Quote:"Conversion of existing decommissioned stock is preferable to not having a navy.  As we have casted about in the world market for nations willing to sell us their surplus, we found no takers, and this is troubling of course, given the provocations laid on us by the Indralan navy.  So-  we must build a fleet from what we have on hand.  The ship yard at Kaliburg, with its wide variety of old ships in dry dock, provides us the perfect opportunity to build a navy from existing stock which will serve the purposes of our nation's defense, as well as encourage us to innovate and develop quite beyond what the rest of the world is willing to offer us.  We are confident that, with the successful test of the prototype Mod-12, we will be able to further develop and build accurate naval artillery.  The Mod-12 therefore is the first step:  Larger cannons are on the horizon, but for now, the Mod-12 will serve as Kalistan's first pre-eminent naval gun." 

Quote:Friends.  We are called here together to review the stunning progress that the Republic has made in the last few years.  When I first earned the nomination of my Party, I offered to bring Kalistan to peace and prosperity.  We have met that challenge.  I promised that, despite the radical growth of the Society of the Brethren in Kalistan, we would maintain a secular society.  We have kept our word.  I promised that Kalistan would take its rightful place among nations, not as a supporter of underhanded diplomacy like piracy or terrorism, but as a Nation which can stand tall and proud, and be open and completely honest about what it does in our world.  And we have accomplished this.  Of course, the Government is not alone in our struggle for a better Kalistan, one that feeds and houses and employs our people in all sorts of meaningful work across the Republic and around the world.  We are joined by the People of Kalistan, and work toward 7 decades of unrivaled leadership in this Republic, with the help of the people.  At times like this, it is helpful to look back with the aide of a wide lens of History, to see what progress Kalistan has made.  The last few years have brought many successes, and development is on pace to exceed all expectations.

Without exception, the signature achievement of my administration thus far has been the rectification of Kalistan's armed forces.  The process is still on going, but we are in the second phase of the process right now, which is accruing a new fleet.  Kalistan is set to lead the world in acquisitions by regional powers.  And we are on pace to move further ahead in this arena, due to possible developments that will allow Kalistan to purchase vessels outright to add to our fleet.  Kalistan's cannon foundaries have developed a modular gun which will allow us to refit civilian ships for the defense of Kalistan, and sources inform me that they will be building larger and smaller varieties of this naval artillery for different sized ships, which may be both employed domestically and sold abroad to nations who find themselves in similar position of a virtual arms embargo while still needing a defensive naval force.

Meanwhile, Kalistan's National Petroleum Company has hit equilibrium production of petroleum which allows us to meet both domestic and foreign demand, and still add to our national petroleum reserves.  At the sustainable rate of extraction that Kalistan has established, our oil supply will last for centuries, guaranteeing generations of Kalistanis cheap energy.  In addition, we are currently working to design technology which allows us to siphon natural gas from both the petroleum reserves and from composted food stocks as part of the Kalistani Food Bank Program.  This Natural gas requisition program allows Kalistan to deliver clean burning energy to homes all across the Republic, and allows us to save money and resources.

We are also moving ahead with Kalistani Commerce.  During my administration, the port facility at Sulari, begun under my Predecessor, President Delgado was completed.  Port Elga now represents the most modern, most high capacity port facility in North East Selaya, and perhaps on the entire Anantanese Ocean.  From it, Kalistan has already boosted our imports and exports.  We are about to ink a deal which will make Kalistan-ODEN the chief supplier of mind and physiology altering substances to a large scale Corporate Distributor in Jelbania.  In addition, the Foreign Ministry informs us that Jakania is on course to ratify the ODEN treaty, joining Kalistan in widespread distribution and supply side efforts which will enhance Kalistan's national position.  We are not flippant when we say, it is truly a good time to be a drug dealer in the world.  And we proudly point out, that despite widescale efforts by various national governments to suppress and interdict our Cartel's efforts, the demand for drugs throughout the world has never been higher.  Drug sales are poised to surpass oil sales, and Kalistan is poised to be a primary beneficiary of that trend.

