BENDOVER - After years of enmity and superficial friendship, Marcusburg and Bendover bury past grievances through the latter's independence.

Pitted in a bitter struggle against one another for most of the 1990s, enmity between Marcusburg and Bendover erupted into full scale conflict during the Great War. Ironically, fighting broke out due to miscommunication after the two countries had signed an alliance to counter a growing threat that had emerged while Bendover and Marcusburg were locked in their cold war - Samchorage.

Further compounding the irony, Marcusburg allied with Samchorage during the Great War to defeat Bendover, and force the latter into mediocrity. Although Marcusburg and Samchorage administered parts of Bendover at first, during the Samchoragean abdication to Rattanjeetland, Marcusburg managed to gain control of all of Bendover. The Emperor's country was then placed into a Marcusburg-controlled alliance - the Phalanx Treaty Organization (PTO) - as a protectorate.

During most of his country's lengthy tenure as a sphere of influence, the Emperor of Bendover refused to meet with the Prime Chancellor of Marcusburg, calling the latter a war criminal. In the meantime, Bendover lost its Great Power status, became a demilitarized democracy, and in name was a trusted Marcusburg ally as it helped the Allied Coalition (the PTO and the United Commonwealth of Lindsholm - UCL) in the War of 2K1.

However, in truth a majority of Bendoverers clung to the Emperor's belief that Marcusburg had betrayed them during the Great War and that revenge was in order. In Marcusburg, a majority of representatives in the Fletplase (parliament) agreed with the Prime Chancellor who felt Bendover was a malevolant power not to be trusted.

A marked improvement in bilateral relations occurred when the Marcusburg-controlled Machstag (Bendovral parliament) voted in April to construct the basketball stadium that the Emperor had always dreamed of. Throughout the summer a series of bilateral summits led to a quick rapprochement, culminating in independence for Bendover.

According to the treaty terminating Marcurean protectorship, Bendover is officially free on September 29. In addition, a peace and friendship treaty also comes into an effect, as does a 333 million alto trust fund for Bendovral veterans of the Great War. Furthermore, Bendovral democracy is cemented by an expansion of powers held by the Machstag, which can now veto the Emperor's decision upon a clear majority by the House.

No official ceremony is planned as the Emperor is busy hosting a dinner at a famous Bendovral restaurant, "Natalie's", and the Prime Chancellor opens a new skyscraper in the Annexus. Nevertheless, many applaud the normalization of relations, and it is expected that Bendover will apply to accede the Technopact by the end of the week.