Kalistan

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Lady Dana Ananto named as Viceroy of Gaduridos
New Representative of Her Imperial Majesty represents important link to Kaliburg
Ciudad Gaduri, Marlingantos
April 7, 5599


Lady Dana Ananto to Represent Empress in Southern Kingdom

Lady Dana Ananto-Alvarez has been approved to become the new Viceroy Plenipotential of the Kingdom of Gaduridos and shall represent the Empire to the Southern Kingdom.  The nomination was first proposed by Her Imperial Majesty's Government in Gaduridos, who were informed of Lady Magdalena Sarmiento's decision to retire from her post late last fall.  "Lady dana Ananto, who now lives with her husband and to children was a natural choice for her successor," said Kalistan National University Political Scientist Dr. Taryn Mulder.

"Dana Ananto comes with a lot of plusses," said Dr. Mulder.  "She has lived the vast majority of her life in Gaduridos, both before and after it joined the Empire.  Egelian is her first language and is the one she speaks in her household.  She has been a key figure in economic ties between Kalistan and Gaduridos since before taking over House Ananto from her father, and she is considered to be an very close confident with her cousin, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto.  With Lady Dana as Viceroy, she can work very closely with the Garcia Administration to ensure that the Government in Gaduridos has all the Imperial support it needs, both financially and politically, as a priority to carry out its ambitious social spending program."

Lady Dana Ananto, speaking to Radio Kaliburg from Vespiano said, "Haré todo lo posible no sólo para representar la voluntad de Su Majestad Imperial aquí en Gaduridos, sino que también representaré honesta, fiel y entusiastamente a mis compatriotas, el Pueblo de Gaduridos, ante el Imperio.  Las esperanzas y los sueños de mis vecinos, amigos y conciudadanos pueden hacerse realidad, y es un verdadero honor para mí que se me confíen las aspiraciones de tanta gente.  Prometo al pueblo de Gaduridos que no los defraudaré, pero estaré aquí con ellos y para ellos mientras me permitan continuar en este rol.  Así como sirvo a nuestra Emperatriz, también sirvo al pueblo de Gaduridos."

Lady Dana Ananto, who currently is the Countess of Lucid, will be allowed to keep her County while serving as Viceroy in Gaduridos. "There may come a time, however," said Mulder, "where she requests to step down as Head of House Ananto as the tasks may become too much for her. If she had to give up something, it would be my guess that she would prefer to step down as head of the House rather than forego the passion of generations of her family, dating back to the days of Victor Ananto. She may just find it easier to give up the business side of things and focus on working with the Gaduri Government to ensure that development of her home country increases."

Lady Magdalena Sarmiento is expected to remain in the role of Viceroy until mid-June. The two have begun the transition already, and Lady Dana has taken an apartment in Ciudad Gaduri, to be on site daily and shadow the outgoing Viceroy during her daily tasks. Lady Dana Ananto is already quite familiar with the current Government under the Social Democratic Party in Gaduridos, and reportedly "sympathizes" with important parts of their platform, including the focus on social equality and spending, clean government, and economic development.

@TheRepublic

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Minor Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval Speaks to La Moda
Young Royal seeks to draw attention to Ocean Fauna
Dulnerstaad, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 25, 5599


Rising Naturalist, Her Highness, Minor Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval in Dulnerstaad

It's a bit cold still to go surfing here in Dulnerstaad, where La Moda caught up with Her Highness, the Minor Princess Michelle-Renee Pavlina Ananto-Sandoval.  While the temperature was "a bummer", the Minor Princess was happy to walk along the beach in the afternoon sun.

"It's nice to take trips up to Dulnerstaad," said Princess Michelle.  "The coast is so pretty up here, I wish I could stay here all year round."  Her Highness is in Dulnerstaad as part of a class trip to the city's world famous Aquarium where they will learn all about the ocean fauna at the place where the Ananto Strait and the Northern Anantonese Ocean meet.

"Surfing is kind of dangerous up here," said Princess Michelle.  "This is a spot where there are these pretty strong currents rushing south from Keris, and they kind of slam into the north flowing, but they say, sluggish Ananto Strait, so you get some pretty big triangle waves out there especially in winter time.  The Keris current slackens up in the summer, so the best time to surf here, if you are going to, it in maybe September.  It's warm enough then too."

