't anything in the constitution to preclude a deputy from serving more than one term. But, since deputies don't really have any duties under normal conditions, there wasn't much incentive for people to try to hold onto the position.

New Positions
- DH sent offers to potential candidates for the proposed positions. Blackshear accepted the Press Secretary position, and got right to work. Everyone was impressed by the quality of his first press release.
- Checkers mentioned a suggestion from Bweezy that an Immigration Officer be appointed. This position would be responsible for recruiting.
- BCC asked if the position would report to the MoFA. Checkers agreed that it would.
- Ess and DH thought it was a good idea.
- Carb noted that Australia had something like an Immigration Officer, and that it was "a very workable opportunity."
- DH reported that the candidate for RP coordinator had not responded to the offer. (DH briefly thought the candidate had left the region. Checkers pointed out his mistake: he had been looking at the prime nation, not the puppet that has residence in Canada.) DH suggested another possible candidate, but stated that he was inclined to open the position up for general applications at this point.
- Carb agreed that the position should be advertised, but stated that he would prefer that it be given to "someone who would make a genuine effort in this position."

Summit
- DH noted that Blackshear had reported on an up-coming summit of regions, being organized by Lady Rebels. DH thought cabinet should consider petitioning to send an observer.
- Checkers thought an observer would be OK, but that we should basically stay out of it. "It's a meeting of the Pacifics, RR and ADN...just leave it to them." Checkers suggested the MoFA or the Press Secretary as possible envoys.
- DH thought those were fine suggestions, and added Bweezy to the list, noting his experience with the Pacifics.
- Carb thought that Bweezy might become a target, which could cause a "fire-fight". Carb thought both the MoFA and the PS could be sent together.
- BCC agreed with the idea, but wanted more of a formal authorization to attend. BCC added "This sounds interesting."

Carb is a very wise and astute man :)

I like the observer idea and would proudly accept the appointment, if Cabinet decides to pursue this effort.

I believe Canada can maintain it's neutrality, without relinquishing its place as an active member of the NS world, by creating such a role for itself. If successful, other observers could possibly be sent to unaffiliated organizations and meetings in the future. If not, we'll always have Paris. :D