Kalistan

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Breakthrough in Kundrati; Reports of Secret Meeting leak
Kalistan and Luthori met informally on Etxea, discussed Seleyan Affairs
Etxea, Kundrati
November 7, 5572


Crown Princess Carolina Ananto-Hulanevek arrives jetlagged in Kundrati to line up Metro Project in Late September

Kalistan's Crown Princess has returned to Kalistan as news of a secret meeting between the future Monarch and representatives of the Luthori Government has leaked to world presses.  Her Highness was in Kundrati for six weeks beginning in late September to begin working on her new pet project, the Kaliburg Metro, and to name Kundrati project engineers who will begin work in the Capital in the Spring.  But while she was there, according to unnamed Kalistani sources, she was contacted by Mordusian officials who passed the message that Luthori might be willing to talk to her.  According to the source, The Crown Princess phoned Kaliburg, got the ok to talk, and a meeting was arranged at the home belonging to the Herasymchuks', an important Kundrati family known to the Hulaneveks.

According to the government source, Her Highness the Crown Princess represented Kalistan admirably, and acquired some concessions from the Luthorian officials.  This would explain why, three weeks ago, the National Assembly quietly lowered the Embargo on Luthorian Goods, and began returning impounded goods to some Mordusian and Likatonian interests.  Details of the tentative agreement are sparse, but we think it involves a guarantee on Lodamun which allows Luthori to maintain most of its existing relationships with that nation, but abandons the effort on Luthori's part to push for a political or commonwealth arrangement in the Northern Seleyan Nation, and Kalistan's redeployment of the 4th Fleet away from the Artanian Sea.

"If these reports can be believed," said Girrard Michaelson, of Kaliburg Republican University, "it would seem that Kalistan dodged a major bullet here.  Neither side blinked, and it would seem that both sides got major concessions from a deal.  We would still need to consider Luthori's terms, but it seems that Luthori will keep most of what it has and Kalistan can rest easy on the Crown Lands Question."

Many observers said one pressure on Kalistan to seek settlement was the 4th Fleet which was initially designed to counter growing naval threats further to the north.  "The Fourth Fleet is not an embargo force, nor is it meant for large scale warfare," said Michaelson.  "It is a surveillance and defense in depth fleet.  As tensions increased, the 4th Fleet looked like it might end up on the frontline of any conflict with Luthori, and we believe that the Empress knew she couldn't win a prolonged combat situation there with the 4th Fleet as it is currently constituted."

When the decision to send Her Highness to Kundrati was made is unclear, though it seems that Her Imperial Majesty has long been open to a settlement that would allow both Kalistan and Luthori to save face and back away from the precipice of war.  The Crown Princess' trip to Kundrati provided just such an opportunity.

The KalSiE jumped on the news that there is a possible end to the conflict that has gripped Kalistan for years.  The scope of the deal is still to be seen, but the same sources close to the National Government suggest that Kalistan can be satisfied with the terms of that deal, and Luthori also seems satisfied.

"It is far too early to celebrate," said Michaelson, "but if this deal shakes out as we believe it will, Kalistan will have once more stood as an effective check to foreign encroachment in Seleya, and this is something we should be very proud about.  Let's hope it leads to more normal relations between Kalistan and our chief geopolitical rival.  Time will tell, and Her Imperial Majesty can still sink it, but this is the first ray of hope Kalistan has had in a very long time, vis a vis Luthori."