Kalistan

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Foreign Minister reaches out
FM dispatches special envoy to Luthori and hails Gaduridos
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 12, 5784


FM Miguel Ontiveros says Empress welcomes discussions with Luthori

A special envoy was dispatched to the Royal Court at Fort William Luthori, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Miguel Ontiveros announced. "Upon direct fiat from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, we have dispatched veteran diplomat Ellen Hedges, who works with us at the Foreign Ministry to reach out to the His Majesty's Government in the Luthorian Empire," said Sir Ontiveros. "Her Imperial Majesty wishes for Kalistan to make an effort to re-establish relationships with Luthori and work together on issues of mutual concern for both our states."

The Foreign Minister did not detail specific topics of discussion between the Special Envoy and counterparts in Luthori. "We decided that the discussion should be left open to serve as a starting point," said Ontiveros. "Her Imperial Majesty was impressed by the nuanced position of the Luthorians with regard to Xsampa, and feels that it provides a moderate alternative to the hardline adopted by some nations against the developments in that nation. On this ground, she feels that Kalistan and Luthori may have opportunities to talk about other things, such as diversifying trade or security matters in the region. Her Imperial Majesty believes that it would behoove us to diversify the field of those we talk with so we do not end up dependent on any one nation, thereby forcing our nation to tailor our interests to the imperatives of any other nation."

The move also reflects a new openness of Kalistan toward the world following the return of Orthodox government to Kalistan. While the nation can still be characterized as nationalistic in its scope, it also wants to reconsider pragmatism as a guiding principle. "Our neighbors may adopt a different stance on specific issues of the world, but Kalistan makes its own path," said Foreign Minister Ontiveros, "and if we can identify fellow travellers on that path, it doesn't hurt to ask them to walk together for a while. Where one door closes, another opens, and Her Imperial Majesty has decided to walk through it."

Ontiveros said that Her Imperial Majesty also looks forward to finally arranging a meeting between herself and the King of Gaduridos, hopefully this year. "We've sort of been in a holding pattern with regards to Gaduridos, and hopefully our invitation to visit still stands, and we can finally talk at high levels about outstanding issues from both of our nations' perspectives." Ontiveros said that he believes Her Imperial Majesty wants to get back on good standing with Gaduridos. "Kalistan misses having a relationship with Gaduridos, for economic reasons of course too, but Kalistan developed deep cultural ties with Gaduridos over the time that we were united, and its our hope that those cultural ties can be rebuilt to some degree. Right now, we are estranged. Hopefully someday we will see one another as siblings once again."

Ontiveros said Envoy Hodges will remain in Luthori for the next two weeks, speaking with various members of the Luthorian government and society, and will consider it a possible prelude to future discussions between the two nations.

@TheRepublic