The Princess is far more interested in learning more about the ocean fauna at the Aquarium.  "I like the Otters," said the Princess.  "All my friends think they are very cute, and they are a protected species," she added.  "They aren't really in danger, but they are kind of the mascot for Dulnerstaad, so people make sure to not harm them in any way."  But some animals, the Princess says are not so lucky.  "There used to be whales that swam off the coast here.  But for the longest time, people came from other countries and hunted them, and now, either they have moved away, or they are just all gone.  I would personally like to see them in the wild, but now, the only whales we can see in Kalistan are either in books or in places like the Aquarium, which has two Orcas that the Aquarium has nursed back from almost dying, and intends to hopefully reintroduce into the wild soon."

The Princess said that she would like to perhaps get her family to donate money to trying to lure whales and other maritime wildlife back to Kalistan, to improve the habitat.  "Most people do not know that all of these animals and all of these plants and everything are so necessary for a healthy ocean, and a healthy ocean is necessary for human life.  It's all a big cycle."  In many cases, says the Princess, oceanic species declined around Kalistan because of Kalistan's own action.  "We had so many decades where nobody even cared about the ocean or the animals who live in it:  they just took took took, and didn't care about the side effects for the whales, manatees, squid and octopi, fish, the otters, you name it.  So we started getting jelly fish swarms and krill blooms and all this, because there weren't any large fish in the area to eat them.  Now they're making a comeback, very slowly, but pollution still plays a role, and especially when it comes from other countries.  These animals migrate, so they may not even make it back to Kalistan if they migrate from here."

The Princess said she hopes the National Government will sponsor a clean oceans act.  "Plastics are also a real problem in our oceans," she said.  "This nation can take a leading role in cleaning up the oceans.  I will ask my mother to help me and the Chancellor work to create a clean oceans fund that seeks to clean up pollution and plastics and that sort of thing wherever it poses a problem.  I think a combined effort can help us bring some of these species back from the edge and fill our seas with fish and other wildlife again."

The Princess turned to face the Ananto Strait.  "And then maybe we can see whales return to Kalistan once more!"

@LaModa

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The View From Kaliburg
"Most of the world is Dark" accd. to numerous FP Analysts
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 13, 5599


Foreign Policy Analysts at Invited Conference of the Eastern Political Institute

The Eastern Political Institute, based in Kaliburg, Ananto, held their biennial Invited Conference to discuss Kalistani Foreign Policy.  Scholars from across the country gathered at Kaliburg Polytechnic to discuss where Kalistan and Anantonese Imperial Policy is at the turn of the century and where it can go.

The consensus at the Conference was that much of the world outside of Seleya has significantly darkened for Kalistan since the Reign of Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina I Ananto began.  "We have lost important contacts in Artania and Majatra," said Dr. Henry Rivers, from Sulari.  "Kundrati is completely gone, and the damage is likely irreparable.  We maintain contact with Luthori, but out contacts with other Artanian states is sporadic at best, or non-existant.  Majatra, which represented so much promise in terms of relations a generation ago, has faded almost entirely from view, as they themselves are engulfed in blazing infernos, one after another."  Relations from Dovani nations, including Lourenne, have also gone almost completely silent.  "Most of the world has gone dark," said Rivers.

"It really feels that, after such a period of expansion of Anantonese Influence abroad, a lot of that has shrunk back," said grad student Monica Conway, of Vrassa Duchy University.  "Empress Pavlina may have been 'The Black Empress' but I think we may end up looking back on her reign as the height of illumination for Kalistan's view on the globe.  Her Imperial Majesty is far more conservative, far more Seleya oriented, and far less aggressive with foreign policy internationally:  in fact, Pavlina's international orientation can be attributed to her own Artanian background, while Carolina is much more like the Anantos of the Gaduri dynasty in her approach."

A focus on Seleya isn't necessarily a bad thing.  "Some, especially those of the Nationalist faction in the National Assembly, whom most consider the Empress to be aligned with, prefer a more Seleya-first approach to foreign relations," said Dr. Mary Hanson, of Kaliburg.  "Not only does it allow us to do more, more efficiently, but there are a number of people in the foreign policy establishment who believe that Artanians and Majatrans are unreliable and mercurial and will switch sides depending on which direction the wind happens to be blowing at the time.  By contrast, Seleyan states tend to prefer deep ties and are more predictable, and therefore can be trusted to keep promises they make and work together more regularly."

