Kalistan

[Doc]

FM Bjorksdattir Announces Another Shift in Kundrati Policy
"The time for Whiplash is over," says Bjorksdattir
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 2, 5592


FM Meets with Reporters as Empire attempts to get ahead of Kundrati Crisis

Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister met with Her Imperial Majesty and the Chancellor of the Empire this afternoon in the last of several major closed door meetings on policy.  For months, Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir has teased yet another new policy regarding the Anantonese Empire's response to pernicious situation in Kundrati.  And it appears that a final word on the matter has at last been arrived at.

“Her Imperial Majesty has weighed several variables concerning our international Embargo against Kundrati," said the Foreign Minister in a Press Conference outside of the Imperial Seat in downtown Kaliburg.  "And working with the Chancellor, the Trade Minister and the Finance Minister, I think collectively we have come up with a policy that will both serve the Empire and allow us to put the whiplash that comes with attempting to contain Kundrati in the rearview mirror.  The time for that whiplash is over."

The Foreign Minister laid out a three point plan that will very quickly become Kalistani and Anantonese Policy. 

"Her Imperial Majesty has seen the reports about the effect that our 15 month long embargo on Kundrati and nations who trade with it have produced in Kalistan.  We now have evidence that backs up what several in her Imperial Majesty’s government had believed anecdotally:  Firstly, the Sanctions are not working.  At all.  For them to work, the government of Kundrati would have to care about the well being and the lives of the people of their nation, and it is clear that they do not.  So the sanctions amount to unnecessary punishment of the people themselves of that devastated nation without touching the real criminals who are responsible for keeping that country in its miserable state. 

"Secondly, the sanctions alienate Kalistan and the Anantonese Empire from the rest of the world.  Not only in terms of trade, but also diplomatically.  They don't dissuade any nations from continuing to trade with Kundrati, because there is no real enforcement mechanism that Kalistan has access to:  Most of the Nations of the world clearly have no qualms about continuing to support the fascists in Kundrati, either directly, in the case of Likatonia, for example, or indirectly, as is the case with the majority of the nations on this planet.  It does not good for Kalistan to point out fascism:  Most nations simply do not care about the character, or the quality of the regime that rules Kundrati, and as a result, Kalistan bears the cost almost exclusively.

"And thirdly, the sanctions expose this Empire to other sorts of dangers and costs which quite frankly, it is not worth it to bear.  Her Imperial Majesty had considered stepping up the privateer raids against Kundrati ships.  But that would have been treated as an act of warfare, and while the 4th Fleet alone was a match for the entire Kundrati Navy as we see it, any action that threatened to escalate the conflict in the Mad Dog Ocean risked internationalizing the crisis even further, and it is clear that the only ships that would come to Kalistan's aid would be Anantonese ships alone.  We cannot trust that other nations would help us out in that conflict if the response to our embargo is any indication, so we would be by ourselves.  And in the long run, with a collapsing economy, that would be a war we wouldn't win.  It would only cost us."

"With that, Her Imperial Majesty has decided to take a step back.  She has ordered me to lift the embargo provisions against all nations other than Kundrati.  We will still not trade with fascists, we will not recognize fascists, and we will not interact in any way with fascists.  We will also, however, not seek to stop other nations from doing what they will.  We will pursue what is in the best interest of the Anantonese Empire first, last and always.  If that means millions of people in Kundrati suffer, we must assume that this is the government they themselves prefer, or else they would do something about it.  The character of the regime in Kundrati is no more our concern, except where it comes to our recognition of them.  If Kundrati ever seeks to restore relations with Ananto, let them throw off their totalitarian fascist regime first.  Until that time, Her Imperial Majesty has declared that this country no longer exists as far as we are concerned.  Other nations, including those who are constituent Nations of the Anantonese Empire, may pursue whatever policy they like with regard to Kundrati, but it is no longer a concern of Her Imperial Majesty.

"In addition, Her Imperial Majesty is cancelling all letters of Marque for Kalistani Privateers operating on the Mad Dog Ocean and the Anantonese Ocean.  While their brave efforts to enforce the Embargo are noted, the risk to the lives of private citizens can no longer be endured in Kaliburg.  The Letters of Marque are suspended as of today and all privateers found to be operating under a letter of marque after today may be treated internationally as a pirate.  All Kalistani Citizens operating under a Letter of Marque are ordered to return to the port that issued the Letter and surrender it to competent authority, along with all seized contraband.

"Finally, Her Imperial Majesty has ordered the renormalization of relations with all nations on the Globe except Kundrti.  If they are determined to be a pariah, they shall be.  Meanwhile, Kalistan needs to get on with life and do a lot of repair work in our Foreign Relations.  We hope other nations whose relationship this horrible policy has damaged with us will take us up on this offer of amnesty and work with The Anantonese Empire to build a better world.

"That is all.  There will be no questions at this time."

With that, Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir returned to the Imperial Seat to begin working out the paperwork necessary to bring Kalistan and the Anantonese Empire back to the status quo ex ante.