Kalistan

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Kalistan welcomes Likatonia in effort to finally bury ghosts of War
Empire offers ₭40 Bn for Reconstruction
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 1, 5627


Likatonian Envoy Oliver Woods poses for photo with Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine at Imperial Seat

His Imperial Majesty's Government welcomed Likatonian Envoy Oliver Woods in Kaliburg last week, as the Empire continued its efforts at Truth and Reconciliation. The meeting which was a response to an invitation by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto to the Likatonian Government is seen as a first step toward repairing relations between the two Northern Seleyan Countries.

Mr. Woods, who came to Kalistan representing the Likatonian Government, was greeted at the airport by Chancellor of the Empire Sir David Levine. Both men then continued to the Imperial Seat in Downtown Kaliburg to hold a formal audience with His Imperial Majesty. The route took the two gentlemen past some of the area of Kaliburg which was destroyed during the war, and which has subsequently been rebuilt as apartment complexes over light commercial enterprises.

During the hour long meeting, the Emperor, reportedly speaking without his sign language interpreter (Lady Stuart was present during the Audience along with the Chancellor), formally and personally apologized to Mr. Woods for Likatonia for the death and destruction that Kalistani Regulars had caused the residents of Norwalk and the cities in the region. The Emperor made the apology without reservation or qualification. According to the report from the Chancellor later--as formal audiences are off limits to the press--His Imperial Majesty took full and ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the Regulars during the war, and said he was committed to repairing the rift between the two nations.

"His Imperial Majesty showed what some may say was excessive contrition during the audience," said Chancellor of the Empire, Sir David Levine to the press. "But he also covered the findings of the Independent Truth Commission and acknowledged that Kalistani Regulars had committed the depredations that the Commission described in its final Report, and said his whole command structure from top to bottom was responsible for the action. More than 450 Officers and more than 1300 Enlisted had either plead guilty or were found guilty in the tribunal, and more than 175 were serving sentences on King's Island ranging from 10 years to multiple life sentences consecutively.

"But," continued the Chancellor, "cleaning up our own house is not enough. We hope to help our neighbors repair theirs too. His Imperial Majesty has offered the Likatonian Government ₭40 Billion Imperial Rubles in reconstruction and economic assistance to add to the ₭10 Billion already committed as part of the cease fire. The reconstruction aid will be delivered directly to the Likatonian Government over the next 5 years, and it is His Imperial Majesty's hope that the Government of Likatonia uses the money to provide Likatonians jobs in reconstruction, rather than outsourcing the work to a foreign nation to manage. The aid, however comes with no restrictions: His Imperial Majesty said that the money couldn't possibly fully make right what Kalistani Soldiers destroyed or killed, but it is his hope that if can help Likatonia pick up the pieces and build something new that improves Likatonia both economically and socially, and allows them to fully reintegrate into Seleya."

After presenting Mr. Woods with a full copy of the final Independent Truth Commission Report, the Chancellor welcomed Likatonia to continue to remain in contact with Kalistan as the reconstruction continued. "It is our hope that this is the start of an effort toward putting this conflict behind us and building a new relationship based on trust and cooperation. Time will tell if that is successful, but it is certainly His Imperial Majesty's desire to have Likatonia as a friend going forward." Mr. Woods and Sir Levine remained for questions from the press, and then Woods was given a tour of Kaliburg.

@TheRepublic