Kalistan

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Kalistan welcomes Likatonia in effort to finally bury ghosts of War
Empire offers ₭40 Bn for Reconstruction
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 1, 5627


Likatonian Envoy Oliver Woods poses for photo with Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine at Imperial Seat

His Imperial Majesty's Government welcomed Likatonian Envoy Oliver Woods in Kaliburg last week, as the Empire continued its efforts at Truth and Reconciliation. The meeting which was a response to an invitation by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto to the Likatonian Government is seen as a first step toward repairing relations between the two Northern Seleyan Countries.

Mr. Woods, who came to Kalistan representing the Likatonian Government, was greeted at the airport by Chancellor of the Empire Sir David Levine. Both men then continued to the Imperial Seat in Downtown Kaliburg to hold a formal audience with His Imperial Majesty. The route took the two gentlemen past some of the area of Kaliburg which was destroyed during the war, and which has subsequently been rebuilt as apartment complexes over light commercial enterprises.

During the hour long meeting, the Emperor, reportedly speaking without his sign language interpreter (Lady Stuart was present during the Audience along with the Chancellor), formally and personally apologized to Mr. Woods for Likatonia for the death and destruction that Kalistani Regulars had caused the residents of Norwalk and the cities in the region. The Emperor made the apology without reservation or qualification. According to the report from the Chancellor later--as formal audiences are off limits to the press--His Imperial Majesty took full and ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the Regulars during the war, and said he was committed to repairing the rift between the two nations.

"His Imperial Majesty showed what some may say was excessive contrition during the audience," said Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine to the press. "But he also covered the findings of the Independent Truth Commission and acknowledged that Kalistani Regulars had committed the depredations that the Commission described in its final Report, and said his whole command structure from top to bottom was responsible for the action. More than 450 Officers and more than 1300 Enlisted had either plead guilty or were found guilty in the tribunal, and more than 175 were serving sentences on King's Island ranging from 10 years to multiple life sentences consecutively.

"But," continued the Chancellor, "cleaning up our own house is not enough. We hope to help our neighbors repair theirs too. His Imperial Majesty has offered the Likatonian Government ₭40 Billion Imperial Rubles in reconstruction and economic assistance to add to the ₭10 Billion already committed as part of the cease fire. The reconstruction aid will be delivered directly to the Likatonian Government over the next 5 years, and it is His Imperial Majesty's hope that the Government of Likatonia uses the money to provide Likatonians jobs in reconstruction, rather than outsourcing the work to a foreign nation to manage. The aid, however comes with no restrictions: His Imperial Majesty said that the money couldn't possibly fully make right what Kalistani Soldiers destroyed or killed, but it is his hope that if can help Likatonia pick up the pieces and build something new that improves Likatonia both economically and socially, and allows them to fully reintegrate into Seleya."

After presenting Mr. Woods with a full copy of the final Independent Truth Commission Report, the Chancellor welcomed Likatonia to continue to remain in contact with Kalistan as the reconstruction continued. "It is our hope that this is the start of an effort toward putting this conflict behind us and building a new relationship based on trust and cooperation. Time will tell if that is successful, but it is certainly His Imperial Majesty's desire to have Likatonia as a friend going forward." Mr. Woods and Sir Levine remained for questions from the press, and then Woods was given a tour of Kaliburg.

@TheRepublic

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LCR Sulari produces "Kalistani Rock Against Fascism" Compilation
Normally non political bands speak out about totalist ideology
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
January 8, 5628


LCR's "Kalistani Rock Against Fascism" Compilation exposes the Political side of music

Kalistan is generally not known for political music.  Most music that has been popular in the last two hundred years has focused on exploring music from an artistic standpoint, rather than from a topical one.  Musicians will experiment with sounds, different instruments, blending genres, and so forth.  But often there is an undertone of social awareness that you also don't see in much of the world's music, and Kalistan has always been open to bands who wish to use music as a platform to make a statement.

Hence it is no surprise that the main Indie label in Kalistan, Last Chance Records out of Sulari, has released an in-your-face compilation of anti-fascist music called Kalistani Rock Against Fascism.  This compilation of 12 songs is mostly punk and hard core, but there is also hip hop, Alt-folk and even a sophistipop song provided by the Davostag Band Wanderlust, which is a mockery of the late Kundrati fascist tyrant Bronislav Sladek.

"We felt it was very important for us to be counted in this group," said Wanderlust singer Elga Nilsson.  "When we moved to Kalistan a couple years ago, we had no idea our own government take such a turn.  We aren't a political band, but everyone in this group thinks that the choice of the President [in Davostag] to trade with people who use slave labor is really pretty disgusting, and we felt that we could say something here to let it be known that not everyone is ok with that."  Wanderlust is currently finishing the recording of their own sophomore record which is expected to be out later this year.