Several of the scientists described the recent flurry of foreign relations activity since the installation of Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister George Bennots.  "We've seen a lot of interest in meeting and getting to know states Kalistan hasn't associated with in a long time," said Rivers.  "Many call it a 'fence mending tour', and I think if the Empress had her way, she would have the Foreign Minister visit each Seleyan State in turn.  She would certainly like to visit other states as well, to extend this effort."  Recently, Kalistan has visited Likatonia, Aldegar, Zardugal and Luthori, states Kalistan never would have dreamed of going to perhaps even 30 years ago. 

"We still have ambassadors from Kalistan from Zardugal, Lourenne, and Luthori, and consular exchange in a dozen other nations including Hutori, Dolgava, Kazulia, Mordusia, Aldegar, Pontesi, Narikaton, Dundorf, Beiteynu, and Vanuku," outlined Hanson.  "This is a shockingly low number of countries, especially where Dovani is concerned.  I think Her Imperial Majesty would like to upgrade the consular services in several of those countries and increase that number, but wars, ideology, and unresolved historical issues will likely prevent this unless there is either a significant shift in the world, or a change in attitude in Kaliburg.  I'd say the prior is more likely than the latter."

"It just doesn't feel like there are a lot of people out there who want to talk," said Conway.  "This will lead to reduced opportunity for international cooperation in probably the medium term, which means that we will be well into the reign of Fredrick III before things look better for the Empire abroad.  I think the Empire will need to just be fine with talking with other Seleyan Nations.  2 of the 3 nations that matter most to Kalistan in Seleya are already in as close a relationship as they can be, and as a result, Seleya is going through an unprecedented period of peace, prosperity and potential, where wars and conflict are all in far away and people at home are given the opportunity to experience full self actualization.  It may be too early to declare a Paz Anatonés, but things certainly are trending in that direction."

The Conference will release a full digest of papers presented before the various panels, and will be made available at the conference web site.

@TheRepublic

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Statement of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto
"Beiteynu must leave"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 1, 5599


Empress Carolina I Ananto before the National Assembly

Her Imperial Majesty addressed the National Assembly this afternoon, to deliver a statement on the detonation of a nuclear weapon in Xsampa.  Below is the full text of her statement.

Following weeks of activity in our Foreign Ministry, we come to report on our actions of the last few weeks in response to the detonation of the Nuclear Weapon in Xsampa, Dovani, as a result of the insane was between Beiteynu.

First, we would like to express our condolences to those who lost loved ones in the explosion.  Nuclear warfare rarely targets those who are responsible for the war, and the deliberate targeting of large scale civilian populations in Xsampa is an atrocity, regardless of the ideological character of their government.  Kalistan stands ready to join any legitimate international effort to send aid and succor to those in need in Xsampa, and open our doors to any and all refugees who are being helped to flee the devastated areas in that country, to provide them a safe home until such time as they wish to return to their home.  We will offer them all aid necessary to integrate into Kalistani society to the degree that they feel comfortable and will ensure that they do not experience need here in this Empire.

Second:  Within hours of the news of the detonation reaching our nation, we have officially cut ties with Beiteynu and have expelled their officials.  We provided their consular staff two weeks to help all Beiteynese nationals and businesses with assistance in returning to their home country.  The people of Beiteynu did not do this:  instead, the blame lies at the feet of their military high command and the political controllers who made the decisions to launch this weapon.  As a result, we felt it was appropriate to offer all those who wished to return to Beiteynu the opportunity to do so in peace.  The two week grace period has now expired, and all individuals holding a Beiteynese Passport have been officially expelled from Kalistan.  All visas have been cancelled, and any Beiteynese National found to be existing within the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan will be summarily deported.  We will however, offer amnesty to all non-official Beiteynese Nationals to exit on their own provided they turn themselves in and request amnesty.  We will not seize any Beiteynese assets owned by private citizens, but will officially freeze all assets belonging to any Beiteynese Official or entity associated with the Government of Beiteynu.  Beiteynu must leave the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan.

Third:  The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan shall no longer trade with Beiteynu on any level.

Fourth:  All Kalistani travel, with the exception of returnees, to and from Beiteynu is hereby illegal.  Kalistanis shall not do business with Beiteynu.  Imperial Rubles are not to be spent in Beiteynu.

