Kalistan

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Dame DuMont juggles multiple tasks in Foreign Ministry



FM's Profile rises as Seleyan Situation begins to solidify
"Empress and Crown Princess expected to return by January," says Dame DuMont
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 7, 5562

Dame Jacqueline DuMont, the long serving Minister of Foreign Affairs in Her Imperial Majesty's Government, has seen her portfolio grow significantly in recent years.  While serving in the role of Acting Chancellor following the assassination of Emperor Fredrick II Ananto and near fatal shooting of Dame Ontiveros, her task was relatively light:  She had to keep the ship of State afloat and pointed in the correct direction.  But now that she has returned to the Foreign Ministry, she heads up the Empress' ambitious agenda to carve out a new place for Kalistan in the granite of the Terran Global Structure.

"The one thing that Dame DuMont brings to this position is that she doesn't believe in failure," said political scientist Don Hart of Nevaras Duchy University.  "She has met with a number of roadblocks, but she is a person who may see a path forward hopelessly clogged and immediately begins looking for a way around it.  It may take us off in another direction, but ultimately, the road heads forward, and Kalistan remarkably weaves around the rubble of a collapsed unipolar geopolitical structure."

Some notable efforts of Dame DuMont's administration have been an attempt to improve relations with Artania via Kundrati, whose notoriously mercurial stance in world affairs have subsequently led to Kalistan calling for a Confederation in Northern Seleya that is on the verge of creating a political and economic union in Northern Seleya.  She attempted to conclude a deal for radars and basing in both Likatonia, which both failed, due to unwillingness of those two countries to even consider housing Kalistani assets out of concern for the reaction of Luthori, but that has led to a developing offer to base the 4th Fleet in Lodamun to provide a Mad Dog facing supply line, and a new exchange of forces agreement with the Jelbic Empire.  Dame DuMont has represented Kalistani interests full throatedly, and has likely made more enemies than friends, and yet, she has been able through innovation, clear sight toward Kalistani interests and a willingness to compromise where possible, develop closer relationships with new friends.  The result is:  in a very short period of time (just over 10 years) Kalistan's orientation has been moved beyond hegemony in the Northern Anantonese Ocean to a more forward position, a deepening relationship, for better or worse with other Seleyan nations, attention and response in Artania and an actual permanent presence in Majatra.

"Despite our renewed antipathy for Luthori, our cooling on relations with Kundrati and Narikaton, and the fact that Valruzia of all places hates us for some reason, we have also increased our reputation in Lodamun, Wrnuke and Beiteynu, have sought to heal strains with Baltusia and Gaduridos, and continue to provide stability in the region to allow Lourenne to reform," said Hart.  "Dame DuMont has shown herself very adept at tradeoffs, and is willing to shed unproductive or one sided relationships for something that feels more like a net gain for Kalistan, and in doing so, she serves her Empress and the People of Kalistan very adeptly."

Dame DuMont herself is a woman of few words.  "I let my actions speak for me," she said recently.  "I am proud that after all this, I maintain the close confidence of Her Imperial Majesty, who grants me significant latitude in carrying out her fiat.  I think that Her Imperial Majesty's background, not being born and raised in Kalistan, gives her a unique perspective on world affairs, and it may be just what was needed to shake off the rust of this ancient Empire.  In her own way, she is a revolutionary, and I merely carry out her commands."

False modesty aside, Dame DuMont is the most experienced diplomat in Seleya at the moment.  "I've been in this office for more than a quarter of a century already," said the Stateswoman.  "I've seen a lot of people come and go, I've seen whole countries disappear from the radar.  So it is a fine thing that a person with my extensive experience can serve such a worthy monarch as Her Imperial Majesty.  The world is going through a rocky period right now, and I am happy that I can contribute to both stability and forward propulsion of the Anantonese State."

Dame DuMont continues to chair the Confederation Conference, is apparently waiting for the fallout from the basing decision, is in talks to build a more formal relationship with Lodamun, and is expecting Kalistani scientists back from Lourenne, to prepare them to travel on to Beiteynu to learn about engine design and other aspects of rocketry and space design.  She also said that she expects Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto, and the Minor Princess Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek to return from Artania by January.