With the exception of Wanderlust, every group or artist is signed with LCR, and releases music with the label.  "We tried to get a lot of different voices on the album," said executive Producer Melanie Calloway for LCR.  "There's lots of punk and Hardcore, yeah, that's mostly what we record.  But other artists are also recording protest music, and we reached out to those we knew would be willing to do some of that."  Calloway said that some of the critique in the very explicitly anti-fascist music could also even be oblique critiques of the Kalistani Government as well.  "I suppose when you adopt a firmly anti-fascist mindset, you might delve a bit into anarchism, and so, all government authority becomes a target of criticism, including our own government's.  But we wanted to make sure that the message was focused specifically at the fascism and racism we are seeing bubbling up in Artania."

The songs on the record primarily critique fascism, but they also take shots at state who coddle fascists.  "The fascists themselves ain't the only problem:  Those are easily contained," said Mike Allistair of the band Mid.  "There's also a problem with people looking the other way.  We wanted to make sure that those f---s who try to pretend 'Oh we're decent people' and then go and help the fascists get called out too."  He specifically mentioned several countries who still trade with the mainland Kundrati regime, despite the world condemning it for being a brutal regime that employs death camps and uses chemical weaponry.  "Like you might be a wonderful person, but if you are buying stuff from a slave owning company, you're just as bad, and we ain't gonna let you represent like you're fine.  Because if you help the fascists, you are fascists too."

Check out Kalistani Rock Against Fascism from LCR right here, and then go pick up a copy and share it with your friends.


Side 1

1. Mid- "That's Incorrect"
   
2. DethLeft- "Die Like the Rest"
   
3. Mind Prophet- "(Turn) Fascists into Soil"
   
4. Brad Jax and Comply- "Inevitable Demise"
   
5. Wanderlust- "Bronislav"
   
6. Radio Terra-  "Artanian Genes"
   

Side 2

1. Bradley Armstrong-  "Third Generation Anti Fascism"
   
2. Multiplicado- "Fascista en llamas"
   
3. The Great Vrassa String Band-  "Union Against Fascism"
   
4. SHARP-  "Anti-Racist Worldview"
   
5. Bootstompers-  "We Ourselves are Immigrants"
   
6. Los Infieles- "¡Basta, Fascista!"
   

@KalistaniRawkMonthly

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Wanderlust releases their Sophomore Album on ARC
Follow up leans heavier into rock and lounge
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
May 14, 5628


Wanderlust's "Exile in Paradise" brings more saccharine with more guitars

Davostag transplants Wanderlust have put out their long awaited sophomore LP on ARC. The album, titled Exile in Paradise delivers the excellent quality of sickly sweet lounge sophistipop that the band perfected on their first album. Like their debut Time and Again, Exile returns jazz-inflected smooth sophistication back to Kalistan's airwaves, but this time it leans a bit heavier into the experimental melodies and uses more guitars and keyboards as they move toward a more classic rock and roll sound.

"We've lived in Kalistan long enough to be influenced by the stuff we are listening to on the radio," said lead singer Elga Nilsson. "Four years is a long time, and we've had a lot of time to work with other artists who we really respect and get along really well with. I think it keeps a lot of the last album, but moves the sound forward. Someday, I imagine we will actually become alternative musicians."

Peer Markinsson said, "Well, thing is, myself and Lindy (Thomas Lindberg, the bassist) spent a lot of time listening to the Kalistani Thrash music and the alt folk and grit over this time- you could say we were absorbing a lot of Kalistan's canon. I spent more than 15,000 Rubles on vinyl albums and I have a library at home. Some of these songs we wrote you know, trying to capture some of that energy, but keeping our same style. But I can't see us continuing to do this forever. I think maybe our next record must have a little more of an edge." Lyrically, the album touches on romantic longing and platonic relationships. "The girl never gets the guy," said Markinsson. "Its fun to juxtapose this sort of melancholy with these upbeat and sunny melodies."

This record is actually a bit more straight forward, instrumentally than the debut record. "We had a lot of fun making this record, and working with Peter Zellig, who produced our first record with us," said Nilsson. "Pete wanted to try some different things in the studio. Last time, it was about how many different sounds we could bring to a song, and this time, we started messing with the structure and focus on the fundamentals of songwriting. There's still some interesting stuff, like strings and flutes, and a little bit of brass, but we even have a slide guitar on here. That is an instrument you will never hear back home."

