Kalistani Major History

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HMFM Dame Diane Smith, in Lourenne, calls for new ASCA, supports Meridian Strait Accord
"Old agreement does not reflect current climate", says Smith
Eroncourt, United Kingdom of Lourenne
January 9, 5481


Dame Smith speaks before forum of foreign policy experts in Eroncourt earlier this week

Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Dame Diane Smith, continues her residency in Eroncourt along with members of the Kalistani Defense Ministry to work with Lourenne on regional security. Speaking before the Lourennais-based Foreign Policy think tank Institut Politique Anantonais (IPA), Dame Smith outlined Kalistan's willingness to work with Lourenne to establish a new regional security regime which aligns the current practices in the Ananto Strait with Lourenne's interests in the Meridian Strait.

"Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Nicolette I is moving away from the regime created 750 years ago governing the Ananto Strait between Kalistan and Dorvik," said Dame Smith, referring to the Ananto Strait Comprehensive Accord. "That treaty was more or less imposed on Kalistan by great powers, and no longer reflects the interests of the Primary Signatories: Kalistan has long held complete sovereignty over the entire strait, not just the 200 nm permitted by the treaty, and Dorvik isn't even a player in the Northern Seleyan region any more. As the old agreement does not reflect the current climate, Her Majesty believes that Kalistan needs a new treaty that reflects Kalistan's defacto status in the Strait, and codifies practices that Kalistan has been doing for more than 1000 years."

The Foreign Minister went further and said it looks forward to proposals by the Lourennais Government concerning the passage to the East side of Ananto, which is currently governed by the Law of the Sea, which Kalistan does not officially recognize. The Meridian Strait (historically the Lourenne Passage in Kalistan) is an international waterway that allows ships to circumvent Kalistan's restrictions in the Ananto Strait by travelling well away from Kalistan proper and more toward Lourenne. Kalistan has historically relied on both the 1st Fleet in Ananto and the Lourennais Navy to patrol the passage and conduct security operations there. But Dame Smith also noted that Lourenne seems open to the idea of imposing restrictions similar to the ones placed on the Ananto Strait on the Meridian Strait, and the Empress has signaled her willingness for Kalistan to work on enforcing restrictions on military traffic of foreign origin in the Meridian Strait as well. "Her Imperial Majesty's prime focus with regard to these two straits is defense of Kalistan and the isolation of the Southeren Anantonese Ocean from the conflicts in the rest of the world," said Smith. "As we have seen, occasional sparks can set off global conflagrations, and while Kalistan does not actively participate in those conflicts, we also do not turn away from our defensive doctrine and heavily armed neutrality. Lourenne's proposal to establish a demilitarized zone on the Eastern Side of Ananto which is similar to the one we have established on the Western side, Her Majesty believes, will add to that security, not only for Kalistan but also for Western Dovani, Eastern Seleya, and the entire Anantonese region."

The speech generated a discussion over regional security and logistics in the audience which lasted for more than an hour. Dame Smith said that as of the moment of her speech, there was no formal language around either proposal. "Updating the Ananto Strait Accord is something Kalistan can do itself, since it only concerns our National Waters, and nothing else," said Smith. "I anticipate working very closely in the coming months to develop a similar agreement with Lourenne to ensure that Her Majesty's interests for the Meridian Passage are fairly represented as I continue my work here in Eroncourt. I think after the work is completed, we will have two new treaties that govern the waters around Ananto which will obtain Her Imperial Majesty's approval, and will allow Lourenne the security it seeks as it moves toward neutrality."

Dame Smith has described her working relationship with her Lourennais Counterparts as "excellent", and feels that there is consonance between Her Majesty's goals with regard to Luthori's encroachment and the Government of the United Kingdom. "This is a reflection of a long and close relationship between our two Nations, and it serves everyone well, even beyond our borders for Kalistan and Lourenne to work so closely together. It is also our hope that friendly nations work out similar international and intra national agreements with themselves to further enhance their own security and to act as barriers against outside aggressors."