Fifth:  We encourage all Constituent Nations to enact similar policies within their Nations in response to Beiteynu.  We call upon the Delegates to the Imperial Assembly to meet immediately in Gaduridos to discuss Empire-wide responses, additional sanctions and additional courses of action. 

Sixth:  We call on all peace loving nations to join the Anti-Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Treaty so we can end the scourge of nuclear weaponry from this planet once and for all. The Treaty is located at http://classic.particracy.net/viewtreaty...atyid=5119

Seventh:  And most important.  We know this act was an act of the National Government of Beiteynu.  This is not the work of those of the Yeudi diaspora.  The Government will attempt to conflate their own foreign and military policies with Yeudism.  But like our Government in Gaduridos, The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan joins with those of the Yeudi faith in this Empire and condemns the actions of that outlaw regime.  Peace loving Yeudis may no longer be able to trust the government of Beiteynu to not put them all at risk, but we reiterate our policies that those of the Yeudi faith are welcomed in Kalistan, and will experience the same political, social, and cultural protections that all faiths enjoy in Kalistan.  There will be no reprisals against anyone confessing the Yeudi faith in this Empire that is not the result of their being Beiteynese Nationals as provided for above.

We have required our Chancellor to draft all requisite enactment legislation to ensure that these points are carried forth.  The National Assembly will pass all enactment legislation that our Chancellor brings to the floor.

This is our will, and as such is beyond contestation.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistan offers aid to war-torn Xsampa
Reiterates call for action in Imperial Assembly
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 2 5600


Foreign Minister George Bennots says humanitarian aid is being dispatched to Xsampa

The Foreign Minister announced today that Kalistan will be sending humanitarian assistance to Xsampa as the nation begins dealing with the aftermath of the nuclear weapon over the now decimated former capital of Metz-Leonid.  The Humanitarian aid will consist of food aid, building materials, anti-biotics and pain relievers, and trade credits in Kalistan.

"Her Imperial Majesty believes that additional assistance will be forthcoming from other Constituent Nations in the Empire, and it is already being explicitly pledged in Lodamun," said Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, George Bennots.  "However, we also wanted to get the ball rolling on our part to begin sending aid from Kalistan.  The food aid will begin arriving immediately via Anantonese Ocean then north of New Alduria and into the Vascanian Sea, while building materials will arrive shortly thereafter.  We expect that several large cargo ships will be stocked with non perishable food stuffs to help add to the international relief, and building materials will consist of durable materials, concrete, rebar and steel beams, and things like that to provide Xsampa assistance with rebuilding.  We will be flying medical aid in before hand, and should begin resupplying field and refugee hospitals that have been working nonstop since the blast last October."

Bennots says he also expects that the Trade Credits will provide a longer term form of aid and support to Xsampa.  "Kalistan doesn't have a large trade volume with Xsampa currently, but the trade credits, which will amount to ₭80 Billion provided over the next ten years, should encourage Xsampa to spend the aid as they need it to not only help rebuild but to also help get the nation back on its feet.  These credits will be available to be spent anywhere in the Empire, and the National Government of Kalistan will reimburse the Nation if those credits are spent purchasing from Lodamun or Gaduridos."

FM Bennots also says members of his Dovani staff are being dispatched to assist in processing refugees who intend to come to Seleya.  "Lodamun has already signaled its intent to receive refugees and Gaduridos has strongly condemned Beiteynu for its attacks, while working with Imperial Partners on the full court foreign relations press.  All Constituent Nations in the Empire have united and expressed strong condemnation of the use of nuclear weaponry, and we are assured that soon Imperial Policy will be crafted increasing security for Seleya.  In the meanwhile, if we can give those who are in nearby areas a place to live, we should try, and this requires individuals in Xsampa as well as in surrounding nations to help process refugees and get them to safety."

The total aid package coming from Kalistan at the moment will be at right around ₭13.5 Billion Imperial Rubles from Kalistan alone, and the materials will begin arriving in between two and three weeks while trade credits will be made available immediately.  Foreign Ministry refugee specialists will arrive in country, and are expected to check in at International Refugee stations within 3 weeks.  They will need to engage local interpreters, who are expected to be made available by the international relief efforts, in order to get begin processing refugee applications.  Kalistan hadn't had a significant presence in Xsampa since all personnel were expelled over the Kundrati affair, but Kalistan has agreed with its imperial partners that humanitarianism trumps the diplomatic history of the relations between these two nations.

