Kalistan

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New Valruzian President Pawlik a sensation in Kalistan
"Seriously, she was like a rockstar," said one Speech Attendee
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 1, 5688


Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins meets woman of the Hour President Urszula Pawlik in Kaliburg

"Seriously, she was like a rockstar," said Mike Henderson of Kaliburg, who attended the public speech given by visiting Valruzian President Urszula Pawlik last month in Kaliburg. "We are so proud of her, and of Valruzia for electing her. This makes a lot of us really happy, and she spoke with such poise and grace, it really was something to see, for real. I'll remember this for the rest of my life." Henderson's glowing reviews of the Presidential visit, while mirroring the feelings of many Kalistanis this month, were certainly aspirational--Pawlik has barely been on the job for three weeks only, and still has a lot of work to do to set up her administration. But Kalistanis certainly do expect her election to herald a golden age for Northern Seleyan politics, and Kalistanis are optimistic for the future of cooperation with the western republic.

Pawlik arrived at Kaliburg international airport to a host of reporters wanting to snap a photo of the new Conservative President. "She has an air of excitement, of something new about her, which you wouldn't normally attribute to a conservative politician," said reporter Michelle Ruggiero. "But Valruzia has been, at least since they restored their democracy, under the sway of the radical left, and that fact alone, as we have seen from statements by our Chancellor, causes some estrangement between our two nations. The election, albeit a narrow victory brings Kalistan a spark of hope in the future for relations between our two nations. It is no secret that Kalistanis were watching the election there and openly and vocally supported Ms. Pawlik--Many of us wished we could have done more than simply voiced support, but nevermind. Kalistanis are very encouraged and, judging from the response of the crowds who came out to see her last month, they want to let her know that she has a friend among the people of Kalistan, who hope for so much for her administration and will certainly push the Institutional Party to support her as much as we can."

The new President chose Kalistan for her first international visit, which is an honor unto itself. While taking care of the ceremonial parts of the visit, she met with the Empress in Waiting in formal audience at the gem encrusted Imperial Seat, where, according to the Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue, the Empress in Waiting expressed, via the Chancellor, due to her minority, her delight to meet the new President and her sincerest hope that our two nations will do great things in cooperation with one another--The Chancellor would neither confirm nor deny that Her Imperial Majesty in Waiting kept newspaper clippings about the President's election in a scrapbook. The Chancellor also said that the Empress in Waiting was able to listen to President Pawlik personally invite her to visit Valruzia as soon as she is old enough to begin travelling abroad, and express her personal condolences for the loss of the Late Emperor Fredrick IV Ananto and Empress Jennifer I Ananto, along with the Crown Prince and her younger brother.

The Princess Regent, who was also present at the audience thanked Valruzia for being the only nation to step forward and offer to help Kalistan recover the mortal remains of her family, and though recovery was not possible, Valruzia's support was invaluable in discovering the facts of the crash and at least giving the family a measure of peace. "Her Highness, the Princess Regent, said that she considers Valruzia's act a personal kindness for her and the Empress in Waiting which her family will never forget, and is a debt they will never be able to fully repay," said the Chancellor. "Heaven forbid Valruzia should ever require that as a result of any similar tragedy." Other matters were discussed, including preliminary agreements to cooperate on science, defense, and development. The Chancellor said that most of the Audience was conducted in Egelian, given the President's preference.

Following the Formal Audience, an informal audience and reception was held for the President, her husband, and the members of her Administration which travelled with them. There she and the Princess Regent were able to speak more freely outside of the confines of the rigid and highly protocol driven formal audience setting. Pawlik was introduced to members of Her Imperial Majesty's Government, and was greatly sought after by members of the peerage. The Princess Regent herself ended up having to play interference runner for the President so that she wouldn't be swamped by eager counts, barrons and land peers, most of which felt it was their prerogative to come up and introduce themselves. President Pawlik was also a favorite among the commoner attendees of the audience, which consisted largely of members of the research community, several civil society organizations that proliferate around the nation, and Deputies of the National Assembly.

One small incident occurred with a particularly zealous commoner who is a member of the Sulari Young Democrats, a civil society group that advocates for more democracy at the national level, and tries to get young people to register to vote and get active in local politics. The individual in question, Marian Oswald, after being introduced to President, said she was happy to see such a charismatic elected Head of State here in Kalistan, because maybe it will show people that "some more democracy, especially in the upper branches of the Government, is a great idea and maybe Kalistan should try it too. Don't you think so?" The problem came because Pawlik was standing right next to Her Highness, the Princess Regent, when Oswald said this.

