Kalistan

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Sir Christopher addresses Beiteynese Concerns
Lodamun seeks to maintain unique course within Empire
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 5, 5589


Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir explains Ananto's position to Beiteynese Envoys

In light of the recent Beiteynese visits to Kaliburg, Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir met with the Majatrans to ensure them that there is no change with regard to the Yeudi people in the Anantonese Empire.  He sat down with The Kalistani Republic to give a public briefing of the meeting.

"Choosing to not participate in an economic agreement in no way signals a change in cultural attitude between two nations," said Sir Bjorksdattir.  "There haven't been any threats within the Anantonese Empire against Yeudi people, either individually or as a group, and we weren't entirely sure where the concerns from the Beiteynese Representatives were coming from, considering Lodamun left the Neset Agreement almost a decade ago."

Bjorksdattir noted that Kalistan itself is not a member of the larger organization of the Neset, but maintains a bilateral friendship treaty.  "It is interesting to us that Beiteynu would be concerned that Lodamun left the agreement a long time ago, and yet, Kalistan has never been a member of the Neset, and it has not affected our two nations relations at all.  Lodamun has expressed a desire to be able to continue to operate on its own terms with foreign nations, and Her Imperial Majesty has made it clear that their unique approach would be acceptable in Kaliburg, so long as it did not put Anantonese National Interests at risk.  As such, she fully encourages Lodamun to continue to manage their own individual relationship with Beiteynu and other Third Point nations as they have, and Kaliburg can offer to negotiate if there are any disputes."

But Bjorksdattir stressed that Ananto considers Kalistan and Lodamun to be linked in foreign affairs.  "Her Imperial Majesty will always come down on the side of one of her Constituent Nations.  There may come a day when our foreign policy is more unified, but today is not that day.  She will not, under any circumstances, stand against what one of the Crown Lands wants to do.  The trade off is, however, that the Crown Lands should always consult with Ananto before there is a major change in policy, so Her Imperial Majesty may be aware of the situation before decisions are made, and so that she may work out how to ensure that Ananto's interests are met as well.  After a decision is made in private between one of the Constituent Nations and Kaliburg, that becomes the policy of the Empire, and Ananto will back both Lodamun's and Gaduridos' plays to the degree that they invite Her Imperial Majesty to do so."

Sir Bjorksdattir also noted that there are good reasons for Lodamun to have left the Neset when it did.  "Her Imperial Majesty was not part of Lodamun's decision to leave the Neset, but she believes she could understand why they would have.  When Lodamun joined the Empire, Her Imperial Majesty applauded the move because Lodamun's accession strengthens North Seleya vis a vis the rest of Terra, many nations of whom have pushed Seleya around for far too long.  Therefore, it is not totally unfathomable why Lodamun would leave the Neset, which was an arrangement by and for the Beiteynese Government (as seperate from the Yeudi diaspora which is a completely separate issue all together, a fact that has been repeatedly reinforced to successive Kalistani Emperors and Empresses over the years), or the Luthorian Commonwealth, for that matter, or any other multi lateral agreement that no longer serves Lodamuun, either as an independent nation or as a Constituent part of the Anantonese Empire."

Sir Bjorksdattir also acknowledged Beiteynese concerns for the safety of Yeudi People within the Empire.  "We shouldn't have to keep saying this, as in, it should be taken as a fact, but, the Yeudi people, and Yeudi businesses, and those who follow the Yeudi Faith of its various permutations, whether Liberal, Reform, or Orthodox, are fully welcomed in the Anantonese Empire, without prejudice.  We expect of them the same that we expect of our own citizens: there is no religious discrimination against those who happen to be of the Yeudi Faith, there is no cultural discrimination against those who happen to identify as Yeudi people culturally.  Her Imperial Majesty expects that the Yeudis shall be treated within the Anantonese Empire the exact same way we would expect those citizens and subjects to Her Imperial Majesty will be treated within Beiteynu, without remainder or exception.  And we do not require constant reassurance that Beiteynu will not conduct pogroms against our Citizens because Her Imperial Majesty assumes that the good relations we have fostered with the Yeudi Diaspora over the centuries is worth something at least within Beiteynu, so we hope this settles the question about 'safety of the Yeudi People' that my Beiteynese counterparts broached when they were here to discuss matters."

Sir Bjorksdattir reiterated that Her Imperial Majesty would welcome any invitation to serve as mediator in any documented disagreement between Lodamun, Kalistan or Gaduridos and Beiteynu, "especially if it will help prevent a war," said Sir Bjorksdattir.  "That said, it is also probably time that Beiteynu and other third point nations acknowledge that the situation in Seleya has changed, and neither Majatran, not Artanian Nations set terms for nations anywhere on this continent any longer.  Coming into discussions with that understanding set firmly in the minds of our foreign colleagues will be very helpful in maintaining healthy and friendly relations with Seleyan states going forward."

Sir Bjorksdattir added that Her Imperial Majesty would welcome a team of Beiteynese archaeologists to Kalistan to inspect and authenticate the origin of the mysterious gem which has been in the possession of Her Imperial Majesty since her coronation and which is said to have come from The Empress Pavlina's Kundrati relatives among the Hulaneveks.