"We are happy to report that Anantonese aid is on the way," said Foreign Minister Bennots, who noted that the first ships full of Lodamese Aid have already passed south through the Ananto Strait.

[Auditorii]

Minan State Broadcasting Service: SULTAN AND ROYAL GOVERNMENT OFFER KALISTAN AND LODAMUN TEMPORARY BASING FOR HUMANITARIAN AID (June, 5598)

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AdEG- Puerto Gaduri celebrates a first year of operations
Marlingantos Port provides new opportunities in Central Anantonese
Ciudad Gaduri, Marlingantos
July 18, 5600


Shipyards at Puerto Gaduri refitting light commercial freighter

The long awaited Asociados de Envío Gaduri celebrates a full year of operations as the expanded Puerto Gaduri joins.  The joint Gaduri-KalMilInCo project, in which the Gaduri Government holds a 40% share, KalMilInCo holds 35% and Gaduri Investors control an additional 25%, greatly expands both the cargo handling in the Central Anantonese as well as creating new ship building capacity in the Southern Kingdom.

Lady Dana Ananto-Alvarez, Her Imperial Majesty's Viceroy for Gaduridos, was on hand for the Anniversary.  "Felicitamos a todos aquellos que trabajaron para crear aquí un puerto y una instalación de construcción naval tan excelentes," said Her Excellency, the Viceroy.  "Fue un esfuerzo verdaderamente monumental restaurar y ampliar el puerto aquí, y luego construir estas instalaciones que permitirán a Gaduridos tomar la delantera tanto en transporte marítimo como en transferencia y manipulación de carga en la región.  Finalmente, poner estas instalaciones en línea es la culminación de casi una década y media de trabajo, y esta celebración es bien merecida."

During the first year of operations, as the finishing touches were being put on the port facility, the port itself handled more than 2.1 million metric tons of cargo, from nations bordering the Anantonese, as well as those coming from Majatra via Aldegar, making Puerto Gaduri the the second busiest port in the Central Anantonese, just behind Sulari, which handles about 2.8 million metric tons.  Most of the goods handled in Puerto Gaduri are products that are being stored for transshipment, either through Aldegar or to Port Elga in Sulari or Lourenne for Dovani distribution.  Gaduridos earns transaction fees from every shipping container loaded and offloaded in the port and these fees have led to a massive injection of very valuable capital into Gaduri coffers.

The rehabilitated Puerto Gaduri during the summer

"KalMilInCo investors also benefit from the trade," said KMC spokesperson Guillermo Camacho in Sulari.  "It's passive income for us, as AdEG controls all operations at the port.  Our interests are primarily in the Shipyard facilities, but having put a significant sum of money into the port rehabilitation, which was the majority of the work and costs at the shipyard, Kalistani investors stand to benefit."

As Gaduridos now has expanded port facilities and a full service shipyard that gives Gaduridos the ability to construct and refit both merchant and military ships, Gaduridos takes its place next to Kalistan and Lodamun as a cargo and shipbuilding powerhouse.  The shipyard itself is now the largest shipbuilding facility in the Anantonese Ocean, with 16 Drydocks and full fabrication facilities.  In number of dry dock facilities, it surpasses Port Elga and the National Shipyards in Kaliburg individually.  The AdEG-Puerto Gaduri facility is now fully opened and operational full time.

@TheRepublic

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Empress and Chancellor fly to Egelion for talks and visit
King Amadeo and Queen Alice host Kalistani Leaders
Altea, Egelion
July 8 5601


Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina I Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire, Dame Diane Bolton fly to Egelion

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire, Dame Diane Bolton both flew from Kaliburg to Kalistan's northern Anantonese Neighbor Egelion to meet with the Royal Family of Egelion on an official state visit.  Accompanying the pair was Foreign Minister George Bennots and staff.  The purpose of the mission was to increase ties between the two nations.

"Our itinerary involved first meeting the King and Queen at the capital," said Dame Bolton.  "The last time Her Imperial Majesty saw the two was at their wedding.  And now that the Crown Prince is born, it is important that both monarchs begin talking about the future of positive relations between our two nations."  The Empress and Chancellor both sat with the King of Egelion, and discussed trade and regional security.  "Her Imperial Majesty of course brought up both the Anantonese Economic Standardization Accord (AESA) and the Anantonese Security Community," said Dame Bolton.  "With major threats to regional security looking in Artania and Majatra, and Western Seleya very quickly once again turning into a fascist inspired set of basket cases, it is imperative to Her Imperial Majesty that Anantonese Nations stay strong and united in purpose."