Speaking of back home, Nilsson and Markinsson both said that the band named the album to mark the fact that they think they may end up scrapping plans to return to Davostag. "Well, since we've been here, the government back home has started doing some really kind of scary things," said Nilsson. "We are reading that they are practicing eugenics programs to experiment with population control. It sounds too much like a lot of other nations over there, like they are copying the fascists for some reason. I'm worried that if I return home, I might not even recognize the country anymore, but even so I might not be able to get out if I need to, so we might be stuck here." Markinsson said that the band has invited their respective families to come to Sulari for a visit "as soon as they can. And they should pack lightly. Sulari is far warmer than Davostag."

The band has released their first single from Exile in Paradise, called "I will never Know", and you can check the video out below. Also you can stream the entire record from ARC on your favorite Streaming site.

Exile in Paradise, by Wanderlust made at ARC-Sulari is out in stores now.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bK5EPjGri4]

@KalistaniRawkMonthly

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Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis to join National Service
Named Countess of Dah upon her Majority
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 3, 5628


Her Highness, the Crown Princess and Countess of Dah, Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis sits for her first official portrait

Her Highness, the Crown Princess Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis achieved her Majority on June 20 of this year.  As a result, she came into her formal titles of Crown Princess of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, and heir to the Throne.  Additionally, she was named Countess of Dah, a title previously held by His Imperial Majesty's father, the Prince Consort William Sandoval and then which was transferred to His Imperial Majesty upon the Prince's death.  It is customary to provide the royal family with titles upon reaching their majority.

Now that Her Highness has reached her Majority, she is expected to muster into National Service.  She has expressed interest in forestry and the outdoors.  Crown Watcher Megan Hughes said "The Crown Princess has long been associated with her Aunt, Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, the Countess of Dulnerstaad and head of House Ananto.  Under Princess Michelle's mentorship, the young Heir began learning orienteering and forest flora and fauna at an early age.  Her fascination with the natural world was encouraged by her parents, who would allow her to hike in the forests east of the Capital in the summer, usually with friends or classmates.  It is believed that the Princess wakes up daily two hours early to hike near Cliff House on the many trails in Wilson Hill.  And she has even been honored with the right to name a new species of fern that she discovered in the Green Mountains last summer, which was verified by plant biologists in Kaliburg.  You might say she has a natural inclination to be outside."

There is no telling where the Crown Princess will end up.  Sources close to the Royal Family have observed that she has expressed her interest to take residence in Neveras before joining the National Service Program so she can be stationed somewhere on the Neveras Plateau, but there is no guarantee that this will accomplish her goal, as the National Service places people where they are needed, based on their aptitudes.  One thing is for sure though, Princess Mary is also expected to serve the next four years in National Service.

"Her Highness has also expressed ambivalence about attending university," said Hughes.  "She spent as little time in school as she could, preferring to spend her days outside.  She did just enough in Secondary School to earn good, but not great, grades, and has said to multiple interviewers that she thinks she is not cut out for school."  Whether she pursues a degree at a University in Kalistan, she will need to receive some formal education upon leaving the National Service:  There are several topics which she has to acquire fundamental understanding to effectively fulfill her role as the future Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  "Some of those subjects she did well in, like History," said Hughes.  "But some, like finance and math, she struggled with.  Her interests were in the natural sciences, and these theoretical topics really bored her more than anything else."

The Crown Princess will be mustered into National Service on August 31 of this year.  Meanwhile, she said she intends to hike the Ananto Trail, from Luxon to Dulnerstaad with her sister, the Minor Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis and her aunt Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, and then visit her grandmother, Princess of the Empire Carolina in Eveari.

@LaModa

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Kalistani News in Brief:  The Future Empress visits the Empress Dowager in Eveari
Kalistani Diplomatic Initiatives; Emperor congratulates Egelion on New Additions
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 9, 5628


The Once and Future Empresses, Princess Mary visits Princess Carolina ahead of National Service

The Future Empress visits the Empress Dowager in Eveari
Her Highness Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis made a planned stop at Ananto Manor earlier this week as she finished up her hike of the Ananto Trail that travels the ridgeline of the Xanadu and Davon Mountains in southern Ananto from Luxon to Dulnerstaad.  The trip took the Crown Princess just under two months to complete.  In the Southern portion of the route, She was accompanied by Her Highness the Minor Princess Margaret Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis and Her Highness Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval.  These two hiked as far as the Headwaters of the Zappa River and then took a car into Kaliburg as The Crown Princess completed the hike alone.

From Dulnerstaad, Crown Princess Mary rented a car and drove to Eveari where she stayed in the ancient Ananto Estate.  The future and past Empresses attended the Brethrenist Meeting in Eveari each Sunday, and informed the Meeting of her intention to relocate her personal home back to Eveari when she leaves the National Service.  "There's a different energy here in Eveari," Her Highness said at the Brethrenist Meeting House.  "In Kaliburg, it feels very separated from nature, but here, you wake up every day and hear the tide rolling in and out of Eveari Bay, you can go for hikes in the Green Mountains, and the Rocky cliffs drop right into the sea.  It almost feels like a very different world."  The two Princesses have spent each day together, and they have been visited by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Fredrick III Ananto and Her Highness the Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis a couple times.

