Kalistan

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Empress returns to Kaliburg

Announces new Orientation in Kalistani Politics

Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto

December 19, 5558

Empress Pavlina I Ananto following high level Institutionalist Party Member

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto returned to Kaliburg this week, and spent much of the early part of the week getting resettled in the home she and the late Emperor Fredrick I Ananto shared before his untimely demise.  The move in was punctuated by high level meetings with her Government and Institutional Party Leadership.  After three days of closed door meetings, the Empress and the acting Chancellor of the Empire left the National Assembly.  As the Empress walked past a silent and reverent throng of reporters to a waiting black limousine, Dame DuMont took a podium in the rain and delivered a prepared statement:

"First, it is incumbent upon me to make a few brief announcements following our, rather lengthy meetings with Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Pavlina I Ananto.  It is Her Imperial Majesty's Command that, despite any law we have notwithstanding, those who participated in the Insurrection who have not already been transferred to King's Island shall receive a full commutation of the remainder of their sentences, and are to return to their home and their work in all haste.  It is not Her Imperial Majesty's desire to punish those yearning for freedom, and who were tricked by fascist demagogues into following the siren call of fake liberalism, for voicing their legitimate demands.  Her Imperial Majesty has added that the correct venue for citizen participation is within the Free Cities.  She will work with the Peers to develop democratic advisory boards at the County and Ducal level as well, so that citizens may have input into the policies that govern their lives.  But she has also decreed that there will be no changes at the national level as far as voters are concerned.

"Despite her mercy, Her Imperial Majesty has also stated that any further civil disturbances will be met with the full force of the Kalistani Regular forces.  She has stated that there are appropriate and legitimate methods for redress of grievance in this Empire:  The Court System, for example, remains independent.  But taking up arms against the state shall be treated as an act of rebellion, and any further acts of rebellion will be crushed swiftly and with extreme prejudice. 

"Her Imperial Majesty has also made it my duty to inform you all that the leadership of the Institutional Party has been fired from their positions.  She has required the resignation of 20 additional deputies whose loyalty to the Institution of the Empire was... not immediately demonstrated, and shall call for new elections to replace those individuals.  She has called the Institutional Party a cradle of insurrection, and said the men and women of this Party who I have served with my entire life, coddled those who ultimately caused the death of her husband, the Emperor of Kalistan and Ananto.  In addition to the deputies who have been ordered to resign, the Entire Government has been given the opportunity to either resign immediately, or to recommit to the Service of the People of this Empire.  She was very specific on what that meant.  All but myself, Her Minister of Finance and her Minister of Defense have opted to resign, and she will name a new government following new Elections.  

"The Institutional Militia of Kalistan is to be disbanded, as it had a hand in the Insurgency, and within six months, a new Militia is to be reformed, to align with national security needs, and composed only of loyal Kalistani Citizens.  Organizational changes will be made to the Militia structure to ensure there is political oversight of the reformation, and it is expected that the IBSI will play a role.

"Her Imperial Majesty has thanked Dame Ontiveros for her long years of service, and has received her resignation for health reasons.  Dame Ontiveros says she can no longer adequately and energetically serve the Empress in the position of Chancellor of the Empire.  Dame Ontiveros nominated me to replace her, and the Empress informed her that I will return to Foreign Affairs, where I am sorely needed, as soon as a new Government is in place.  Meanwhile I am to continue in the position of Chancellor of the Empire.

"While these changes are monumental in and of themselves, Her Imperial Majesty has also informed us that the Ministry of Defense will be conducting a review of Kalistan's regular force, Land, Air and Sea.  Her Imperial Majesty believes that Kalistan's forces will not be able to adequately handle modern threats we as an Empire face, especially as the previous world order continues to decay, and the Lourennais element is reintroduced into a system that has suffered significant entropy. The review will give us an idea of where we do well and where we need to improve so that we can begin to consider parity with those militaries in the world who repeatedly sidestep Kalistani interests in our part of the world and do so with impunity.  Her Imperial Majesty said that our current national strategic doctrine invites constant and unnecessarily belligerent challenges from upstart nations, who have literally no interest whatsoever in our part of the world, but challenge us because they wish to make a name for themselves, and Kalistan no longer will serve that role.  

"In support of this goal, The Empress looks forward to welcoming elements of the Navy of Kundrati Union to Bozo River, where a preliminary deal for basing has been reached.  Details will follow, but this basing offer has been on the table for several years, and is a follow up for Kundrati's willingness to host Kalistani Radar in Etxea.  Her Imperial Majesty has dismissed concerns about the international implications of hosting Kundrati in the Anantonese Ocean, and said Kalistan's Empire is a fact that others should learn to square themselves with.  In her words, Kalistan's accommodation of the pique of others is over.

"Her Imperial Majesty wishes it known that her goals for foreign policy involve finding a way to work with Baltusia, Gaduridos, and Lodamun, first and foremost.  Baltusia has proposed linking their new Maglev lines into Kalistan's existing connections into the Kalistani National Rail System at Lucid Valley, which would create the opportunity to extend high speed rail transit from Likatonia to Aldegar and possibly Mordusia.  Kalistan sees these Northern Seleyan Nations in the future as a solid, united Bloc that cooperates, despite difference in ideology and regime type, and this bloc can challenge any power anywhere in the world. Extending it to Likatonia, Valruzia and Tukarali will also benefit us all, regardless of the effects it has on nations elsewhere in the world.  The Empress proposes the formation of a Northern Seleyan Confederation where all nations have an equal say in all affairs that concern us all as a direct counter to the inroads nations elsewhere on the globe hope to make in Seleya.

"Finally, Her Imperial Majesty has said it is her intention to review Kalistan's long held stance in opposition to the World Congress.  She notes her experience in Kundrati as an opportunity for a different point of view on the question.  She believes that on balance, Kalistan is hurt and is unjustly treated as a pariah for its principled refusal to participate in that international body.  While Her Imperial Majesty said she understands the arguments made by generations of Kalistani politicians, and even numerous emperors and empresses in our nation's history, she is more inclined toward participating in the international forum, especially since everyone knows that International Law is only as powerful as those people who are willing to enforce it.  The World Congress without Kalistan is toothless.  The World Congress with a forward leaning Anantonese Empire however, can be quite powerful.

"These are the Fiats of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto.  They are so dictated, in the interest of the safety and security of the People of Kalistan and Ananto, and in the interest of the security of the Anantonese Empire."

With that, Dame DuMont left the podium, with a very somber visage on her face, and entered her Imperial Majesty's limousine, which departed immediately for the Imperial Mansion in Wilson Hill.  Reporters remained outside the National Assembly in stunned silence for a moment following Dame DuMont's pronouncement, and then conversation between them erupted.