Joseph

Hilger

Minister of State

Staatsminister

Ministre d'Etat en Grand-Duché (équivalent de Premier Ministre)

Minister for Foreign and Micronational Affairs

Minister für auswärtige und mikronationale Angelegenheiten

Ministère des affaires étrangères et micronationale

MINISTRY OF STATE

"Greifenberg's foreign policy is to contribute to freedom, development and prosperity both in our own micronation and other parts of the world. It proceeds clearly from the values on which our own society is built and from our own interests."

"Greifenberg must be an involved and proactive force in international and intermicronational affairs. Our objective is to work in cooperation with other micronations to promote micronational recognition and to promote the concept of micronational sovereignty, development and prosperity in the world."

The Minister of State is the head of government of the Grand Duchy of Greifenberg (equivalent to a prime minister). The Minister of State, who is appointed by HRH the Grand Duke of Greifenberg, directs the activities of the government and oversees the preparation and consideration of matters that come within the mandate of the government. In the daily activities of government the Minister of State represents HRH the Grand Duke of Greifenberg. As the “first minister” and chief orchestrator of government business, he serves as the first authority after HRH the Grand Duke in all matters of State.

The Minister of State also serves as chairman of the Council of Ministers (with voting powers). Like the other ministers, he has only one vote. His authority differs from that of the other ministers, however, in that he is responsible for reviewing the legality of collective decisions, he has the right of audience with HRH the Grand Duke of Greifenberg and he must countersign the laws sanctioned by HRH the Grand Duke of Greifenberg.

The Minister of State also serves concurrently as  Minister for Foreign and Micronational Affairs. In fulfilling his foreign and micronational affairs portfolio, the minister prepares and implements the Government's foreign policy by bringing together the expertise of different national players to facilitate the formulation of coherent policies.

The main responsibilities of Greifenberg’s foreign policy consist in preserving the independence and security of the country and maintaining and developing its relations under international law. This entails both cultivating bilateral relations with other states as well as multilateral cooperation in the international and intermicronational organizations regarded as important for Greifenberg.

The guidelines of Greifenberg’s international and intermicronational cooperation encompass the safeguarding of the country's own national interests, protection of Greifenberg citizens, and solidarity with the international and intermicronational community. Greifenberg is therefore especially engaged in issues involving human rights policy, the progressive development of international and intermicronational development cooperation, international humanitarian assistance including disaster aid, and specific areas of international and intermicronational environmental policy.