Kalistan

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Dame DuMont before the National Convention Hall in Kaliburg



Kalistani FM Dame Jacqueline DuMont declares Northern Seleyan Conference "Moribund"
Cites lack of interest in moving forward, continued external influence in Seleya
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 1, 5566

In a brief statement before the National Convention Hall in downtown Kaliburg, where the Northern Seleyan Conference had been taking place, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont declared the Northern Seleyan Confederation Conference to be "moribund" and therefore dissolved.

"We noted a sharp downtick in activity within the last few years," said Dame DuMont, "and have noticed that delegations from other Northern Seleyan Nations have stopped meeting all together, or attending any meetings with Kalistanis, in any fashion.  Therefore Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress has ordered me to close proceedings, dismiss the staff and archive the work.  The Northern Seleyan Confederation Conference is officially ended, with nothing accomplished except the expression of some future cooperation by some of the nations who were present, and Kalistan will return to bilateral diplomacy as a standard MO."

The Foreign Minister expressed her deep disappointment at the failure of the Conference.  "Despite strenuous exclamations in support of more unity, at the end of the conference, we couldn't even get a phone call returned," said the Foreign Minister.  "This is probably more a reflection of internal issues within our partner nations than it is with the idea--there is a strange silence over Northern Seleya, which is an environment quite opposite to what existed when the Conference was called.  Toward the end, there was a lack of any kind of urgency on the part of any nation not named Kalistan for any sort of integration or cooperation, and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress has since met with other of our international partners and will be exploring new avenues for cooperation on a bilateral basis."

As for whether Kalistan had seen the news coming from Dorvik regarding ship building and specifically access to ships that Kalistan had requested from Lodamun, the Foreign Minister noted that the Empress had read the news and is somewhat disappointed.  "It's Lodamun's right to work with whoever they like on whatever they like," said the Foreign Minister.  "Selecting to work with an Artanian nation on a project they had explicitly denied Kalistan the opportunity to participate in is somewhat irritating, and played more than a little role in Kalistan's closing of this conference, but it was not all of the reason, nor even most of the reason."  When asked if Kalistan will continue basing in Lodamun, the Foreign Minister said "You are absolutely right we will.  As long as they keep cashing our checks, we will remain in Newport.  The Logistics port there is very valuable to the 4th Fleet, and this other little thing doesn't negate that fact."

The Foreign Minister noted that follow on discussions with Lourenne, after the visit of the Emperor could possibly yield some fruit.  "We are beginning a conversation about Anantonese Security between the two of us," said Dame DuMont.  When asked if Lodamun is part of that discussion, DuMont said "no.  They have not expressed any desire along those lines yet.  So at the moment, no."