At home, we have completed the Nationalization process where several sectors have moved into Kalistan's national economy.  We have made energy and most necessities of life absolutely free for the population, undermining private firms' bargaining position, which uses starvation as a weapon against the legitimate interests of the People.  We have controlled housing, we have committed to environmentalism, we have struck a balance between economic growth, the need to industrialize, and the responsibility we must all share for the protection of our planet.  It seems to be working out for Kalistan.  We have maintained a 128 Billion Ruble annual surplus for decades now with low taxes and high productivity.  And all this for the small price of a percentage or two of GDP growth-  If we hit 0% growth in the economy, we are doing something right!

Friends, our success has not been unmittigated.  We are still harrassed at sea by the Indralan Dragon.  I am sure, the Indralan people are just like the Kalistani people.  It is even said that we share a common ancestor.  But the actions of the government of Indrala, for more than a year now, have served as a constant reminder that they believe Kalistan to be inferior.  That they believe that they can walk over us with impunity.  That they don't need to pay attention to Kalistan's legitimate concerns about our security as they bring the bulk of their navy ever closer to our homeland.  We see what Indrala is doing.  And tonight, I call upon all true citizens of Kalistan to prepare yourself and your family.  Indrala has made absolutely no efforts to resolve our concerns or even address them.  And so we must assume that they are planning to attack us, as appears to be their MO.  We of course must resist their invasion.  I do not suggest that anyone engages in violence.  But I would certainly identify a plan to escape, if you cannot or will not fight.  If you have relatives in another country, you may call them to reconnect with them, in case you need to flee.  Begin making plans to visit another nation and then to remain there for the duration.  For the people of Ananto, you must realize that you are especially vulnerable-  Identify a way off the Island and then make arrangements in case it is needed.  If Indrala continues to follow its current course, there will eventually be conflict and when it all happens, it will happen quickly, and without warning.  So make preparation.

And we are doing so as well.  I have asked Premier Estevez to place the Militia on High Alert.  I have also maintained a state of alert in the Regular forces, and will soon order the navy into hiding, since it is too weak to effectively square off against any possible Indralan force.  We will launch ten more LAFA packs to patrol the sea lanes, and while we hold our fire, we do not expect that Indrala will treat us with the same courtesy.  But if they come, we will be ready for them.

These times are fantastic times to live in.  It is probably best to be prepared by to not dwell on something which hasn't happened yet.  Kalistan is still in great shape As we move forward.  I thank you, the Assembly, and you the people for standing with the government during this difficult time.  Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our Republic!

Quote:"We can't trust that those who seek to violate our national security will simply stand down, neither at sea, nor it seems anywhere else.  There is, of course, a danger to keeping forces on alert:  Eventually you can sharpen a stick to too fine a point and then it suddenly dulls.  But I assure you-  Indrala's patrols in our waters are becoming more aggressive by the day.  We have been patient with them thus far, but there is no telling how long we will be able to put up with that Empire attempting to regain their former glory in our territory.  We reiterate:  The Anantanese Ocean is closed to Indralan Aggressive Naval Units.  We insist that the Faded Empire respect this cordon, and if they continue to refuse, we will take matters to them.  Our forces are ready for any reprisals they may launch in response, but we will not relent on this.  Their threats will not continue unacknowledged!"

Quote:"The one thing we agree with the Indralans on:  their increased presence in our waters definitely increases the potential for an accident, though I assure you, it will be Indrala that commits the error.  We do not want war.  We just want Indrala to turn aside, and we are prepared to defend ourselves if they opt not to."

Quote:"We welcome the Czar onto the side of good and justice in the Anantanese Ocean.  While we may not share the same governing ideology, nonetheless, we both have an interest in containing Imperial Aggression, Deltaria in Majatra, and Kalistan in Selaya.  Kalistan is a nation of peace, and we demand respect for our sovereignty from all nations of the world.  Indrala insists on stepping on us at every turn, and it is not something that free nations must accept.  I need not remind you that Indrala once claimed ownership of our land.  They still insist that they have free reign in our national territory. 

