Kalistan

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Kalistan mulls visit to Gaduridos
"Kalistan not approached by Gaduris on Trade," says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 18, 5719


Chancellor of the Empire Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn discusses Gaduri Coronation

"Look, I'm a professional. We trade with Xsampa too, and they are Communists," said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn while discussing developments in Gaduridos this week. "I'm not gonna go shoot my mouth off here about Gaduridos. My feelings on the question are well documented, so can we please talk about something productive?" The Chancellor met with Reporters in her outer office at the National Capital and was asked about Gaduridos' recent efforts to become a "trade hub" in Seleya.

"Before I talk about Gaduridos, though," she started, "I want to say that Her Imperial Majesty, her Family and several members of her Government, attended the Marriage of His Highness, King William XVI of Hutori to Lady Diane Acheson, now Her Highness Queen Diane of Hutori. A great time was had by all, and many congratulations to them. The Empress is in Residence currently in Athosia and will be there until Mid March. Now, remind me of your question again?"

The question about continued trade between Kalistan and Gaduridos was reasked at this point. "We haven't been asked at all: Gaduridos has not approached us at all about trade, or for any special trade agreements or anything" said the Chancellor, "so we assume it is status quo ex ante. When Kalistan pulled its capital out of that country about 10 years ago, against my better judgement, we didn't stop trading with that nation. Kalistan had billions invested there, but Gaduridos was a main supplier of a lot of primary sector inputs to Kalistan, as well as a lot of luxuries. We purchased a lot of food from the nation, for example. Coffee, textiles, steel, we purchased much of Gaduridos' export stock at preferential rates, as a matter of fact, rates that most other nations could not compete with, due to our imperial relationship. The consequence of the split is the end of those preferential rates and a somewhat decreased trade volume over all, due to lack of capital, not because we embargoed Gaduridos. And to my knowledge, they haven't embargoed us either. So most of those links remain. And they will continue to remain while Her Imperial Majesty's Government and the new Social Democratic Government figure out just what is our relationship."

The Chancellor said that Gaduridos remains Kalistan's second largest trading partner. "We had a century and a half of interlinked and complimentary trade," said the Chancellor. "I mean, let's be realistic here: That's the nature of imperialism. That's a hard fact. Over the last half century especially, Kalistani investment went to support those projects in Gaduridos that benefited Kalistan first. I'm not trying to put a pretty face on imperialism. It is what it is. We didn't work to promote self sufficiency or independence in Gaduridos. That was never the goal. The benefit we got from it is that we could supply the things we needed. If Gaduridos happened to benefit too, and they did, that was not the purpose. But those links didn't just disappear. Gaduridos didn't just go broke overnight. They have, in the last 10 years or so, adapted to their new reality as, I think, a reluctantly independent nation should be expected to. And through it all, they haven't stopped selling us things or buying stuff from us: We were the primary buyers of their goods for a century and a half. And we still are."

The Chancellor especially addressed Gaduridos' desire to put much of its future on a reinvigorated PeGad. "I know Kalistan is in no position to say how a sovereign nation decides to develop. When Kalistan offered New Englia the opportunity to develop without oil, their government quite frankly resented the very idea that they should take money to NOT do something. And the rest of the world laughed. Kalistan subsequently lost the bid, because of she shortsightedness and selfishness of other nations, especially those who burn oil for no reason at all except that it is there. Gaduridos intends to turn their gross polluting petroleum industry back on now, and Kalistan sits at the end of an ocean current that starts just outside of their petroleum fields. An oil disaster there becomes a disaster for Kalsitan, despite everything we will do to prevent it, and so, unlike New Englia, who's pollution of the environment is more of a philosophical matter for Kalistan, the Gaduri efforts to develop their nation through renewed oil exploitation will directly affect us, if something should happen. If nothing else, this is something that both of our nations must build a regime around, because everything Gaduridos does with regard to oil exploitation has the potential to hurt Kalistan, and Kalistan doesn't stand to share in the benefits of Gaduri oil exploitation at all. It is something Her Imperial Majesty feels very strongly about."

Asked about the Empress' opinion of the new Gaduri King recently appointed by the Gaduri Government, the Chancellor simply said, "She wishes him well. She does not known him. Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro, in her capacity as the last Viceroy of Gaduridos, met him years ago before fleeing Gaduridos. She reports that he is a philanthropist, and an honest and level headed person, not likely to be swayed by radical ideas to one side or the other, and said she believes him to be a strong nationalist. If her summary remains correct, it is likely that Kalistan and Gaduridos will indeed have a lot more in common than may be apparent right now, and it is incumbent on both nations to quiet their respective hotheads, and allow a new, healthy relationship between out two nations to develop organically, based on foundations of National Interest for our respective nations, and respect of one sovereign nation to another."

Asked whether the Empress will attend the Coronation of the new King in May, the Chancellor answered, "She's leaning toward yes. Her Imperial Majesty believes now is the time for a reset between Kalistan and Gaduridos. She expects a cool reception, but it would be rude if she did not attend and at least make an effort to introduce herself. And it would also undermine our regional interests by ceding the field to non-Seleyan actors who will likely see an independent Gaduridos as an opportunity to place an outpost into our region, something we know foreigners have long sought. We do not want foreigners in this region, and Her Imperial Majesty will likely express this if she speaks with the new Gaduri King."

The Chancellor was asked if she intends to attend the Coronation as well, and he answer was clear. "As a Brethrenist, I will not lie to you. No. I will not attend. I can not, in good conscience attend this ceremony when I do not think Gaduridos should be independent. In fact, my personal belief on the matter is at odds with Her Imperial Majesty's and my attendance will doom any chance Her Imperial Majesty has of making any sort of positive impression on the King. My cousin, Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro will attend in my place: She is, perhaps, less interested in seeing Gaduridos turned into a plantation than I am-- She lived in Gaduridos most of her life, after all, and was the Viceroy there so she is far more sympathetic to the needs and dreams of her people than I would be. We'll leave it at that."

The Chancellor was asked if she intends to block any agreements made between Kalistan and Gaduridos, she laughed. "No. There is no way. If Her Imperial Majesty fiats it, that's what we do. I'll turn in the needed votes for her, even if I have to swallow my objections and be the deciding vote. She knows what is best for this Empire, just as she did for Gaduridos when it was with us. I would be a hypocrite if I thought otherwise."

Finally, the Chancellor was asked how the draw down at Luncasi is going. "It is still on schedule to be completed by October of this year. Only a company of Marines remain there, to finish remodeling the barracks to the Kizenian government's specs. We're expecting a formal hand over on September 30." Asked if Her Imperial Majesty is intending to return Bentasur, the Chancellor asked rhetorically, "Are you kidding me? The answer I will give here, and I think I can say that this is the position of the Empress: We'll trade it for annexation of Athosia. If Gaduridos can get that for us, We'll consider returning the Exclave." She then ended the press conference.

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