Kalistani Major History

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Tony Curti responds to Commonwealth blockade
"We will not take these provocations Lightly" Curti Says
Eshar, Odufaray
April 7, 4115

Toni Curti, Foreign Minister of the Republic replied to New Endralonian Sanctions against Kalistan.

"We are saddened, but not surprised.  The Government of New Endralon and Kizenia have been bent on provoking Kalistan at sea for more than a year now, and it has finally come to formal sanctions.  We will not take these provocations lightly.  I have asked Minister Bennots-Lee and Minister Freal at Interior and Trade respectively, to completely ignore the Blockade, and ignore any and all illegitimate demands to stop and submit to search by agents of the the New Endralonian Government.  If the imposition is forced, we will have no choice but to begin issuing Letters of Marque to private operators, and to Militia forces to protect Kalistani Shipping on the High Seas.  ODEN has assured me that they have no intention of stopping its exports from Kalistan."

Meanwhile, in accord with Kalistani laws on reciprocal trade, Kizenian imports dropped sharply as the mandatory 20% import tariff took hold.  Especially hard hit were consumer goods like cereals and perishable goods, as well as light manufactured goods, automobiles, tvs and spare parts.  Kalistan for hale to, for example,  Though New Endralon/Kizenia is close to Kalistan, neither economy was fully integrated into the other, and plans for deepening involvement have now been scrapped as a result of the sanctions.  But according to the Foreign Minister nothing is going to change. 

"If they think they can pressure us, with sanctions, into changing our policies," Curti said to a crowd of 275 producers from Odufaray and Vrassa, "they are sadly mistaken.  Kalistan and the Commonwealth have a free trade treaty and we mean to enforce it.  But we also mean to protect our own exports from unfair sanctions which aim at hobbling our economy.  If they wish to put sanctions on us, of course we must respond.  It is our hope that they will relieve the sanctions soon, but we will not back down from our freedom to sell what we can to whoever wishes to buy them, and as we said-  supply side trade policies do nothing to stem demand.  This is where the Government of New Endralon should focus its efforts instead of punishing its ally."