Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

President Ananto returns from Lourenne Empty Handed
Foreign Minister and Defense Minister reportedly on the Chopping Block
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 15, 5408


President Michael Ananto-Thomas debriefs back in Capital

The recent State Visit to Lourenne, which concluded this week, was hailed as "generally a success" by Government watchers both in Kalistan and Lourenne. The purpose of the meeting was ostensibly to visit Lourenne to renew ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic and the United Kingdom, and to begin discussions on returning the 2nd and 3rd Fleets to Kalistan. But a bit of a diplomatic faux pas may have derailed the efforts for the time being, and might spell doom for the two Ministers who accompanied the President.

Foreign Minister Marcus Mann and Defense Minister Tera Ulysses appear to have deliberately snubbed the Queen of Lourenne, Aurore II during the otherwise friendly state visit in an apparent act of protest against the President. Instead of joining the President at Lac des Lumineres near Eroncourt, the two Internationalist-Affiliated Ministers departed early for the capital, and then took a separate flight home, while the President and his immediate staff remained in Lourenne for a longer period of time. The early departure was chalked up by the Premier of the Republic as a "scheduling error" but it is no secret that the two ministers have not been working well with the President the entire trip. The Queen sought to discuss recent economic turmoil in the Kalsie and to get to know the new President, who is related to her by blood through his great great grandmother, the last Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, Lourenne Born- Empress Riveire. But the Ministers insisted on discussion of the outstanding issues involving continued drilling in the Strait and the return of the Fleets. Ultimately, the Ministers' impatience with both the President and the head of the Lourennais state led to their departure from the meetings and return to the Republic.

Foreign Minister Mann gave extensive comment upon his arrival in Kaliburg. "We went over to Eroncourt to get our ships back. Meanwhile the President of the Republic had a different agenda, and of course, we either follow the Institutionalist agenda for the meeting or we are invited to get out of the way." Defense Minister Ulysses echoed the words of the foreign minister. "It seems our President is very keen on learning the trappings of the Monarchy. But I was there to do the work of the Kalistani People. And from what I saw, there wasn't much of that being done."

Though the Premier of the Republic, Eduard Albertson has got along cordially with the new President, he may have no choice but to discipline his Party. "I'm not entirely sure what the Press is going on about," said Albertson. "Scheduling conflicts aside, I have a meeting with the President next week. Hopefully I can explain the position of the Government with regard to these issues [such as return of the ships, keeping trade open, and ensuring democracy] to the President and we can go from there. I am not as optimistic for the Ministers, but of course, I am sure that with time, the President's faction and our own can see eye to eye on things, and we can reunite the Party and move forward as a Nation."

The issue of the fleets remain unresolved as the President returns to Kalistan. He did report that the bond between Kalistan and Lourenne is strong, and hoped that the slight was not personal on the part of the two Ministers. "Their concern is with me," said Ananto. "not the Queen. I believe she understands this, but of course that did not make the fact that they were not with me on my first state visit any more excusable. I was able to smooth things over, but if I can't trust my own ministers to have my back, some changes may need to be made at the top levels."

Mann reportedly said he would explore other options to get the fleets returned short of a full state visit. "We can get this done. Democratically," said Mann. "No need to bow or genuflect."