The Crown Princess said she does not intend to return to Kaliburg before mustering into National Service at the end of the month.  There doesn't appear to be any strife within the Royal Family, but the Crown Princess has long looked for a chance to escape from the urbanized Kaliburg, and has found peace and refuge from the modern world in the ancient home of Emperors in Eveari.

Kalistani Diplomatic Initiatives
Reports from His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Foreign Affairs suggest an upswing in Kalistani diplomatic activities in the coming term.  Kalistan Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip, has greeted the Hutorian diplomat Prince James, who has reopened the Hutorian Embassy in Kaliburg.  The Embassy will still conduct the consular services it has been engaged in for decades, but the Prince was specifically charged to prepare the Embassy for regular operations once more.  It is fortuitous timing, as Kalistan remains troubled by new developments in Hutori's neighbor Davostag.  Renewed relations between the two old friends is reportedly "very welcomed" in Kaliburg.  There are also rumors that Kalistan looks forward to meeting the Crown Princes of Hutori, Prince Albert will eventually make a trip to Kaliburg, but details are still being worked out.

In addition, Kalistan has sent out overtures to the Government of the Kundrati Union in Etxea offering economic aid in the form of Trade Credits, direct sales of Kalistani goods at a discount, and some cash.  "We believe," said Kalistan's representative to Etxea, Sir Robert Gallegos, "that the Etxean Government will utilize the aid in the way that best serves their nation's needs as they rebuild and strengthen themselves vis a vis the horde to their north.  We have asked them that they use Kalistani Aid judiciously, and that none of it go to military purchases, or to nations that trade with Kundrati's Mainland regions.  We don't want to indirectly fund the fascists."  Kalistan's Foreign Investment Bank has been given permission to open a branch in Jildrati City, and all Kalistani aid will flow through the For/In Bank, to prevent it from being stolen by the criminals who dwell north of Etxea.  Direct sales will likely be handled by third parties to prevent the aid from being targetted.  In all, Kalistan could approve more than 1.3 Billion in aid to the Island, most of it in the form of trade credits (about 75%, or 800 million) with the remainder split up evenly between currency (250 Million Imperial Rubles) and trade credits directly from Kalistani businesses, which will be paid for via the National Treasury.  House Ananto is underwriting the Direct Sales, and a representative of Miramar will be on site to assist the Etxean Government with purchases and connection for foreign brokers.

Finally, Kalistan is closely observing the developments in Dolgava, as Conservative Party MPs have taken a solid majority in the National Legislature.  Kalistan views the Dolgavan Queen as a Sister Monarchy, and hopes Queen Jaanika can make a visit to Kalistan soon.  The Foreign Minister said she will invite the Queen as soon as the new Government is settled.

Emperor congratulates Egelion on New Additions
His Imperial Majesty sent a formal letter to King Romulo and Queen Nicole of Egelion congratulating the royal couple on the birth of their first children. Queen Nicole is the Emperor's cousin, and therefore the new born children, one of whom will rule Egelion one day, have created additional bonds between the two regional royal families.

"The birth of twins strengthens the foundation of good relations between Kalistan and Egelion," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathy Allen. "There is already a long standing friendship and amity between our two nations. His Imperial Majesty, in his letter, wished to highlight the strong personal admiration that His Imperial Majesty has for for the King and Queen of Egelion, and to say congratulations to the Egelion Ryoal Family on their additions."

Thought the Children of Queen Nicole wouldn't be considered members of the Kalistani Royal Family, whether she married the Egelian King or not, due to the distance from the common ancestor between His Imperial Majesty and Queen Nicole, His Imperial Majesty's letter said there will now always be a familial friendship between the two royal Families. He continuously called the King "Cousin" and wrote in glowing terms about how he and the Empress Consort would love to invite the Egalian Royals for a visit to meet the new children, at the King's convenience, of course.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Kalistan meets with Hutori
Defense Ministry orders reorganization of Kalistani Regular Force; Kaliburg Black Bears win National Football Championship
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 29, 5629


Empress Consort Monica and the Minor Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis watch Kaliburg Black Bears take top honors

Kalistan Meets with Hutori
The Direct Representative of the Crown of Hutori, Crown Prince Albert spoke with His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip in Kaliburg this month.  The topics they discussed were defense, trade and cultural exchanges.  Kalistan reportedly discussed the need to acquire new naval technology to enhance its surface fleet.  They also raised the idea of developing a new trade agreement to allow Seleyan Nations to further break dependence on Artanian nations which are notoriously unreliable and cannot guarantee the safety of Kalistani commerce in the region.