The Chancellor noted that points of agreement between the Empress and the King included a shared ideological point of view with regard to the role of the State.  "Both Monarchs believe in a strong role for the state in the guidance of their nation's respective destinies," said Dame Bolton.  "Her Imperial Majesty particularly applauded the foundation of the State Oil Company, Petroleon, and the simultaneous effort to build a green economy at home.  It is very similar to the work of Lourenne, which Kalistan has long been an admirer of.  She also suggested that Miramar is looking for additional opportunities to invest in the Egelian Economy, whether through its significant stake in Santamar Bank, or through other ventures in an effort to assist Egelion in future economic growth."

Her Imperial Majesty was then invited to address the Royal Court, which is an honor that Kalistan itself does not afford foreign nationals.  Her Imperial Majesty, speaking in perfect Egelian, spoke about the importance of cooperation between the Anantonese Empire and Egelion, and her hopes that tied can be strengthened especially in the realm of security and the economy: 

"Tenemos mucho en común, nuestras dos naciones.  Compartimos la misma corriente oceánica: lo que sale de Egelion baña las costas de Ananto.  Como tal, deberíamos cooperar.  El potencial para el comercio bilateral entre nuestras dos naciones es tremendo.  Aquellas cosas que las Naciones Constituyentes en el Imperio Anatonés pueden suministrar nos permitirán comprar aquellas cosas que suministra Egelion, y viceversa.  Además, el Imperio es la primera línea de defensa de Egeion.  Como tal, tenemos un interés mutuo en trabajar juntos para mantener nuestro Océano seguro y libre de la amenaza de adversarios extranjeros que durante mucho tiempo han buscado explotar y controlar nuestras tierras para sus propios fines.  Deseamos trabajar juntos en una multitud de temas y esperamos con ansias el día en que Egelion y Ananto estén uno al lado del otro como baluartes contra el caos y la idiotez infantil de los estados del oeste y del sur."

Following the official state events, the Empress and Chancellor were hosted at the Norterra Palace where they were the guests of the Royal Family for dinner and entertainment. An enjoyable evening was had as Her Imperial Majesty reconnected with her Northern Colleague and his wife over cards and tea. The next day, the Kalistani Party was shuttled north to visit the mountains in Western Caille, where the State is looking to begin investing in tourism and outdoor entertainment. "Her Imperial Majesty mentioned that the development of skiing and winter sports in this region would be an investment that Miramar would be interested in undertaking," said Dame Bolton. "The natural beauty of the northern Highlands rivals anything in Nevaras, and there is a lot of potential in the area not only on the slopes of the mountains, but potentially under them as well. Her Imperial Majesty reminded King Amadeo that in another life, she was a civil engineer, and whether it was building ski resorts, or damns to electrify the country, the potential of this relatively untapped wilderness was likely quite tremendous and she noted that Kalistan would like to be right there to help develop it."

The visit ended on a high note. "We invited His Majesty the King, and Her Highness the Queen to visit us in Kalistan," said Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, George Bennots. "Ananto is a paradise which the two northern Royals have yet to visit, and of course, Mainland Kalistan is also a place one can spend a lifetime in and not see all the natural wonders. Kalistan is, in many ways, what Egelion is turning into. So we invited the Egelion Royals to come and see their future. We hope when he arrives, he enjoys his time as much as Her Imperial Majesty did. When the royal couple arrive in Kalistan, they can look forward to seeing the Prince Consort, His Highness Prince William Ananto-Sandoval, who is also the Head of the Ananto Growers' Syndicate."

The Empress, Chancellor and Foreign Minister returned to Kaliburg after spending three full days with King Amadeo and Queen Alice in Egelion. "We over dressed for Kalibug," said Dame Bolton as they stepped off the plane still dressed in their heavier coats due to cooler temps in Egelion.

