Kalistan

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The National Officially Calls for Annexation
Paper reflects mounting pressure to consider annexation
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 20, 5690


The National publishes propaganda designed to whip Kalistanis for annexation

The editorial board of Kalistan's primary conservative newspaper The National has come out for annexation of Athosia. "It is the pressing National and Foreign Policy issue of our time," Editor Michael Winters wrote in his Op-Ed. "We are prepared to put significant pressure and money behind this cause to settle our border issues with Baltusia once and for all, and it is our hope that Her Imperial Majesty, when she attains her Majority, takes this issue up as her first agenda item."

The discussions around Athosia have been swirling in Kalistan for Generations, which the issue being huge especially for nationalists, who maintain that Athosia was stolen from Kalistan by a coalition of Luthorian backed puppets in Northern Seleya in the 19th Century, and was forcibly attached to the Luthorian dominated kingdom of Baltusia. "The Baltusian state at the time had no legitimacy: they were entirely controlled as a direct colony by Luthori as it was building its empire in Seleya and it was used as a vehicle to strip Kalistani lands from Suldanor. Athosia was taken during the Plateau Wars to provide Luthori with a port on the Anantonese Ocean, and at that point, it was lost, for centuries, to Kalistan."

Winters' somewhat romanticized history about summary oppression of Kalistani citizens, ethnic cleansing following the seizure of the territory and Athosia's role in Suldanoran and Kalistani history nonetheless rings true with many irredentists in Kalistan, including Nationalist politicians and often the Ruling Family themselves. The subject is a sore spot for generations of Kalistani monarchs who re-formalized their claims to the strip of land on the Anantonese coast 136 years ago under Emperor Fredrick II Ananto. The claims were informal before that point, but were made periodically over history for centuries.

This push for renewed attention on Athosia comes as Her Imperial Majesty, Empress in Waiting Carolina-Katherine Michelle Ananto-Connor nears her 17th birthday and will soon after travel to Valruzia to study language and philosophy in Nowagard. "We need to make sure she is aware of this issue," said Winters. "It is important to Kalistanis across the political spectrum. Kalistani national pride dictates that we do what we need to take back what is ours, and frankly Kalistani Nationalists are tired of waiting. It's time to settle the disputed border stuff, in a way that sees Athosia return home once and for all time."

The issue, which is percolating in the National Assembly seems to be giving Her Imperial Majesty's Government a bit of a headache. Chancellor of the Empire Lady Ericka Donahue has reportedly held private meetings with Winters and his staff. According to sources close to the Chancellor, she reportedly told him to cool it on the Athosia talk because Her Imperial Majesty cannot legally create policy one way or another, and pushing the issue now puts the Government in an awkward position of getting ahead of Imperial policy, which is not something she will do.

Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Thomas Harney, was a bit less discrete when talking about the issue. "Kalistan would love to see Athosia be reannexed. All of us would. Every single last Kalistani believes this. But are we willing to go to war over the matter? I don't think there is any appetite for that. Are we willing to face becoming international pariahs? I am fairly certain that the Princess Regent instructed me to do exactly NOT that. We know this Duchy belongs to Kalistan. But in the current framework and under the current national law, we can't just go take it. That's illegal, and unless that law is overturned, I think our friends at The National are wasting their breath."

Others actively support the campaign by the Paper, and have agreed to plaster the posters in Kalistani Cities. "We really think its time that Kalistan stood up for itself and stopped getting pushed around by the world, who for some ridiculous reason, always seems to have Baltusia's back in this struggle," said Carl Paulson, of Lucid, Kalistan's border crossing with Athosia. "I'm sick to death of looking just across this river and seeing the Baltusian flag. That land is Kalistani, and we hope to make it clear that we will support going and getting it back.

Others are helping to fund "Back to Athosia" campaigns, where well-to-do Kalistanis are funding emmigre agencies specifically aimed at repopulating Athosia with Kalistani Nationals. "The Government in Baltusia is currently moribund, and Athosia is a land of opportunity for many Kalistani workers who would like to, you know, buy a plot of land, grow food, and make a killing selling it to the locals and back to Kalistan," said Martin Hernandez-Uvalle, who runs the non-profit organization known as "Reclaim Athosia" in Yoshimi. "Our organization aims to provide them with seed funds, all provided by donations, of course, to do just that. If our government isn't going to do it, maybe its time we did it ourselves." Hernandez claims that more than 400 Kalistani farmers have already moved to Athosia and have bought land to clear and farm. Most of the land, according to Hernandez, is between Playa de Paz and San Luis City. "It's about filling things in," he said.

Her Highness, Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins has not issued a public statement on The National's call, but she also has not condemned it either. The National's Editorial Board stands by its Op-Ed and it's public calls for annexation.

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