The meeting also reportedly included offering the Hutori Royal Family an Hereditary Baronetcy in Ananto that would make the Hutorian Monarch a land owner in the Grand Duchy.  The Baronetcy would also make the holder of that title a Peer of the Imperial Crown.  The offer of the Baronetcy would be accompanied by formal induction in the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke and seems to suggest that the Crown would be open to offering similar land grants to other foreign nobility.  The Hutorian Crown is expected to send a new Ambassador to Kaliburg in the coming weeks.  Kalistan will reciprocate by naming a new Ambassador to Hutori, and hopes to work very closely with its long time northern allies.

Defense Ministry announces Personnel reorganization in the Kalistani Regular Forces
His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Defense, Rear Admiral Henry Reals, announced a major personnel shakeup in the Kalistani Regular Forces.  "There are still more than 200 officers and 8500 enlisted men and women who are veterans of the Kundrati Campaign currently on Active Duty," said Admiral Reals.  "Over the next six months, our aim is to retire them from active duty.  If there are some enlisted men and women who have a clean service record, as in not being implicated in any way with the Likatonian Conflict, they will be welcomed to transfer to reserve contingents and finish out their careers as reservists.  However, Officers will be expected to resign their commissions and base their pensions on time in service."

As the war ended fifteen years ago this year, most of those involved in the Kalistani Regular Force during the Likatonian Conflict have either left the service normally, or have been discharged due to courts martial or for other reasons.  "But it is time to finally close that chapter in Kalistani Service History," said the Admiral.  "Our men and women who fought in Kundrati and conducted themselves honorably are worthy of our praise and admiration, but the stain that the depredations in Likatonia left on the Service is indelible and can only fade with time, and more importantly re-professionalization.  It starts with removing the last vestiges of the military of that time."

His Imperial Majesty is expected to make a recruitment drive this summer to begin refilling the ranks, and will promote junior officers and NCOs to fill the gaps left by the retiring veterans.

Kaliburg Black Bears take National Title in Football
The Kaliburg Black Bears, the capital's home team, played in the National Championship last weekend and beat the Eshar Kingfishers by a score of 27-10.  During the first half, the Kingfisher's defense dominated, keeping the Black Bears scoreless, but after halftime, the Black Bears scored three unanswered touchdowns in the Third Quarter and then a fourth in the last quarter while the Kingfishers only answered with a field goal.  In attendance at the National Stadium were Their Highnesses The Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis and the Minor Princess Margaret Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis, both of who are fans of the National Sport and have box seats at the National Stadium.

"It was quite exciting to see Kaliburg win this year," said Her Highness Minor Princess Margaret Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis.  "We followed this year and it is really thrilling to see the excitement this sport has generated in the capital.  At the beginning of the season last August, the National Stadium was pretty well empty for the first pre-season games.  Only the die hards.  But we try not to miss a game here, and over the year, as the Black Bears did better and better, you kind of got a buzz while watching the games from in here.  Like 50,000 people all cheering for the team as they went through the game was very exciting.

The Minor Princess has gotten her parents permission to serve as an unofficial youth ambassador for the Sport for the next two years.  "I'll be volunteering with the league, and will go to schools around the country to try to encourage communities to put an emphasis on athletics in middle and high schools, to try to encourage more kids to pick up the game and learn it, so the league can increase its talent pool.  It should be fun.  I look forward to supporting my Black Bears and all the other great teams in the Kalistani Football League."

The Black Bears finished their season with a 15-2 record, with three additional wins in the preseason and three in the post season, including the championship match.  This is the first time the Black Bears have won a national championship in 53 years.

@TheRepublic

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Lady Anya Waltrip heads to Egelion to discuss AESA
Plans to present King Romulo with Baronetcy
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 15, 5629


Lady Anya Waltrip, His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister travels to Altea from Kaliburg

His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip flew to Altea, Egelion this week to meet with His Majesty, King Romulo I of Egelion.  The mission was two fold.  Most importantly, she was dispatched, along with His Imperial Majesty's Trade and Industry Minister Margurite Bon Maison to discuss possible Egelian Accession to the Anantonese Economic Standardization Accord (AESA- https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-304.html)  Were Egelion to sign this agreement, it would add the Northern Kingdom to Terra's largest custom's union, erasing any barriers toward free movement of goods and services, as well as labor.  All production from signatory nations is treated as domestic, and nations work together within the block to ensure that there is consonance between their economies.  

