Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani News in Brief:
Dame Smith to fly to Tian'An, Victor will not become Emperor, Addisjah braces for spillover from Lodamun
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 8, 5474


Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister Dame Diane Smith will represent Kalistan in Indrala

Dame Smith to Indrala
In a major break with Kalistan's isolation from foreign affairs, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Nicolette has ordered her Foreign Minister Dame Diane Smith to attend the international conference which is tasked with deciding the new Terran order following the conclusion of the Beiteynu-Lourenne Sea War. The Empress reportedly agrees with centuries of Kalistani leaders that the World Congress, such as it is, has failed to prevent outbreaks of major wars, but thinks that Kalistan should at least be in the room as delegates discuss alignment and how that tends to drag nations into wars that don't concern them. "Her Majesty believes that the Non-Aligned Movement needs to have a say in the putative creation of any new order for the world," said Dame Smith. "I'll travel to Tian'An for the conference, but of course, I have not been authorized to agree to Kalistan's participation in any new international organization that places national sovereignty under the heel of an international authority, especially one which has given itself power. I will be in country to represent the voice of respectful but firm opposition to any such 'order'." While it is likely that Dame Smith will make a stir, it is also equally likely that Kalistan will be dismissed by nations who want to set themselves up as regional or global hegemons and who look to a conference like this to confer on them such legitimacy.

Prince Consort Victor will not be made Emperor
Breaking with Imperial tradition, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Nicolette has decided against asking her government to crown her new husband "Emperor" and Co-Sovereign of Ananto and Kalistan. Prince Consort Victor will retain this title, and will also retain the title of Count of Dahriel. When asked about this decision, Chancellor of the Empire Michael Johnson said, "Our Government's official policy is to support the Empress' policy aims and goals for this Empire. She has informed myself and the Interior Minister that it is her desire that things should remain as they are, and Victor should not co-rule Kalistan with her." Chancellor Johnson said that the Prince Consort has gracefully accepted his role as Prince Consort, and when interviewed about the matter later in the week, the Prince said "Frankly, I'm quite relieved. Her Majesty has a full job, and in all honesty, my aptitude is more along the lines of racing cars in the Grand Prix, and less on the level of telling people how to run stuff. So it's just best if she stays the Empress, and I stick to doing what I know how to do, which is racing cars, boats, doing sick jumps and flying stunt planes." Court watchers are confounded, but the Empress is not known to offer her thoughts on matters like this. Whether this equals trouble in the Royal Marriage is entirely a matter of speculation.

Addisjah prepares for spillover effects from Lodamese Recession
As Lodamun is predicting major economic downturns as a result of the recently concluded war in South Seleya, most of Kalistan has been insulated from the effects. But Addisjah, our major overland port of entry in the north, is in many ways exposed to international markets, and Government economists are now predicting that they will experience spill over downturns from decreased trade with Lodamun. "As the Lodamese economy takes a downturn, Addisjah is expected to also suffer," said Dr. Jill Kreuger of Vrassa District University. "And a downturn in Addisjah, which has been boming these last several years, will tend to drag Vrassa down a ways as well until stabilization can arrive from the National Government." The Vrassan economy is far more exposed to international markets than other Kalistani Duchies simply because they are far more integrated with the Lodamese economy. "Trade volume through Addisjah and Port Swede is perhaps as much as 40% in some years of total international trade," said Kreuger. "So, if the Lodamese economy are buying and selling less, Vrassa is the first place to get hit." It is unclear whether or how far Addisjah will drop, but decreased commercial transportation across the border has already noticably decreased, and there is a report of shortages of some impored goods in Vrassan Stores. The National Assembly is current;y mulling on a stabilization bill for Vrassa, but need to better understand what is needed before they can develop policy. "It's still very early in this cycle, and there are a lot of variables still at play."