But we reiterate:  The Anantanese Ocean is closed to their militarism. We will stand up against that aggression even if we have to do it alone.  But we appreciate the fact that we do not:  With Deltaria at our back, Indrala must think twice before continuing their provocative behavior.  Kalistan has never been more prepared to defend its rights than now.  We call on Indrala to stand down.  Once they leave our waters and cease this petty and ridiculous bellicose behavior, we will be happy to discuss their outstanding concerns.  Until that time, we will continue to prepare for the time when we have to defend our liberty and independence from the Faded Empire."

Quote: "We know that the arrival of Indrala's Tortoise Fleet under the thin guise of anti-piracy action is laughable, to say the least.  We know that their actual goal is to re-subjugate our Nation to their hegemony and to use it against their enemies further to the North.  Their escalation indicates the disrespect that have for Kalistani National Integrity and Sovereignty, and their desire to seize a key point in the waterways between three continents.  And in bringing their major fleet north into our Ocean, they have clearly chosen the route of vinegar rather than Honey.  We will never back down.  Kalistan will remain united and strong, and we demand our rightful place among the Peace Loving and Sovereign Nations of the World."

Quote: "Yeah-  they have 48 hours to leave the country, and they will be welcomed to return when Indrala comes to its senses,"

Quote:"Today, I, along with the rest of the diplomatic mission to the Celestial Empire of Great Indrala, completed our evacuation of the Kalistani Embassy at Tian'An.  We have ensured that all top secret documents relating to Kalistani Activities within Indrala have been recovered, as well as all cryptography and all hard drives from our computers.  We thank the Government of Indrala for their kind treatment of me and my staff, as well as their forbearance as we completed the transfer of our materials to our transport.  The police force of the Capital City is to be especially commended for their willingness to suffer the slings and arrows of the Indralan people, who have been whipped into a stiff froth by demagogues in the public space against Kalistan, and who bore tremendous ill will toward my staff and I.  The Head of the Kalistani Consulate has assured me that all Kalistani Nationals in the country who wanted to return to Kalistan have done so, and to date, the only Kalistani nationals who remain in the country, which has recently become very dangerous for Kalistanis, are 14 individuals who are completing business transactions which they are contractually bound to complete before returning, and 3 young couples who zealously wish to remain among the Indralans to serve as Missionaries for the Society of the Brethren.  Within a week, those 6 individuals will be the only Kalistanis remaining in Indrala, and we call upon the Indralan Government to ensure their safety as they go about their work of conscience.

While we understand the conditions of our departure from Indrala, we would like to take a moment to question the motivation of Indrala in provoking the Nation of Kalistan at sea.  Again, we read in their press this repeated charge of countenancing Piracy.  It is an old trope, to say the least.  Neither I, nor my staff have ever been presented recent evidence of said actions against legitimate Indralan commerce. These notorious claims, which imply Kalistani complicity, if not downright involvement, are unconscionable.  It is the policy of the Government of Kalistan, as I have repeatedly made clear to my counterparts in Indrala, to not endorse piratical activity, nor to participate in it, nor to hinder legitimate trade through our waters.  What is provocative to Kalistan is the persistence of Indralan warships off our coasts.  They have maintained time and again that their ships remain in international waters, while the Law of the Sea Treaty, to which Indrala is not a Party but Kalistan, along with every other nation in Selaya, is, describes fully International Waters as beginning 500 Kilometers from the shore, outside the area of transient jurisdiction.  If this is the case, then no waters between Ananto and Dovani is truly "International", and certainly not water which can be clearly seen from Ananto!  And yet, we provide evidence to Indrala of their trespass, and they insist, yet again that our closure of the ocean is illegal.

The policy of Kalistan has been one of patient pressure.  It has not yielded the results Kalistan has sought.  If something is not done, Kalistan must answer these provocations.  And it will.  We are not prepared to say at the moment what that will involve, but it will be adequate to meet the security crisis Indrala is provoking in Kalistan.  This is all.  We bear no ill will toward the people of Indrala-  we have long viewed them as equals and as brothers and sisters.  The actions of Indrala's government, on the other hand are intolerable."