"We already do a lot of this unofficially," said Lady Waltrip before she boarded the flight to the Egelian Capital.  "Signing the agreement would standardize our economic policies, and add the rapidly expanding Kerisian economy to the regional agreement, that includes Lourenne, Ananto and Kalistan, Lodamun, and Gaduridos, and ensure that whatever barriers remain to trade are abolished with regard to each other."  She said His Imperial Majesty's Government also intends to include Dolgava in the agreement of Anantonese Nations in an effort to promote regional integration. "Kalistan's biggest non imperial trading partners are both the Kerisian nations of Egelian and Dolgava. It won't change whether they each sign on or not, but prices will go down as transaction fees for international trade disappear, and we think all will continue to benefit from the AESA."

The second purpose Lady Waltrip has to travel north is to provide the newly minted Patents to a Baronetcy in Eveari County. "His Imperial Majesty offered a similar gift to the Hutorian Crown Prince last month. The Baronetcy is meant as a late wedding present for the King and Queen, and is intended to encourage the royal family to come to Ananto and visit more often." The Baronetcy comes with a grant of 250 acres in the Bluegrass Valley, across the bay from Eveari in a land of rolling hills and stunningly beautiful 45 foot sea cliffs. "The property is formerly owned by a golf professional, and was purchased when he decided to move to Kaliburg to be closer to his family. It is a modern architectural design that overlooks Eveari Bay and on clear evenings, you can see the lights of the City of Eveari twelve miles across the bay. It is an amazing property, complete with all modern conveniences, as well as guest and servants quarters on the property. The Baronetcy, which we will leave it to King Romulo and Queen Nicole to name, is truly fit for the Egelian Royal Family."

The Patents will be delivered to the King via the Foreign Minister. In all, Lady Waltrip is expected to be in Egelion for two weeks as she attempts to secure the accession to AESA.

@TheRepubic

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Kalistan Orders New Naval Exercises in the Anantonese Ocean for Late Summer
Formally invites Dolgava and Egelion to participate with Imperial Naval Forces
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
April 16, 5629


KRS- 4b17 Surfaced in Eastern Mad Dog Ocean will participate in exercises this summer

The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan have called for Naval Exercises in the Northern Anantonese this summer.  The effort is aimed at conducting wargames based on the new Future Threats Program launched by the Regular Navy last year in an effort to help Kalistan anticipate and address new rising threats on the horizon.  "The Navy would like to get out of the tendency to plan for the last war," said Regular Navy Spokesperson Lt. Helena Brevard.  "We can analyze the things we did right, and the things we did wrong to death, but the fact is:  the next war will not be like the last war, because our adversaries saw our weaknesses, and will attempt to exploit those, so we need to be ready for that."

The naval exercises have been given an Operational title "Northern Lights" and will focus on Kalistan's two front line fleets:  the 4th Fleet and the 1st Fleet.  "During the games we will be simulating a number of things, from a rogue state who has no limits with regard to its operational rules or care at all for the number of sailors it loses to an  inexplicably bellicose state which seeks war it can't possibly win, but believes itself to be invincible.  Every scenario is based on something that Kalistan could conceivably face in the next conflict, and these scenarios are ones we must prepare for."  The Exercises will take place across the entire Northern Anatnonese Ocean from the Karzon Strait to the north western coast of Dovani, and will involve various types of weather conditions, as well as marine geography.

"The exercises will focus specifically on submarine warfare, both in conducting it as well as detecting it," said Lt. Brevard.  "Planners think the worst failure of the last war was the Navy's inability to effectively target enemy subsurface assets, who subsequently wreaked havoc on the surface fleet, so these exercises seek to utilize new subsurface detection, including active and passive sonar, magnetic displacement, and satellite (Including synthetic aperture radar that is mounted on many of Kalistan's geostatic satellite systems) and ground- sea- and air-based radar detection.  Only two of those five were optional in the last war.  We are also experimenting with wake detection techniques to look for heat, chemical and radioactive disturbances in the water that signify that a submarine was present.  Some submarines in the exercise will be equip with a small box that emits radioactivity at a similar rate to the known emissions of a nuclear power reactor that powers submarines, and we will see if we can detect these trace amounts, and if we can, we will effectively render nuclear subs less invisible than they would prefer to be, hopefully and explicitly frustrating those nations who rely on nuclear power to escape detection and taking away their advantages."

The main exercises will be open to participation from Lodamun, Gaduridos, Egelion and Dolgava.  "We have formally invited our northern neighbors to participate in the exercises.  Egelion is developing new naval formations, and together we form a strong defensive core in the Northern Ananto, while Dolgava is also considered an Anantonese Nation, and security in our region is also a large concern of theirs.  This also gives our navies a chance to learn from one another and as well, to fraternize and develop a strong comradely bond."  The Exercises will take place in the Northern Anantonese Ocean north above the Northern Limit, between Seleya and Keris from August 15 through the end of September.

