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Following are excerpts from an address by Lebanese political activist Michel Alefteriadis, which aired on OTV on September 22, 2010, and an interview with him, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on October 1, 2010:
OTV, September 22, 2010
Presenter: A ceremony was held to mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Empire of Nowheristan – the political, economic, and social project of Michel Alefteriadis, which managed to attract more than 100,000 people from all over the world.
Michel Alefteriadis: You are allowed to mock the emperor, to be sarcastic, to say that he is a non-realistic dreamer, a crazy utopist, a ridiculous megalomaniac, a harmless folkloric, illuminated idiot.
You can ignore me, you can laugh at me, you can fight me, but I will win!
[...]
Al-Arabiya TV, October 1, 2010
Interviewer: How many people are with you?
Michel Alefteriadis: We are about to reach 100,000.
Interviewer: From all over the world?
Michel Alefteriadis: Yes. The largest group of citizens is from Japan, and after that from Turkey.
Interviewer: That’s strange. Why?
Michel Alefteriadis: I think that in these countries, people suffer from an identity problem. In countries where there is no identity problem, people do not ask too many questions about culture, identity, and history...
Interviewer: The Japanese and Turks suffer from an identity problem?
Michel Alefteriadis: The Turks do not know if they are secular or Islamists, Europeans or Asians. They do not know whether to be proud or ashamed of their Ottoman history.
Interviewer: And the Japanese?
Michel Alefteriadis: They have a problem with the period of World War II. The Japanese live as if they were in the 22nd or 23rd century. In the past 30 or 40 years, the standard of living in Japan has surpassed that of any other country. The leading technological inventions come from Japan.
Interviewer: What language do you speak?
Michel Alefteriadis: Our language is called Globish, which is poor or broken English, or global English. It is English that has been reduced to a handful of words, so that people around the world can communicate without killing...
[...]
Interviewer: You say that you are the first and last emperor of Nowheristan. Why?
Michel Alefteriadis: Because the constitution does not allow another emperor after me, and I will be the emperor as long as this does not become a real [state]. I do not believe that any person can be a sole ruler. The rule should be in the hand of several wise people. It should be held by senates, which would make all the decisions.
Interviewer: You say that 1,200 people from the elite of the world should make all the decisions, and people should follow them. Absolutely. So you eliminate democracy...
Michel Alefteriadis: I am against democracy. In a democracy, the vote of someone who is not too smart equals that of Einstein.
[...]
Interviewer: Who are you influenced by?
Michel Alefteriadis: My system is eclectic. I have selected the good things from all regimes. Even the Fascist regimes, very cruel regimes, and regimes that were toppled, like the Communist regimes, had some good things to offer. The regime was toppled, but that does not mean we should throw away everything.
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The only solution for Lebanon is to turn to a system like that of Nowheristan. As long as there are superpowers in the world, each group of Lebanese will serve as a proxy of a superpower.
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I am sure that within 20 years, Nowheristan will become real. When I see the exponential growth of the people of Nowheristan, I am sure that one day, I will be able to call for a civil revolt – at first in several countries. People will stop going to work and will leave their cars in the streets. The regimes will collapse, and regimes that believe in Nowheristanic ideas will replace them. The rule should not be left to the politicians, because politicians are skilled liars. They have nothing to offer except the ability to lie.
[...]
When I see that people like Berlusconi or Sarkozy have reached power in superpowers like France and Italy, I am afraid. Then I recall that Hitler reached power through democracy in 1933, and I am afraid some more.
[...]