Kalistan

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FM comments on Kizenian Peace Process
"We are cautiously optimistic" that interests will be met, says FM
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 3, 5684


FM Henry Greene discusses Kizenian peace on Kaliburg Tonight

Their Imperial Majesties' Foreign Minister, Henry Greene was on Kaliburg Tonight with a panel of experts to discuss the Kizenian Peace process that is currently playing out in Norterra Egelion. Chancellor of the Empire Lady Ericka Donahue is currently in Egelion to represent the Empire at the peace table.

"The Chancellor is doing an excellent job to express the Empire's legitimate national and regional interests," said the Foreign Minister during the panel. "Kalistan's foreign policy is interest-based and regionally oriented. Others may speak of grand principles, rules-based foreign policy, and these lofty but ultimately unattainable platitudes that are supposed to apply to everyone, but only seem to apply to others who run afoul of national interest. But we are not too blind to know that occasionally that sort of liberal internationalist policy which talks about self-determination for all people, and our own, far more realist policy, runs parallel."

The Foreign Minister was addressing the recent statements by Tel Bira, with whom Kalistan is currently discussing a raft of international issues. "We do appreciate the advice of our counterparts in the Nisrad, but I think they are looking at things from a much more removed position. We are cautiously optimistic that the Kizenian question can come to a settlement in a way that not only recognizes legitimate historical claims being made by Egelion AND ensure Kalistani security in the Anantonese Ocean. We just have to talk, and have all cards laid on the table in the discussions, rather than some countries keeping their additional ambitions secret, and then downplaying other nations' legitimate concerns."

The FM said what is not a secret is Egelion's desire to create a Kerisian Empire aimed at countering the Anantonese Empire in the region. "Look: It's very easy, and not even all that original on the part of other nations to just outright dismiss Kalistan's security concerns for the region as 'paranoia', while informing us that our concern for our own security is completely unfounded. Calling Kalistan paranoid is a frequent tactic of those seeking to sideline Kalistan and delegitimize our national interest--it's transparent and tired. What is obvious, though is that Egelion's moves have been to not only unify Keris into a single entity, but one under the Egelian Crown. They don't need to say it: Their actions and ambitions demonstrate it. Whether Egelion sees itself as Kalistan's rival in the region or not, Kalistan is right to call it out, and if doing so upsets people who would rather keep that ambition more closely guarded, this is not our problem. The balance of power in this region is important to both Kalistan, and clearly to Egelion, so let's talk about it, rather than Egelion just going ahead with its ambition like Kalistan has no right to say anything about it. Their decisions affect Kalistan whether they think they should or not. I'm saying this: its not 'paranoia' when the thing you are saying they are doing is happening right in front of you. And to pathologize it with these terms is, forgive me for using another pop-psychology term, but gaslighting."

The FM was asked about the difference in his approach from the Chancellor, whose voice is the one being heard in the Conference. "Lady Donahue and I may differ in our approaches. She is blunt: She's a peer and the Fourth Countess of Gran. My parents were ferroworkers. She's a haughty, entitled, tough woman and doesn't pull punches, and I think that her more nationalistic perspective is necessary in that conference, because otherwise Egelion will walk all over Kalistan as they normally do.

"But," he continued, "this also leaves me free to work the world: I can say Their Imperial Majesties would rather have me free to speak with the International Community to not only continue the negotiations which are important to Kalistan, namely ensuring that Kalsitan is not isolated, but also expanding our contacts with new partners in Majatra and Artania. We recently had the opportunity to meet with the Kundratis for example, and held an informal audience with His Imperial Majesty in Kaliburg, where the Emperor was able to express his desire to work seriously at repairing relations with the country of his family's ancestry. As we work our Foreign Relations on several fronts, Their Imperial Majesties put their representatives where they will best serve this Empire."

When asked what Kalistan hopes to get from the talks, The FM responded, "I'm not gonna cut the Chancellor off in her conversations, but I think she will agree with terms that allow Kalistan to still be able to check what is rapidly turning into a continental power in Keris. Nothing short of that will suffice. I know Egelion thinks they are just balancing the Anantonese Empire with all these demands: But let me remind the world. They stole a naval base in Meriath to balance Kalistani presence in the Central Anantonese out of Gaduridos. They demand Zyldavia to balance far more legitimate Kalistani historical claims in Athosia. And they think they should have a personal union with Kizenia to balance the Imperial Relationship between Kalistan and Gaduridos. I don't even have to mention that the the King's wife is the nominal Tsarina in Trigunia/Nadiya. What Egelion thinks they are entitled to in Keris is one thing. But The Chancellor will demand, and I think she is perfectly correct in doing so, that Anantonese affairs must include Kalistani security concerns too: Egelion is not aggressively pursuing Empire in Keris in a vacuum, and if Kalistani concerns are not addressed, Kalistan will very quickly move to opposition."

The FM concluded: "Look. The Representative of the Crown in Altea says that Egelion is not the enemy here. Let them prove it. Kalistan has legitimate interests, and one of those is a sovereign and INDEPENDENT Kizenia. Whether the King of Egelion is also nominally the Head of State of Kizenia is ultimately unimportant. And Kalistan is also willing to recognize historical territorial claims in the far north, because Kalistan has far more legitimate historical claims to Athosia and heaven forbid someone ever accuse Kalistan of hypocrisy. But a Kizenia that is permanently aligned with Altea because it doesn't have a say in the matter or because it does appear to have a say but is really just puppetted, and especially one that gives Egelion carte blanche on its southern Coast is a problem for Kalistan. If Egelion truly isn't Kalistan's enemy, as they say, let them demonstrate that by scaling back the things they are claiming entitlement to. Because if the initial Egelian proposal, the one they placed on the table before this conference ever began, is just their starting point, and they are stating that Kalistani opposition to that plan is illegitimate, then there is not a lot of room for Kalistan to even negotiate. The choice their agenda setting offers us is either capitulate to Egelion's fait accompli, or become enemies. I don't think that signals a desire on the part of the King of Egelion to maintain Kalistan as a friend, and certainly not as an equal partner. It only tells us that this is none of Kalistan's business, and we disagree with that."

The FM finished the panel by announcing that an additional 50,000 Kalistani troops, tanks and artillery, and the remainder of the 1st Regular Fleet would be dispatched to the port city of Luncasi during the negotiations to secure the Southern Luncasi-Deltabor Corridor and ensure that it is not immediately overrun by Egelians aiming to force Kalistan to leave the nation prematurely. The deployment has already begun and consists mostly of North Army Group mechanized cavalry as well as Central and Southern Armor and Arty. Militia call ups are also likely according to the FM, but won't happen before February.

@TheRepublic