Kalistani Major History

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Chancellor announces return to more Robust Foreign Policy
Government will relax investment restrictions in coming years, to include foreign investment
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 8, 5511


Chancellor of the Empire Lord Stephen Wilkes announces New Foreign Policy Posture

Lord Stephen Wilkes, Her Imperial Majesty's Chancellor today quietly unveiled the Empire's new foreign policy posture. The program includes abandonment of isolation, a return to robust nationalism in the International Sphere, and a more active role in pursuing Kalistani interests in foreign nations. Below are the Chancellor's Comments, delivered in a public address on KRTVN:

[following discussion of domestic affairs...]

"Turning now to Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Policy, within this year, The Empress and His Highness the Prince Consort, will travel abroad on a multi nation tour to greet various heads of State and Members of Foreign Governments. Foreign Minister Francisco Delgado will travel in parallel for much of the trip, especially where high level meetings will occur, though there will also be plenty of sightseeing along the way that the Empress and the Prince Consort will do outside of official business. The aim of this trip is to establish personal relationships between the Empress and foreign heads of state and building Kalistan's image abroad. This trip comes on the heels of the successful establishment of ambassadorial exchange between Kalistan and Luthori, and follows up overtures from Kazulia, Lourenne, Dundorf, Hutori, and Dolgava. Overall, the Empress is expected to visit a dozen or more countries, all of them major players in world affairs in different areas.

"Additionally, as required by Her Imperial Majesty, we have laid a bill on the table for a simple up or down vote concerning re-authorization of the Imperial Bureau for Security Information. This agency recreates for Kalistan an apparatus for the proper dissemination of Her Imperial Majesty's policies for the information and use of foreign populations, as well as giving us the ability to maintain closer observation on the events going on around the globe. Contrary to the statements to the contrary, this bill is not to be used to propagandize Kalistani Citizens. The Bill is expected to pass without additional comment, and at that point, the Government will direct funds for its operation and maintenance. We want to assure people of the world that the operation of this organization is purely benign and friendly, and we would look forward to opportunities to share information we acquire overseas with our international friends. This bureau will also help Kalistan fight the threats posed by liberalism, both economic and political, abroad and prevent those dangerous ideas from making a home here on our shores, and the Empress especially looks forward to offering assistance for nations who are experiencing difficulty keeping a lid on liberal terror in their own home.

"Next, while Kalistan will maintain its longstanding defensive strategic doctrine, we have asked the Institutionalist Party to officially reactivate its militia, and want to look for opportunities for the Regular Forces to train both abroad and host training exercises here in Kalistan. This can include making available ports, air strips and terrestrial facilities for temporary basing and training of forward leaning militaries who are friendly with Kalistan. As a non-aligned movement member, Her Imperial Majesty would like us to prioritize NAM members over non-NAM members, and those who practice independent foreign policies, but in reality, the facilities we may be willing to host foreign military elements at will be open on a case by case basis, and the only real criteria Her Imperial Majesty has placed on basing rights is friendliness with Kalistan. Applications will be made with Her Imperial Majesty's Ministry of Defense. Meanwhile, the Ministry has been tasked with helping the Institutionalist Party stand up their Militia, and to carve out their offensive and defensive roles in support of the Regular Forces of Kalistan.

"Finally, Her Imperial Majesty has called on Her Government to begin relaxing foreign investment restrictions, in an effort to improve Kalistan's standing in the world. She has asked us to pass legislation allowing foreign investors to, for the first time in a long time, own Majority shares in Kalistani Firms as long as they remain joint ventures and the Plurality Investor remains Kalistani. This would reduce the Kalistani reserve bloc of any joint venture shares to less than 50% but would still maintain the requirements that Kalistani investors must retain the largest bloc of securities in the corporations. These rules would be relaxed with regard to private sector companies only: Public Sector firms will remain entirely state/Kalistani owned. Her Imperial Majesty has proposed these changes be phased in over the course of three years, beginning with AESA member states, and then Seleyan Nations who are not AESA members, and then international investors, if there doesn't appear to be huge capital flight. Additionally, the Empress has directed a change in the Republican Bank Act to authorize the creation of two new large scale private commercial investment banks that will make capital available for institutional investors who wish to invest in foreign securities, a practice that is not possible under the current law. The Republican Bank will be required to place and enforce regulations on the loans made by these two commercial Banks, as well as establish repayment terms, but may join with Private investors in the capitalization of these banks. It is still unknown whether the Empress will also relax laws regarding the charging of interest by private sector financial institutions, but She has signaled that She is considering that relaxation in the near future."

[...more comments followed regarding the fiscal state of the Empire, and updates on the progress of the KPO infrastructure projects proceeding across Kalistan Proper followed these announcements.]