Kalistan

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Empress causes stir among many during Speech at Assembly
Shatters what some called "the unbreakable taboo" when she mentioned Crown Lands
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 14th, 5583


Her Imperial Majesty mentions "Athosia" in speech to National Assembly

In what is becoming a fairly regular political event, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, spoke before the National Assembly in Kaliburg and delivered formal policy instructions for her Government and the National Assembly.  But in this particular speech, she touched what has long been considered a third rail in Kalistani Politics and sent shockwaves through the National Political establishment.  She mentioned the Duchy of Athosia, which is internationally considered to be a part of Baltusia, where it is called "Santiago".  Her Imperial Majesty owns the title Duchess of Athosia, but to date no effort has been made to push the title claim internationally, in an effort to maintain peace in Seleya.  This attitude may be slowly changing.  The comments which caused a stir are printed below:

"Finally, we would like address the matter of our territory of Athosia.  For too long, that territory has been illegally appended to the nation of Baltusia, which itself took it while serving as a puppet kingdom.  It was taken from us, without our consent, and was given by foreign powers hostile to Anantonese Interests to Baltusia over our objections.  Athosia is, by rights, an integral part of Suldanor, and the time when this Empire sits by and allows our National Territory to remain under the administration of a foreign state whose government is still hostile to the Anantonese Empire is rapidly drawing to a close.  It is our hope that Athosia is returned home to Kalistan and Suldanor within our lifetime."

The Empress' comments sharply divided both the Institutional Party, as well as the public, with one side, considered the more Orthodox wing of the Party, preferring the Status Quo on Athosia and the Crownlands in general, while the Nationalist wing loudly cheering Her Imperial Majesty's comments before the National Assembly.  The Orthodox Speaker, Sir Michael Herring, loudly condemned the speech for what he said is unnecessary saber rattling and a violation of a heretofore "unbreakable taboo."  "Her Imperial Majesty's comments about Athosia will draw unnecessary condemnation of the Empire from abroad.  There are rules, there are norms, and our Sovereign's speech today before the National Assembly suggests that Kalistan may be open to just violating those norms and taking back territory which hasn't been part of our nation for millennia.  She is inciting a reaction from the international community at the very least, and if she goes through with trying to re-occupy Athosia, that could cause significant complications for the Empire."

On the other side, the Nationalist Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Bradley Downs, came to the Empress' defense in unequivocal terms.  "It is about time someone said it," said Sir Bradley, later that afternoon.  "Nobody in the National Assembly, not one of the 89 Deputies had the courage of their convictions to tell the truth about Athosia, and it took Her Imperial Majesty to come in here and tell the truth about the nature of Baltusia's illegal occupation of Southern Suldanor.  This government awaits only the green light from Her Imperial Majesty, and we stand ready to reunify Suldanor by whatever means we have available.  As Her Imperial Majesty said, the day where we sit back and do nothing is rapidly coming to an end."

At the moment, there remains no official plans to begin the work that might be needed to reacquire Athosia.  "We don't anticipate that anything will be done about this," said Herring.  "All signs suggest that reannexation of Athosia would require a war on Kalistan's part.  But winning that war and winning Athosia are two different things.  Suppose the Kalistani Regular Forces crossed the border into Athosia?  It would be simple to defeat whatever garrisons are in Athoisa:  All signs suggest that the Syndicalist Forces have run completely out of gas years ago, and a caretaker government is currently in charge in Baltusia.  So we would easily win the war.  But winning the peace would be impossible, as there does not appear to be any nation in the world willing to acknowledge that Athosia rightfully belongs to Kalistan, much less so if it was taken by force.  And it might drive a wedge between Kalistan and Gaduridos, who joined the Empire peacefully."

"Utter nonsense," said Sir Bradley Downs.  "What difference does it make if other nations in the world acknowledge that we have taken back what is ours?  It's ours.  The fact that the world doesn't see it like that demonstrates the degree to which the world is incorrect on this topic.  If the world truly valued peace, they would assist us in reclaiming the land illegally stolen from us."

Either way, this rift in the Institutional Party is both not new, nor is it likely to heal anytime soon.  The Empress has firmly aligned herself with the Nationalist wing of the Party, but the Orthodox Members still hold a large majority of the seats in the Assembly.  And so, without Imperial Fiat, which the Foreign Minister assured, is not soon coming, the National Assembly will not take any additional steps to push the issue further.  As sign of discontent, only about 25 or 30 deputies applauded Her Imperial Majesty's speech from the floor, despite the fact that much of the rest of the speech was straight down the line Institutional Party Platform, and a motion to censure the Chancellor for siding with the Annexation viewpoint from the Floor was only narrowly defeated, where as before, it would have been considered impossible to pass such a resolution.