Kalistani Major History

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Foreign Minister Makes statement on Auxiliary Navy
Responds to Trigunian Questions
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 28, 3934


Kalistani Foreign Minister Donner, slightly bemused by questions around the formation of the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy

Foreign Minister Victor-Omar Donner-Carrangus joined Defense Minister Yolanda Hitomi from the RFP faction to further discuss the creation of the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy:  Below is the transcript of the statement from the Foreign Minister

Greetings in the Name of the Most High
An Officer of the Trigunian Imperial Navy raised some interesting questions about the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy, which we think needs some clarification.
First:  Let me be clear, we are only actually building 26 new ships in total.  The vast majority of the ships being commissioned into the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy are repurposed vessels, either from Kalistani National Dry Docks or from the Private Sector.  The capital ships are our primary focus.  The supply and logistics ships are taken from surplus and dry docks, and the remainder, the LAFA-class ships are motorized fishing and leisure vessels which are armed, repurposed and refitted for crews of 6-10 per ship. Consequently, this is not a massive new ship project, but the 95 number is the total number of ships which will be listed in the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy.  Most of those already exist and are being brought into service in the KAN. 
Secondly: This is not the creation of the Socialist Party-  It is an official program of the Kalistani Government and is not affiliated with the Socialist Party Militia.  We invite other governments to look over the commission bill [Click This Link for the text of the bil. -ed.]  So yes, to answer the charge, this is a National Navy, but it is under private control, and is commanded and controlled separately from the Kalistani National Navy.  Furthermore, while not in the Anantanese Ocean, the Navy flies either their own Unit Colors or the colors of their employer.  The only time the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy flies Kalistani Colors is when they transit through the Anantanese Ocean, or when they are called into National Service.  The purpose of the creation of the KAN is that during the Embargo, Kalistan quickly learned that the existing status quo at Sea was not supportive of Kalistani interests over all others.  The KAN is a first step in creating a new Status Quo in the Anantanese Ocean and around the globe.  Kalistan aims to move into a position where it can effectively promote its interests and at the same time stand as equals with even the great powers of the world. 
Thirdly:  Let me answer the question of funding.  Kalistan recently passed a progressive income tax in Kalistan, which yields 620 Billion Kalistani Rubles.  Our tax income does not include money made on legal and illicit sales of drugs abroad by Kalistani ODEN.  The formation of the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy is funded by the 74 billion Ruble increase in the Defense Budget, as well as significant sums of money included by ODEN and the Socialist Party.  But the majority of the armament and ship building comes from a 10 year bond on the public capital funds in the Defense Ministry Budget, as well as contributions from Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, and  Infrastructure and Transport.  The sum total of capital building expressed in the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy is capped at 56 Billion Kalistani Rubles over 10 years, which the Kalistani Economy is more than able to fund adequately, given the current state of Kalistani finances-  We could easily fund it entirely outside of our National Budget Surplus.
Fourthly:  Much of the ongoing operating cost for the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy will be covered by those who employ the fleet-  The Kalistani State is only on the hook for food, fuel and ammunition, all of which are supplied by our National sector.  This includes sovereign nations-  even Trigunia could potentially lease the Auxiliary Navy for their own uses.  The Kalistani Auxiliary Navy is under their own command at peace time, and will not harass any shipping on their own initiative.  Therefore, the Auxiliary Navy should not be seen as a threat to neutral shipping while they sail for Kalistan, and while they do not sail for Kalistan, their employer bears the liability for their action, just as they would if Kalistan sold them weapons which they then subsequently used in war.
Fifthly and Lastly:  This force is not enough to make a serious threat against any standing navy in the world-  Modern Navies have aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and cruise missile frigates coming out their ears!  This naval construction consists of no air assets whatsoever, and the bulk of the Naval fleet consists of single engine Light Armed Fast Attack craft.  The Kalistani Auxiliary Navy's chief strength comes in high mobility backed by fairly serious surface based firepower.  It is pretty hilarious for a full Admiral to issue comments aboard a floating airbase, surrounded by about twice the firepower of the entire Kalistani Auxiliary Navy, and powered by a mobile nuclear reactor to express concern about the creation of the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy.  But If this is how the Admiral gets in the papers, we would like to express to him personally our thanks for the levity that his words brought to our day.  We wish the Admiral well, and would like to invite his command to visit Kalistan and observe how to create a navy on the cheap.

The Foreign Minister finished his comments, and answered questions, mostly about things other than the Kalistani Auxiliary Navy.  According to recent polls, 83% of the population supports the creation of the Auxiliary Navy.  Its commission is not nearly as controversial at home as it is abroad.  The Minister also addressed the death of the Vanuku Grand Prince and the accession to the throne of the Grand Prince Lazr.  The Minister expressed the Kalistani Government's optimism that the New Leader represents a new opportunity for a reset in Kalistani-Vanuku relations.