Kalistan

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Empress Visits Kingdom of Gaduridos
Perhaps last foreign Visit for Her Imperial Majesty
Kaliburg Free City, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 5, 5577


Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto flies to Gaduridos

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto flew to Gaduridos on a one week visit.  She was accompanied by Dame Jacqueline DuMont, who Her Imperial Majesty has authorized to speak on her behalf, giving her experience of advancing Alzheimer's disease.  Before leaving, Her Imperial Majesty read a written statement, slowly but clearly.

We have but a few comments and will not delay you all long. We travel now to our new realm, the Kingdom of Gaduridos, to meet with the her chosen Government and confirm their decision.  The Social Democratic Party of Gaduridos have been asked to form a government to help them move their program forward. They have done so to our satisfaction, and we seek to make it known that we will support their efforts on all fronts.

We wish to hold an audience with our new Governor General, Señora Victoria Montenegro, who is the leader of the Social Democrats.  Under her year-old administration and competent and visionary leadership, our Government has already begun modernization of the educational system for Gaduri children, and they are in the process of continuing to improve their nation's infrastructure and investment climate.  We look very much forward to the progress they are making.  We are especially encouraged to note their desire to at least instruct their children in our Language, and to do so out of a desire to further bind our two nations together under the Empire. 

And further more, our daughter is pleased that Gaduri children will have the opportunity to study both civics and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics intensively in schools.  She has expressed that education along these lines will certainly prepare Gaduridos for the future and help raise people above the toil and drudgery of hard manual labor, especially where they possess the skills to use their mind for the advancement of our people.

In addition, it is our desire to name our Governor General Montenegro a knight of the Order of Vintalli, and as such, shall she shall, upon her knighthood, be required to maintain the title Dame before her name.  It is a simple matter, but we also feel that to have our complete confidence, we must elevate her above the commoner rank. 

Finally, we hope to meet with Nationalist and Communistical leaders in Gaduridos who represent opposing viewpoints.  It is our regret that we were not able to meet with them sooner, but we should like to, at least hear their grievances and learn if resolution on any mutually agreeable terms would be possible.  We wish for them to feel that they too may use their voice to speak for their ideas, and we want to assure them that, while it may not be possible to accommodate them in every sense, we will hear them, and give them an opportunity to explain what it is that they want and work with us to ensure that civil peace and ideological plurality remain possible within Gaduridos.

While in the Kingdom of Gaduridos, we have asked our Foreign Minister, Dame Jacqueline DuMont, to speak on our behalf.  As the world knows, a horrible disease is slowly bringing darkness to our memories, and it is our intention than our wishes be made known though we ourselves may be less than able to fully express them at all times.  We shall do well enough, and we have asked Dame DuMont to write down our statements in our more lucid moments, so that she shall be able to represent our wishes fully to those we wish to meet with.  It is, however, very important to us that we not only send our trustworthy representative, but also be present ourselves, to impress upon our countrymen and women our commitment to our new relationship.  We shall see you all upon our return.

The short speech, which lasted considerably longer than it would otherwise, due to Her Imperial Majesty's slow and deliberate cadence of speech, led many to believe that this will likely be Her Imperial Majesty's last trip abroad.  Her Imperial Majesty waved to photographers as she boarded her private aircraft, and departed shortly thereafter.  Soon after take off, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister is reported to have made a call to Wilson House in Kaliburg, to update Her Highness, Crown Princess Carolina, on Her Imperial Majesty's speech.  It is believed that the Foreign Minister, Her Imperial Majesty, and the Crown Princess have now begun discussing a timeline for transition.  What is certain is that nothing will happen before the Crown Princess' wedding this November, but after that, the machinery could begin to move quickly.