@TheRepublic

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Royal Court of Egelion welcomes Empress Carolina I Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire Dame Diane Bolton

8 July, 5601

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Editorial:  On the National Service Program
It is nothing like the Slavery practiced by fascist degenerates
Eveari Corps Base, Bluegrass Valley Ananto
May 15, 5602


Their Highnesses, Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval and Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval together for a portrait in Eveari

His Highness, the Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval will be mustered out of service on June 30 of this year.  And Her Highness, Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval has been in National Service for almost a full year already.  As these two young royals take their place among the ranks of all Kalistani Citizens who perform National Service, as a duty of citizenship, it brings into light the question of mandatory National Service.  Why does Kalistan maintain a National Service Program, while it blasts other, lesser nations, for creating forced labor camps and exterminating inmates by working them to death?  Is it not the same thing?

The answer is clearly "No." But why not?  Comparing mandatory National Service to the public sector slavery practiced in fascist States is the same as comparing paying taxes to a violent mugging.  

Let's take a look at the two.  There are a lot of similarities.  In both systems, people are required to supply labor to the state.  Kalistan has had the National Service Program in place, in one form or another for centuries.  In the NSP, young Kalistani citizens join, go through a battery of aptitude evaluations, and then are matched with the needs of the service.  Yes, some conscripts do work in State Industries, but yes, some conscripts do work on maintaining county roads, bridges, or other heavy physical labor.  Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, worked on a road crew, and was a surveyor for that crew that built several bridges.  The Crown Prince has worked in forestry, replanting trees in Neveras and Vrassa for the last three years, and Her Highness, the Princess Michelle works a clerical job as an accountant in the Ananto Corps' S1.  In fascist systems, there is also mandatory work.

The fact that both require mandatory work, however, is where the similarities between National Service and state sponsored slavery of the fascist nations of this planet.  Members of the NSP are paid.  Because they are not inmates.  They have leave and liberty, because they are not inmates.  They have full civil rights and liberties while in the Service, because they are not inmates.  Yes, they are required by law to join the Service, but the law puts restrictions on all people everywhere all the time:  Observing the law the way a safe driver would observe the law, though he wants to speed, is not the same as being arrested specifically so you can be turned into chattel by a fascist state.

Those in the National Service gain skills that will make them better citizens when they are released.  Fascist slaves only gain the skill of fearing torture and violence.  National Service therefore serves two goals:  To supply necessary services to the Nation that the Government would have to contract out for otherwise, and to make better citizens.  The fascist slavery scheme only serves one purpose:  To sacrifice the lives of countless people upon the personal whim of a psychotic tyrant.

National Service also serves the workers of Kalistan:  By keeping excess labor, when it is at its most productive and freest, completely out of the work force, it serves not only to bottleneck the labor market, but also therefore, ensuring both job security and workers' power through forced labor shortage.  The only people who oppose Mandatory National Service in Kalistan are those capitalists who hound the government about "freedom" of labor to be exploited "freely" by capitalists, who want more workers to compete with one another, so capitalists can pocket more of the profit.  In Kalistan, National Service allows us to not only protect the worker who is negotiating with his boss for better pay and better working conditions, but it also provides workers with very important soft skills that they don't just automatically know when they leave school, skills like self-discipline, the ability to dress appropriately for work, the ability to attend work on time, and the ability to complete tasks that are assigned to them.  These are skills that even those workers who don't live in fascist states struggle with.

But most importantly:  National Service ends with the liberty of the Worker.  Conscripts of the NSP eventually almost all leave, though many opt to stay, after which point, the NSP IS their job.  But most do leave.  In the fascist dungeons of our world, the only way workers leave is as a corpse.  Because the goal of NSP is to serve a society that you will then expect to provide for the things you need.  The goal of prison camps in a fascist state is simply to murder as many people as efficiently as possible.  When Kalistanis complete the term of service that they freely enter into, they are completely free.  Inmates in fascist nations have no such hope of ever seeing the day that they will be free.  Instead, they can only expect to be freed by the merciful hand of death--Only Death can liberate them from their conditions as slaves, owned body and soul by their oppressive, tyrannical fascist state.

The fascists of the world know what they are doing, they know who they are.  And they clearly have absolutely no problem with it.  The regimes under fascism are homicidal cults of personality, and nothing more.  Fascism is the most degenerate form of government, and its practitioners' absolute disregard for human life removes them from the category of humanity themselves.  Some have felt brave enough to pull their heads off the ground long enough to attempt to justify their industrial murder system and prison slavery system by comparing it to Kalistan's National Service Program, as if they were in any way the same thing.  

National Service as practiced in Kalistan is ennobling.  State slavery as practiced in fascist states is debasing.  They are not the same thing.

@TheRepublic