Kalistani Major History

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Press Statement from Premier John Colbert
April 4704

My fellow Kalistanis, yesterday a force of Lourennais ships illegally travelling through the territorial waters of Kalistan and fired upon vessels of the Regular Navy who had been patrolling Kalistani waters and had approached the Lourennais ships to turn them away from Kalistani territory, as is our right under the recognized Ananto Sea Comprehensive Accord and the international laws followed by Lourenne. Luckily, no Kalistanis were harmed during the attack and our vessels regrouped and saw the Lourennais ships our of our sea. This blatant act of Lourennais aggression is the first instance of one ship firing upon another during this state of unease between Kalistan and the foreign powers of Dorvik and Lourenne. This attack on our people is the precise reason why we have been taking steps to improve our defensive capabilities, and further proof that we need to continue to improve those capabilities. The aggressive posturing of Dorvik and Lourenne is a threat to peace in the Anantonese Ocean, and it must come to an end in order for relations to normalize between our countries.

Currently, the cabinet is discussing possible responses to these attacks. Minister Stimson has recommended closing the Ananto Straights and declaring a state of insecurity, allowing for Letters of Marque to be issued against Lourennais vessels. Though these options are certainly on the table, Kalistan as sworn its word to Dorvik and the nations of the world that it would no longer hinder navigation through the Straights by signing the ASCA. As long as Dorvik does not withdraw from or violate the ASCA, and as long as Kalistan is not thrust into a state of war, we will stay true to our word. As for the Letters of Marque, Lourenne's recent actions are the exact scenario which we had envisioned there use would be needed for, but we still hope to find a peaceful resolution to the current state of affairs and avoid as much bloodshed as possible, though more acts of aggression would likely leave us no choice.

As of now, I will put in a request with the Foreign Ministry to have Ambassador Louis Stevens introduce a resolution to the Security Council which would denounce unprovoked Lourennais attack. We also demand that Lourenne withdraws all its ships from our territorial waters recognized by ASCA and The Law of the Sea, twelve nautical miles from our coast. I also plan on discussing possible diplomatic solutions to the current crisis with Minister Delgado and will share the products of these discussions with the press once they have been concluded.

Thank you, and goodbye.