As President Askew would begin his second term, there would be rising successes going on. One of the first acts President Askew would do in his second term would be signing the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or START II alongside Gorbachev, who's process in reforming his nation continued on, having been delayed due to having to deal with remaining corruption and opportunists as well as some further refinements of how the system would actually be working. Other major developments of the time would include Belgium becoming a federal monarchy rather than a unitary one and further into Europe, "Velvet Divorce" which would see the end of Czechoslovakia as the Zech and Slovakians go their seperate ways, the
European Economic Community eliminates trade barriers to go and create a European
single market.
[1] Meanwhile, upcoming political changes in China that would see the beginnings of elections and the like over in local levels of China, with the various minority parties having a chance to try and make their case known for the people of the various towns and cities. Though speaking of China, relations between them and the Americans have also been improving, especially with the need to help promote clean altenate fuel, with the Chinese preparing to further invest in nuclear infrastructure and other reneweals, much like what was going with India. In fact, the hopes that with discussions over the planned thorium research, that it would lead to the growing usage of thorium reactors across various parts of the world. Back in Ethiopia meanwhile, the coalition of the transitional government has seemingly teetered over into its permanent decline, namely with a certain death. That of Isaias Afwerki, the secretary-general of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, having passed away from cerebral malaria, having passed away over in a coma. This would creack the EPLF and further damage the ruling coalition, especially because of the split support regarding the new monarchical movement.
One major issue over was with Yugoslavia, especially with the Bosnian War going on and potential plans. However, one success would be Askew and Gorbachev getting involved in the tensions that were bubbling between the Bosnians and the Bosnian Croats threatening their fragile alliance, they invited the heads over to Saint Petersburg to establish what would be the St. Petersburg Accords between them and creating the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was a long and arduous task, but it did not take long for the leaders to accept the condition needed to maintain it, especially with the remaining issues regarding the Serbs, though further discussions for potential peace could still be brought there. However, the tensions being resolved sooner between the Bosnian Croats and Bosnians would have an effect on the Serb leadership. Unsurprisingly, a UN tribunal would be estasblished to discuss such a tenseful situation though the hope was that by doing this sooner, less lives could be lost, especially with the mounting atrocities being committed with the concerns of "ethnic purging". Some have begun planning a rather unique idea over what to do in regards over to do with the Serbians in Bosnia-Hezegovina along with Serbia in it of itself. Beyond the planning, various nations opened the doors for the fleeing refugees to flee from the violence while the US and SUSR would also debate sending further support to the Croat-Bosnian alliance.
Of course, there was still some problems over at home too. One of which was the discovery of the Branch Davidian cult and the whole affair started with the arrest of David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians. In early Febuary, the
Waco Tribune-Herald began publishing "The Sinful Messiah", a series of articles by Mark England and Darlene McCormick, who reported allegations that Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had committed
statutory rape by taking multiple underage brides. [2] These accusations along with suspicions of stockpiling
illegal weapons due to revelations involving a broken package and the concern of the UPS driver is what would get attention. The whole operation would see Koresh himself arrested on his jog while the children would be taken into protective custody with the evidence on hand along with various other operations involved. While no one was killed, there were a couple of tense moments and violent alternations. It was quite a concerning eye-opener and brought to light the importance of ensuring quality of child-services. [3]
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[1]- Information and phrasing from here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993
[2]- Information and phrasing from here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege#Prelude
[3]- Basically, imagine more or less what happened here:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/alternate-wacko-waco.10266/#post-124175