@TheRepublic

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Focus on Keris:  Kalistan exerts soft power of diplomacy and trade
Nadiyan Republics to be Recognized, Kalistan talks AESA with Dolgavans
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 7, 5629


Traders at KalSiE buying Kalistani stock on news of expansion of trade in Keris

His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip, and Deputy Economic Minister for Keris, Michael Grant flew to Zarvosopol Nadiya Economic Community for an historic visit.  This is the first time Kalistani representatives have visited the Northern Republic in decades, as Nadiya itself takes steps to move out of isolation into regional affairs.  The decision to visit is part of a larger overture toward Kerisian countries that have brought Ananto some success recently.

"His Imperial Majesty was advised by Lady Michelle Ananto that the Nadiyan representatives at Altea were worth talking with going forward," said FM Spokesperson Joseph Bliss.  "On her personal recommendation, the Emperor has dispatched his Foreign Minister to the NEC to get a read on the attitudes of the Nadiyan Commission toward normalization of relations between our two countries, and the possibility of opening trade and regular travel back and forth.  In particular, House Ananto itself is interested in investment opportunities in the NEC, as they modernize and expand their transportation infrastructure."

The move comes on the heels of the dispatch of Kalistani negotiators to Dolgava to discuss the expansion of the Anantonese Economic Standardization Accord, which would extend the Customs Union to Dolgava.  Egalion recently joined the union as well, and with Dolgava aboard, the Northern Anantonese Ocean will stand as the world's largest customs union and free trade zone.  Nadiya wouldn't be eligible for membership in the AESA, but if the initial moves go well, creating a new accord may be something that the Empire would propose further down the line.

The KalSiE in Kaliburg lit up on the news of new trading partners in Keris.  Most major stocks that stand to do well in any new trade agreements, including Miramar, MoCo, AeroKal, KalMD and KNF are all up on the year, posting their highest prices since November of last year as investors jumped into the market hoping to gain off of new developments.  The economic activity also brought follow on effects for nearly all mid sized stocks as well, and it drove the KalSiE, which had been floating between -1 and +1 points all year to an annual high increase of +6.7%.  The gains in stock prices also affected commodity prices as well, with both food and fuel futures increasing more than 2.5% on spec.

Kalistan is enthusiastic about the potential to normalize relations with the Northerners.  "Nadiya has gone through a lot of changes, but the direction they are taking their country is interesting," said Bliss.  "We still don't know how Lady Waltrip's visit will be received given Nadiya's past expressed reservations about monarchies, but at least they agreed to sit down and talk with us, and its possible that this opening can lead to positive developments between Kalistan and the Nadiyan Economic Community.  We shall see."  Meetings with the Community's General Secretary Svitlana Danylivna and Foreign Affairs Secretary Larissa Svetlana Novikova are expected to take place over the next several weeks, and regular flights between the two nations could be established within six weeks after.  If the meetings go well, Kalistan will dispatch an official Consul to the Nation to begin setting up a diplomatic mission.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Anantonese Nations conduct Ocean Wide "Northern Lights"
Royal Family says Good Bye to Hutorian Monarch; Empress reveals Imperial Vault
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 14, 5629


Empress Consort Monica gives Press a tour of Gem Vault in Ananto

Anantonese Nations Conduct Ocean-Wide "Northern Lights" Exercises
In an effort to strengthen the combat readiness of the Anantonese Empire and her Maritime partners bordering the Anantonese Ocean, the Kalistani Regular Navy was joined by Naval forces from Lodamun, Dolgava and Egelion in the first exercises of the "Northern Lights" exercises.  The exercises will include drills, simulated combat scenarios, practice and training on advanced ASW techniques, as well as the unveiling of new technology designed to deny the edge to navies that rely heavily on nuclear submarines.

"Northern Lights will allow for the cooperation and sharing of techniques and technology across the entire Anantonese Ocean Basin," said Naval spokesperson Lt. Helena Brevard.  "Units will have the chance to practice new tactical missions, as well as offer extensive debriefing after each mission, so the combined naval commands can get a sense of what went right on the seas, and what went wrong.  The goal is to learn:  We want to learn how to do better, so we do not get caught out in the next conflict, or the next time some nation decides that they wish to interrupt the peace in our region."

