"We, the people of Marcusburg, have always championed the principles of self-determination. We strongly believe that all countries should be able to decide the fate of their own peoples. We also strongly believe that all countries are equal before the law and as such should be accorded the same dignity and respect regardless of their geopolitical or socioeconomic calibre.

"However, self-determination does have its limits. When a negligent country leaves its own men, women, and children to starve and perish without blinking an eye, when a country leaves its own people in miserable poverty without running water or electricity, when a country leaves its people devoid of all hope for the present and future – this is where the greatest flaw of self-determination lies.

"What use is there to keep afloat a sunken ship with neither crew nor captain? What use is there to keep aloft a tattered kite that will never be seen? What use is there to defend a country which cares so little for its own flesh and blood?

"Ultimately, self-determination works, but only for the determined.

"Even though the people of Marcusburg vehemently denounce aggression in the strongest possible terms, we come to the realization that our ideals must be reconciled with the harsh precepts of reality. A country of negligence has no business administering the lives of its people. A mother of seven may mourn the loss of her country upon enemy invasion, but she shall surely mourn the death of all her children from malnutrition or disease. Her future may ultimately be brighter under a different government.

"Therefore we believe that the onus lies on the country to prove its competence in the unfortunate event of military invasion. All the same, we must once again reiterate that it is not, has not, and never will be our intent to open the floodgates of jingoism and in so doing endorse the evil of aggression. The people of Marcusburg stand united against militaristic belligerence.

"Accordingly, we believe that providing proof of competence need not be difficult – in fact, far from it. For example, a simple statement of protest against enemy aggression is more than sufficient to merit the continuation of a national regime.

"Although we greatly wish that no country would ever be placed in such an undesirable scenario, past experience clearly shows that we must be prepared for these regrettable instances, where ideals may have to be compromised for the sake of realpolitik.

"Finally, we, the people of Marcusburg, assure the international community that we are not abandoning our belief in self-determination. If a country has been unjustly attacked and genuinely cares for its people, we shall stand by its side. A determined country has nothing to fear from ‘self-determination for the determined’. However, if the victim nation could not care less if its people lived or died, we shall not be an accomplice to negligence, stagnation, futility, hopelessness, and despair."