Kalistan

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His Highness Mark Ananto-Orleans, Grand Duke of Kalistan at an Investment Conference this Spring



Grand Duke Mark Ananto is recalled to Kalistan
"You are needed at home," says Empress
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 7, 5561

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto has officially required the Grand Duke of Kalistan, His Highness Mark Ananto-Orleans and his family to take up his official residence in Sulari on a more or less full time basis.  

"It is our determination," said the Empress, "that full time life in foreign nation is not conducive to service to Grand Duke's demesne.  We require a viceroy in Kalistan, and Grand Duke is officially tasked with this duty.  Therefore, we require him to live in Empire.  He may, as he pleases maintain his home in Ciudad Gaduri, but his work is here, and he must recommence his service to Our Will."

Ananto, for his part agreed to comply with the Royal summons immediately, and shall begin winding his business contacts in Gaduridos down over the next couple months.  "Aunque me duele tener que dejar mi vida y mi hogar aquí en Gaduridos," said the Grand Duke, "Su Majestad Imperial, la Emperatriz tiene razón al decir que puedo servir mejor al pueblo del Imperio desde dentro del Imperio. Tengo la intención de mantener mi villa aquí como hogar de invierno para que la usen mi familia y amigos, y regresar con regularidad; sin embargo, mi familia y yo nos mudaremos a Sulari dentro de dos meses para asumir el gobierno en Sulari."

The summons is seen as part and parcel with the deteriorating relations between Kalistan and Gaduridos.  "It is believed that Grand Duke Mark Ananto was in Gaduridos to begin with to oversee Anantonese investment and Kalistani development efforts," said crown watcher Willy Zachariah.  "Now that any offers for investment or expansion into Gaduridos have been entirely sidelined, and Kalistan's willingness to invest has been entirely ignored in Los Altos in favor of non-Seleyan investment, Kalistan no longer has much of of a rason d'etre for playing a direct role in Gaduridos.  The Empress tolerated the Grand Duke's absence from Kalistan if it seemed that there would be some gain from it.  But those days are apparently over, and hence the Grand Duke has been recalled."

When asked for his opinion on the deterioration of relations between Kalistan and Gaduridos, the Grand Duke answered, "¿Qué relaciones? He leído que el presidente desconfía de la monarquía, pero habíamos hecho varias ofertas de inversión de miles de millones de rubles, y nos respondieron con un educado 'muchas gracias', y luego no volvimos a saber nada más. El gobierno tuvo la gentileza de acoger a la emperatriz en su exilio, pero no hizo ningún esfuerzo por hablar con ella mientras estuvo aquí. He tenido la sensación de que somos (los Anantos) más una molestia que otra cosa, así que ¿qué más hay que decir?"  Indeed, despite repeated informal offers for investment in the Vintallian states, and strong protests concerning the Anantonese monarchy, Gaduridos opted to continue to support the LFR and maintain a military base owned by our neighbors, the United Kingdom of Lourenne, as well as take money for oil investment from Narikaton, as well as strengthen its relations with Luthori.  "Parece que al presidente nacionalista no le desagradan todas las monarquías, sólo las que se llaman Ananto," said the Grand Duke.

Grand Duke Mark Ananto and family is expected to reoccupy the Ananto Mansion near Sulari, and will be immediately charged with overseeing the construction of the Spencer Space and Test Center. "The Empress has also asked the Grand Duke to seek investment for development of Kalistan's satellite technology," said Zachariah. "This is a nod to Ananto's abilities in business, networking and fundraising. Grand Duke Ananto also wants to take on an agenda item of improving the housing stock in Kalistan's cities, and has called a council of his Dukes and Duchesses to begin to work on this project for mid-February."