The comment put Pawlik in the awkward position of having to address the question. The President could have politely smiled and said nothing, but she instead chose the tack of a true political leader. "Ms. Oswald," she said, "Valruzia requires the people of our nation to select their leader, this is our constitution, and it works for us very well. But I am also of the mind that a state has the government they select, even in places as different as Valruzia and Kalistan. What we should focus on is good government, however it is provided. And the duty of all citizens in any society is to ensure their leaders provide good government. Empress, President, we both have the same job, and obligation to you as a citizen, and that is to provide you good government." This deft move was appreciated by those standing nearby and polite smiles and nods were directed toward the President, from everyone including the Chancellor and the Princess Regent. Oswald herself even admitted that was a very savvy response and she shook the President's hand, saying it was a pleasure to meet her.

Later in the day, the visiting President also gave a speech to a large gathered crowd who was invited by numerous civil society organizations and was arranged by the Institutional Party of Kalistan, where the President declared friendship between Kalistan and Valruzia. The full text of the President's speech is found here. The Chancellor introduced her as "Her Excellency, the President of the Republic of Valruzia, who, many here will recall, taught Kalistan how to record records, has stood with Kalistan through decades, and who is setting the example of responsible and sovereign economic development in both Seleya and in the entire world, Ms. Urszula Pawlik."

Following the speech, the Chancellor responded the President's benediction in Egelian with a comment of her own, but in (heavily accented) Valruzian: "Prawdziwy przyjaciel słucha, nawet jeśli wieści są trudne. Ale Kalistan nie zapomina o swoich długach ani nie marnuje łaski, którą okazują mu przyjaciele. Valruzia jest zawsze mile widziana w Kalistanie." ("A true friend listens, even when the news is difficult. But Kalistan doesn't forget its debts or waste the grace its friends show it. Valruzia is always welcome in Kalistan.")

Over the next few days, as the President travelled around Kaliburg to meetings with Kalistani Government officials, she was met by large crowds who turned out to watch her motorcade pass by. The President and her husband were hosted at Cliff House in Kaliburg, where the rules of protocol are much more relaxed, and there she and both the Princess Regent and Empress in Waiting got to know one another much better on a personal level. They discussed the possibility of possibly including a Study Abroad program in the Empress in Waiting's academic curriculum, a possibility which reportedly seemed to interest the young monarch. The President also met with Her Highness the Princess of the Empire, Mary Ananto-DeLaurentis, who remains in residence at Cliff House, as well as Viscount Andrew Rohrbach, the Princess Regent's husband who is also director of ODEN-K.

During one day, the party travelled to Luxon to visit the Global Music Hall of Fame, including its exhibit on Valruzia's contribution to the foundation of the Kalistani Music Industry. The Party also toured Bozo River CATC and adjacent rural Green County, the OTH Radar Base at Mt. Su, and both the Naval Airstrip and the National Aquarium at Dulnerstaad. The Chancellor, who accompanied the Royal Family and the President on these trips said, "It was a mix of business and pleasure for the President: We had a very full schedule, but luckily, in Luxon, the party was able to lodge at the Princess' Home, and every place except the Mt. Su base was less than an hour by train from Kaliburg. We talked a lot of business on the train."

The visit was held to be a complete success in Kalistan, and many agreements were concluded, including a commitment for a very large investment in the Valruzian VS-100 multi-role fighter jet program, and a commitment to purchase at least 100 fighter planes over the next ten to 15 years following completion and testing. Kalistan has also committed to assiting Valruzia to expand its long range radar systems and integrate them with existing Kalistani systems to provide a better continental view that aims to benefit all of Northern Seleya, and work with them on development of their space program, through the Space Exploration Education Department of AESA at Spencer, Sulari. The program aims to offer the Valruzians both the infrastructure and training necessary to fully outfit its own national program, to include both civilian and defense use of space.

Kalistanis turned out by the thousands to say goodbye to President Pawlik as she and her team returned to Valruzia following four full days in Ananto. The Chancellor stated that Kalistan will return the visit at the first opportunity.

@TheRepublic