Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty Addresses National Assembly
Lays out upcoming Foreign and Domestic Priorities
Kaliburg Free City, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 5, 5578


Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto addresses the National Assembly

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, gave her first address to the National Assembly of Deputies in Kaliburg.  She was invited to speak by the acting Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Bradley Downs, who is in his position by virtue of his role in Party Leadership.  Her Imperial Majesty's speech was something akin to a State of the Empire speech occasionally delivered by Her Highness, Princess of the Empire Pavlina Ananto-Hulanevek, when she was Empress.  Below are Her Imperial Majesty's Remarks:

We wish to thank the Chancellor for his invitation to address this august body.  It is our desire to get to know and work with you all over the next year.

First we would like to ask Mr. Downs to form a new Government.  Our Foreign Minister and long serving Defense Minister, who both served our Mother, have expressed a desire to retire from their offices, and we have decided that Mr. Downs will serve us as our permanent Chancellor of the Empire.  We would like to ensure that our Government remains committed to deepening Gaduri integration as an Imperial Policy, as well as continuing to strengthen ties to Andalay and Athosia.  The door to accession is open for all of the Crownlands, and we wish to reiterate the policy that they shall be welcomed to join the Empire on the same terms that the Kingdom of Gaduridos did.

The Anantonese Empire will maintain our naval positions in both the Anantonese and the Mad Dog Oceans.  Those positions are key to our on-going defense in depth strategy.  We wish to continue to strengthen the Anantonese Security Community, and deepen our intelligence gathering and sharing capabilities as well as our security cooperation.  We have asked our Minister of Finance to increase the budget of both the ISCA and the IBSI for the purposes of creating new intelligence assets, both on the ground, in the air and in space.  One of the initiatives we have asked the the ISCA to work on is a geo-positioning system, which will allow the Empire to independently provide GPS services to both the Empire's consumers and businesses and our naval and air assets on the seas.

We have commanded our Minister of Defense to begin winding down our military mission in Wrnuke.  Currently, there is one Division of Regular Infantry and one Division of Regular Artillery stationed in the Majatran sand.  They were there as part of a military exchange that permitted the Jelbic Navy to refuel in Port Swedes, Vrassa.  As we draw down our Majatran involvement and return our Regulars to Kalistan, we will be reviewing the Jelbic privileges at Port Swedes, to ensure that they conform to the Anantonese Security Community's provisions.  The Kingdom of Wrnuke has noted their antipathy for two of the four members of that treaty organization, and we may need to adjust our own position vis a vis Wrnuke.  There does not seem to be much reason for Wrnuke to maintain a presence in the Anantonese, as the Anantonese Ocean is not a source of threat to the Majatran Empire and is perfectly secure either way, especially if Weil considers the United Kingdom or our partners in Lodamun to be their adversaries.  It would behoove the Jelbic Empire to resolve their outstanding disagreements with Eroncourt and Kensington, to the satisfaction of all concerned over the next year as we review our standing agreement with Wrnuke.

As we draw down our commitments in and with Majatra, we would like to build on some initial successes with Artanian Nations.  The visit from the Personal Secretary of the Empress of Luthori at our wedding ceremony was most welcomed and is an opening that builds upon the agreement that our two nations reached around the Embargo--we hope toexpand friendly relations with Luthori.  We have also had the opportunity to begin to repair relations with the Kundratis, both around their willingness to serve as mediators in the Embargo crisis, as well as their willingness to help Kalistan to inaugurate the program which is near and dear to our heart, the Kaliburg Metro System.  We welcome news from the Dual Republic that a Kalistani National from Suldanor is working with them to help develop their entertainment services industry, and we also have word from Dundorf that there is interest in a long term and formal cultural exchange through exchange student programs.  In all, the attitude of Artanian nations with regard to Kalistan has significantly shifted in recent years, and we wish to encourage that by offering a fresh start to those nations who were of late major adversaries of the Anantonese Empire.  We believe we have done much to make our positions clear on a host of issues, and we believe that there is evidence that those positions are respected in the world.

Domestically, we would like to work closely with Gaduridos to continue to invest into their economy.  We would give a world of encouragement to our Gaduri friends, and encourage them to continue their right minded policy of social welfare along with economy development.  If we may say a word for their tax policy, increasing taxes when you need to increase revenue is no sin.  Gaduridos' currency is pegged, unfortunately to the LFR which unfortunately limits their ability to manage their economy through monetary policy.  This may be a handicap, but it does not cripple them.  The Government must do what it can to raise its funds to support its social programs.  The Imperial Government will happily be of service to help our Realm carry its social spending burden:  Not only will it allow Gaduridos to better meet the needs of its people, but it will also pump badly needed Ruble currency into Gaduri pockets.  It is an unfortunate fact that increased corporate taxes are merely a backdoor sales tax.  Our Government looks forward to the opportunity to assist with improvement of the quality of Gaduri Life.

Within the Grand Duchy of Kalistan, we look forward to continuing housing renewal.  In the Free City of Sulari, more than 8 thousand single family homes which were dilapidated and condemned have been demolished and those houses have been replace by more than 35,000 housing units.  The neighborhood revitalization comes with specific tax zones that offer abatement for services and small businesses to move into these neighborhood to provide residents of the revitalized neighborhoods with shopping, dining, nightlife and all other services, as well as additional access to public transit and other public services.    Our revitalization programs are operating on the sustainable development model of vertical city development.  And those efforts are being carried out across Kalistani Proper.  We are very proud of our National Service program, and look forward to excellent work by the Imperial Housing Authority in Kalistan.

Within Ananto, we are continuing to encourage settlement of the Gold Plains.  Settlement of the Eastern Half of our Island will help relieve population pressures in our Capital, which is today over crowded and more expensive than it should be for working Anantonese Families.  Unlike Kalistan Proper, Ananto doesn't have much affordable housing, because space and supply seems to be at a premium.  It is our desire to bring housing prices down within five years, all the while increasing housing stock on the Island.  Additionally, we will continue to watch the expansion of the KaliMetro system, and would like to welcome Ms. Annie Carson as our new Chief Executive Officer of the KaliMetro.

We look to build on the successes that our Mother accomplished, in these areas and more.  We appreciate your support for our Crown, and will, in the coming weeks and months, encourage you, Your Deputies, and the people you represent, to give of your time and effort for the betterment of our Empire.  We thank you for your indulgence, and our care for our mother, as she continues to decline, and we pray that you will hold us in the light as she slowly slips away from us.

We command that Mr. Downs adjourn this body, so that Deputies may better discuss the things we have said tonight.

With that, Her Imperial Majesty stepped down from the Dias, and exited the Assembly Chamber, as those Deputies who lined the aisle that she left by bowed low, as those in back, especially the photographers, stood on their tip toes to see her pass by.