Kalistani Major History

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Foreign Minister Addresses Assembly
Prepares Sanctions against Lourenne and Alduria
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 17, 4882


Foreign Minister Mosswell backs Nationalist calls for change in Kalistani Policy toward Lourenne and Alduria

More than a year and a half after the issue was first raised in the Kalistani National Assembly, the issue of Lourenne's Queen Catherine III referring to herself as "Protector of Kalistan" remains unresolved. The issue, which has become increasingly irritating to nationalists in the Party erupted in loud opposition to both Lourenne and the Premier's preferred "Benefit of the Doubt" policy that she has maintained over the last 18 Months.

"Look! Nobody wants to make matters worse," said Nicholas Overbridge, Deputy from Dahriel Ananto, and a self-described nationalist. "But I think a year and a half is more than enough time to allow Lourenne to make a good faith effort to begin to address this, and their refusal to do so in this time demonstrates to me, and the members of this caucus that they have no intention to do so."

The heated dispute hit white hot levels this week as the Foreign Minister herself appeared to switch sides from the more patient approach preferred by the Premier and the majority of the Deputies in the Assembly to the growing chorus of the Nationalists. "Comrade Premier, we MUST do something about this continued provocation. We cannot allow this to continue unanswered by Kalistan. It is either this or we lose credibility as a sovereign and free nation. As you know, I have always stood with the policy of this Government, so I am really saddened that this is what we're here to talk about. But it is clear that inaction on the part of this Administration threatens our credibility as a Government, and if it continues without results, will lead to our removal through a vote of no confidence."

The Premier, not used to being challenged by her own Government in open session seemed non-plussed. She immediately called a recess to the session and convened her cabinet for closed session. Reporters were not permitted into the tense session, but reports on background revealed that the emergency executive session was very tense. Some ministers, standing with the Premier called Mosswell's speech on the floor a "betrayal", while others, including the Defense Minister and the Trade Minister stood with the Foreign Minister. The session lasted for more than an hour before the National Assembly was reconvened.

"Comrades," said the Premier, "The Foreign Minister may have violated decorum on the floor of this Assembly a while ago. However, what she said was not without merit, and it is worthy of our consideration. In consultation with the President of the Republic, I have asked the Foreign Minister to draft a series of sanctions to be applied to the joint crowns of Lourenne and Alduria, who have so far refused to move toward the modification of that stile. Kalistan has been more than patient in our quest for a peaceful solution, and we will continue to look for all opportunities to stay our hand. But the only tool we have to get them to address our concerns seems to be the application of economic and diplomatic pressure. If this is not successful, Kalistan will consider additional steps. This upstart monarchy has stepped on the wrong Kalistani nerve and they can no longer expect our desire for peace and tranquility between our two people to supersede our National respect and Sovereignty."

The Premier then directed the Government to actually draft articles which applied sanctions including the freezing of Lourennaise and Aldurian deposits and investments in Kalistan, to be applied immediately, as more general sanctions take hold. In addition, the SOFA which allows for Louerennais basing and refueling at Dulnerstaad will be reviewed for revocation, and trade action against the United Kingdom was also expected to be included to be in the package. The Premier ordered the Defense Minister to put Kalistan's tiny fleet on alert in the Northern Anantonese Ocean, and called upon deputies to consider the re-authorization of the Privateering Act, which remains on the books, but has not been used in centuries in Kalistan. The Premier was explicit that no restrictions are planned at the moment in the Ananto Strait.

"Our hope is that none of these matters needs to actually be carried out," said the Premier. "Any disruption to trade and investment between our two nations would be disastrous for Kalistan. But we can no longer call ourselves an independent nation if we continue to tolerate this affront to our sovereignty from a nation which has been historically referred to as 'Kalistan's 6th District'. The matter is an existential one for this Republic. It is worth crippling our economy to resolve to our satisfaction."

The Premier's action met with wide scale support from Nationalists and Institutionalists alike within the Party, and coverage of the raucous session was broadcast on KRTVN. The new Sanctions join Kalistan's already completed actions of removing Kalistani diplomatic staff from Lourenne and officially ending consular Activities following the departure of the last remaining Kalistani citizens who wished to depart the nation six months ago. Direct flights between the two nations also ended at this time, greatly disrupting transit between Ananto and Dovani: Eroncourt was the primarily port of entry to the continent before the crisis began, and direct flights to Lourenne accounted for more than 95% percent of all traffic from Kalistan to the Dovani Continent.