Quote:People of Ananto-  I do not need to repeat, yet again, the situation that Kalistan finds itself in.  You all know:  you see reports of Indralan provocation nightly on the news.  We cannot deny that they are growing bolder by the day.  We have very specific intelligence that an Indralan attack is imminent.  And so it is incumbent, upon all of us, to meet this attack, when it finally happens, with resolve and dedication.  Kalistan's independence and sovereignty is not so easily taken from us. The Indralans must not succeed with their belligerent foreign policy, not towards Kalistan, not towards any nation on the planet.

You must understand the precarious situation that Kalistan is in-  Indrala aims to bring the entire east coast of Selaya under their dominance.  They aim at northern countries like Mikuni and Trigunia.  They are in league with the murderers of our former President, Vanuku, and between the two empires, their will permit no resistance.  This is why Kalistan MUST take the position we have taken.  We are the last road block between Indrala and world domination.  Kalistan is a small nation-  We certainly do not match Indrala on the seas.  While we could achieve parity with Indrala on defense of our homeland, we do not have the resources to conduct a successful war of attrition against Indrala.  We must crush their will to fight from the outset, or we will be doomed.

Kalistan is not a unique country.  If Kalistan is wiped off the face of the planet, few will miss us.  We may be the number one producer and exporter of mind altering substances in the world, but most countries revile us for this.  We may be the home to the Society of the Brethren, but few acknowledge our peculiar sect's existence.  Kalistan is not a major world power and have sworn off nuclear, biological and chemical weaponry, we have a middling economy which allows us self-sufficiency, but also we rely on exports for a significant portion of our national economy.  But Kalistan is worth fighting for.  Because this is our home.  This land, the land of our ancestors, the land of our children, this land is ours, and we are not going to give it up without a Fight.

I call on ALL Kalistanis to do their part.  Do not let them take what is yours.  Stand up to the Dragon.  I will be there with you, I will be there with Kalistan.  We stand as one.

Quote:"We understand the President's move toward the defense of the Nation.  The President is under a different set of pressures than we are, and we believe that her actions are the actions of her conscience.  But we, as Brethren, oppose all war.  We oppose the offensive maneuvers of Indrala, because they threaten the lives of Kalistanis and Indralans alike.  We hold our President in the Light, hoping and praying, that she will find a peaceful solution to the troubles our nation faces.  War is not the failure of diplomacy:  it is the failure of imagination.  And if the President fails in this key test, many Brethren will withdraw their support for her in favor of another candidate who will pursue peace, under all conditions."

Quote:"Kalistanis-  We are under attack.  For the last time, we have allowed Indrala to breech our national waters.  We have warned them time and again that the Anantanese Ocean was closed to their naval vessels.  Time and again, they have ignored us and flaunted our sovereignty.  And now, we have struck a blow against Indrala.  They will not soon forget this!  Even now, they are beginning the second stage of their plan to re-capture Kalistan:  They have closed the noose on our ports and plan to strangle our great nation.  We will not tolerate it.  The President has ordered our LAFA packs covering the surface of the Ocean to immediately engage the Indralan menace wherever they may be.  We will not stop at military vessels-  We aim to destroy all shipping sailing under an Indralan flag on our Ocean.  We will not be intimidated by Indralan force at sea.  We have demonstrated that we can meet blood for blood, and we will not stop until Indrala recognizes Kalistani sovereignty over the Sea. 

"They ask us for an apology:  None shall be forthcoming.  They ask us for Reparations:  They shall never see a cent.  They propose we accept vassalage:  They will have to vassalize corpses at our military cemeteries.  We will never bow to the Dragon.  But we will show them what Kalistan is made of!  We can assure Indrala, this is only the beginning:  As long as we have breath, there is more to come!"

Quote:"It is no problem:  Cildania is not currently at war with Kalistan, nor have they openly declared their allegiance to Indrala.  They therefore, are not covered by our declaration, nor have they done anything to demonstrate hostility to Kalistan.  When the money is appropriated by the Assembly, we will take receipt of the Frigates and then there will be ample time to discuss relations between our two states.  But lets get this deal done, for the good of our national defense, and worry about that bridge when we cross it."