Elements of the Kalistani Regular 1st and 4th Fleets, as well as the Egelion Northern Armada, consisting of mainly the new Amateria-Class Destroyers, Yadraz-Class Frigates, and Kinea-Class SIGNIT reconnaissance ships, the Dolgavan Royal Fleet, and the Lodamese Littoral Navy consisting of 1 Haddock-class nuclear Attack Submarine, 1 Andrew-class guided missile frigate and 1 Andrew Neilson-class guided missile destroyer all docked at Port Swede in Vrassa to begin the exercises.  Over the next month and a half, various groupings of these ships will receive simulated "orders" for different aspects of the exercise, and will finish off with a one week long cat and mouse "mini war" of subs versus Surface ships to see whether the subs can effectively "attack" five simulated targets in Kalistan and Ananto, or if they can be stopped by the surface navy from accomplishing their objective.  "We hope to learn a lot during this next month and a half," said Lt. Brevard.

Royal Family to say Goodbye to Hutorian King
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, Her Highness Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, and Her Highness the Minor Princess Margaret Nicolette Ananto-DeLaurentis will fly to Hutori to say good bye to the departed Hutorian King Richard II, and the subsequent Coronation of the new King Charles III.  His Royal Highness Prince Charles was in Kaliburg, earlier this year to reestablish the long standing relationship between Hutori and Kalistan, and it was expected that the Royal Family would make a trip to Hutori sooner than later.

"The circumstances of the visit are not ideal," said crown watcher Cassidy Burke, of La Moda.  "But the King of Hutori has been ill for a long time, and his departure was expected.  This will give the Emperor a chance to spend some time getting to know the King and his family in a less formal setting, while they grieve their departed monarch."  While in country, the Anantos will visit the long possessed Icehaven Manor outside of Axeminster and take up a short residence there.  "The Ananto family has held the manor for decades, but it has never been used by the Ananto Royal Family.  It has been maintained, however the entire time, and is reportedly ready to receive the Royal Family."  There have been reports of staffing of the Manor in preparation for the visit.

The Royal Family shall be accompanied by the new Ambassador Plenipotential and Extraordinary Lord Derek Collins-Joaquin, who was named last month to the post.  His Imperial Majesty received the diplomatic credentials of the Hutorian Ambassador, the crown Prince James, the Duke of Axeminster, who is the younger son of the new King in early June, and His Imperial Majesty's Government has assisted in setting up both the diplomatic residences as well as reviving the Hutorian Embassy.  Lord Collins, age 45, is Count of Dana in Suldanor, and is a planter in the Suldanoran northmarch and supplier to KALNAPECO.  His education however is in Foreign Policy with a focus on Makon and Artania, for which he received a PhD 13 years ago.  He taught for a number of years in Sulari before taking over his father's soybean operation in Dana.  He was named Count of Dana by Duchess of Suldanor Lady Emily Alvarez-Caballo four years ago, which has allowed him to farm full time.  The Duchess recommended the Count as Ambassador.

Empress reveals Imperial Vault to Press
It is a rare occasion that anyone ever gets to visit the Imperial Vault.  Once of the most secure buildings in the Anantonese Empire, the Imperial Vault is a veritable store house of treasure purchased over centuries by the Anantos since the refounding of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan nearly 500 years ago.  A significant portion of the vast wealth estimated to be in the possession of House Ananto lies in this vault.

"We don't know how much all of these things are worth," said Her Highness, the Empress Consort Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, while she was leading a tour of the vault to a small group of reporters.  "There are crates and chests and just containers filled with countless gems, as well as whole rooms filled with silver and gold ingots.  It's really quite impressive."

The Royal family is usually tight lipped with regard to the Ananto Family's wealth.  Various estimates have put it at between ₭350 and ₭600 Billion in assets.  Miramar Holdings itself, which is separate from the House's wealth, is estimated to be worth close to a quarter trillion imperial rubles.  "But seeing these treasure rooms, vault after vault of just stuff, that would make anyone faint, I'd say their wealth is incalculable," said Keith Richardson, of The Kalistani Republic.  "We didn't even see the crown jewels collection.  This was just box after box of gem stones, some were finished and polished, some were raw and bigger than a soccer ball.  It was gaudy beyond belief."

Not viewed during the tour was the Kundrati Diamond, one of the eight Yeudi gemstones that was passed down from the Hulaneveks to Empress Carolina Ananto and has been in the Anantos' possession ever since.  "They can show us all of this, and what we saw in one whole room in the vault isn't worth as much as that diamond reportedly is," said Richardson.  "There is no way they will ever let anyone see that."

At the conclusion of the tour, the Empress Consort made a gift of a 25 carat polished and ultra brilliant cut amethyst to each tour member.  "These are our parting gifts," said the Empress Consort.  Each stone was thought to be worth ₭1400 Imperial Rubles--  Her Highness gave out 15 of them, totaling about ₭21,000 rubles.  "We have lots of these," she said with a smile.

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